PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Two more stores are joining Sears and Staples in leaving The Aroostook Centre Mall.
The Maine Jump-Presque Isle, a family entertainment center for children 12 and younger, announced in a statement on Saturday that its last day of business would be Monday, Jan. 19.
Deb Shops, a national retailer that sells clothing for teens and young women, also has begun its going-out-of-business sales in Presque Isle and at 286 other stores across 42 states after filing for bankruptcy in December.
One of the 525,000-square-foot Aroostook Centre Mall’s anchor stores, Sears announced in October that it would close its doors and take its auto center with it by January. Sixty-three employees lost their jobs.
In late December, Staples confirmed the closing of its store at the mall on Feb. 7, 2015. Carrie McElwee, public relations director for the national office supply business, blamed increased use of online shopping for the decision to shut down the Presque Isle store.
In a Facebook posting on Saturday, Maine Jump owner Jenna Spoto expressed deep sadness about having to close the facility.
“This situation is not ideal, but it is what has to happen,” Spoto wrote. “I, along with my family, staff and vendors have put so much into The Jump-Presque Isle and it makes me so sad to have to shut our doors.”
The store, which featured among other attractions inflatable bounce houses, slides, obstacle courses and interactive games, opened in 2012 after Spoto purchased a licensing agreement with Ryan Hatch, who was then president and co-owner of the The Maine Jump in Bangor. That business closed on Nov. 1, 2013, due to a nosedive in attendance and poor management decisions, according to Hatch.
The Presque Isle location continued operating under the licensing agreement.
Spoto could not be reached for comment Monday, but in her statement on Facebook, she said that while she did not want to get caught up in negativity or disparage anyone, the rent at the mall was a factor in the closing.
“Maine … Presque Isle … and especially The Aroostook Centre Mall make it hard for small businesses to succeed,” Spoto wrote. “I don’t think that anyone can say that we didn’t try. The Jump is such an important thing for the community, but the reality is that I don’t know many businesses that could continue to operate at the rate of rent we are expected to pay and I will leave it at that. I never set out to make money, but you have to have money to survive.”
Spoto did indicate in her posting that some Maine Jump equipment might still be available for rentals.
Last week, Deb Shops, the Philadelphia-based retailer that specializes in junior- and plus-size apparel, announced it was closing its nearly 300 stores across the country. According to the firm’s website, there are five Deb Shops in Maine — in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta, Auburn and South Portland.
‘The Presque Isle store was closed Monday for inventory and efforts to contact the local manager were unsuccessful.
But a news release from the parent company, which has been in business for more than 80 years, indicated that the business filed for Chapter 11 protection on Dec. 4, 2014. Store locations will remain open until all merchandise has been sold, according to the statement.
Aroostook Centre Mall manager Patti Crooks declined to comment Monday on the closing of Deb and The Maine Jump-Presque Isle.
Municipal officials could not be reached Monday because city offices were closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.