By Norm Park
normpark@estevanmercury.ca
There is new on-site management in place at the Estevan Shoppers Mall.
Arlene Stebeleski assumed the role of mall manager in mid-July and is now busily engaged in preparations for the mall's 40th anniversary celebration this fall.
Stebeleski replaced Michael Pickering in the management position with Pickering moving on to another company shortly after the mall was purchased for $10.1 million by Artis REIT of Winnipeg from Commerce Capital, also headquartered in the Manitoba capital.
Stebeleski brings a wealth of retail management experience to the job, having been engaged in those positions with the former SAAN stores in Western Canada as well as leadership roles at Mark's and Peavey Mart in Estevan prior to this appointment.
Originally hailing from Brandon, Stebeleski is familiar with western Canadian culture and shopping traits, but she expects to take a lot of lead advice and suggestions from the mall retailers, especially in the early going as she becomes familiar with her new role.
"I'm enjoying the experience. I like being on the front lines. I'm working from the front office here, not the back, and it's encouraging," she said.
Estevan Shoppers Mall space is about 95 per cent leased with over 20 retail and service outlets under one roof plus associated outlets located on the same property along King Street that includes a spacious parking lot.
ICR Commercial Real Estate of Regina was selected as the management partner following the takeover and their spokesman, David Kevill said back in May that expansion of the mall was not out of the question due to the growth pattern in Estevan and the fact that there was ample room for it because the sale included about six acres of additional land.
Stebeleski said there has been no indication of expansion plans within recent communications, but she was still getting her managerial feet wet and learning the details of the new job.
"I will rely on the merchants here for mining some ideas for the 40th anniversary and we'll put something together so we can celebrate with the community," she said. "I'm looking forward to working with the independent business owners/managers and the franchise managers here. I know most of them," Stebeleski added.
In recent years the mall has undergone some major renovations in the form of new roofing, a large parking lot paving program and new air exchange and electrical systems.
So far, Stebeleski, who came to the job on July 15, is carrying on with maintenance staff but no administrative support or promotional staff named yet.
