Demolition under way at former Fairview Heights Kmart shopping center

Workers with Hayden Wrecking Company demolish the old Kmart building in Fairview Heights. The structure was originally built in the 1960's, making it one of the oldest commercial buildings that was still standing in the area near St. Clair Square mall and the other shopping centers which have grown up in the city. The Petco business on the north side of the old Kmart will remain, and is open during the demolition, as is the Office Max business on the south side of the old store. Sports Authority will have a new store built on the Kmart site and relocate from their current location. There will also be a few other tenants when the shopping center work is fully completed. The machinery operator navigates through the growing pile of debris in this photo taken from the Petco parking lot.

TIM VIZER tvizer@bnd.com Buy Photo

The demolition has begin at former Kmart shopping center in Fairview Heights to clear space for a new retail center.

Plans for the new Fairview City Centre to be built near the northwest corner of North Illinois Street and Lincoln Trail include building six new store spaces ranging in size from 13,000 square feet to 45,000 square feet. Both Petco and Office Max would remain as tenants.

For the time being, Office Max remains open at the shopping center, but that space is set for demolition sometime this fall or by the new year. The office supply store will then relocate to a new store to be built next to Petco.

King's Beauty has left the shopping center and moved to Market Plaza, also in Fairview Heights. Sporting goods retailer Sports Authority, which is operating in Fairview Heights Plaza, will relocate to the new shopping center. Remaining spaces are being marketed.

Fairview Heights Economic Development Director Mike Malloy said the city may find out more details from shopping center owner Kimco Realty Corp. later this week.

Last September, Kmart announced that it would not renew its lease at the shopping center and closed its doors in December.

The retail center was one of the oldest in the city. It was built in the late 1960s and pre-dates the St. Clair Square mall. The 113,127-square-foot store that had housed Kmart for the past 14 years initially was built for Venture, a St. Louis-based retail chain that went out of business and left the shopping center in 1998.

Contact reporter Will Buss at wbuss@bnd.com or 618-239-2526.

Read more:
Demolition under way at former Fairview Heights Kmart shopping center