Posted at: 07/09/2009 5:12 PM
Updated at: 07/09/2009 6:26 PM
By: Valerie Castro, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

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New tenants hope to revive shopping center

Empty storefronts to see new tenants

Filling large, empty big-box stores isn’t an easy task, especially during a recession and with a massive construction project nearby.

At least one future tenant is thrilled to have all of that space to work with.

A slow economy turned once-busy storefronts like Linens ‘N Things, CompUSA and Circuit City into empty shells.

The I-40 construction project hasn’t made things any easier.

Despite the chaos, one new retail store and a medical training school have announced they’ll be making The Pavilions their home.

Holly Woelber, Campus Director for Pima Medical Institute said Thursday, "Our school has been in the Albuquerque area for over 30 years and we've seen wonderful growth in our student population. The new facility will give us more square footage and give us increased parking spaces." She says the students have far outgrown the school’s current location near San Pedro and Indian School. "The interior space is what we're most excited about,” she said. “With the ability to have a larger student lounge for our students and more classroom space and increased study areas for them." The school will take over the former Circuit City building.

This fall, Ultimate Electronics will be moving from its old location at Menaul into the old Linens ‘N Things building according to property manager Weingarten Realty.

Reviving other business in the shopping center is something that Woelber says her students can help with.

"We're really excited about the location,” she said Thursday. “One, there are food areas around there, and we're hoping our student population-- we have about 750 students-- we'll be able to help those businesses stay viable and stay in business Pima Medical Institute plans to settle into the new location within the next year.