Store changes in the works at Duluth's Miller Hill Mall

A rue21 store is coming. Radio Shack is staying. And stores continue to be remodeled.
A lot has been happening at Miller Hill Mall.
Wet Seal, a California-based teen fashion retailer, has closed. Deb, with its junior and plus-size size clothing for teens and young women, will soon close.
But the big news, said mall spokeswoman Machelle Kendrick, is the new rue21 store, which should open by May. After Deb closes, the space will be expanded and remodeled into a rue21.
The specialty retailer for teen girls and boys has more than 1,100 stores in the United States. The Duluth store will be the only one in Northeastern Minnesota.
“It’s much like Wet Seal, more for millennials,” said Kendrick, the mall’s director of marketing and business development. “It’s affordable clothing for that age group.”
 American Eagle Outfitters and Tradehome Shoes have
been remodeled. Charley’s Grilled Subs in the food court will be soon.
Victoria’s Secret not only remodeled its store but also expanded into the space used by its sister store, Pink, which moved down the concourse. Victoria’s Secret  already was a destination store at the mall and a big draw for Canadian shoppers, but the remodel with its sophisticated deep pink-and-black decor has resulted in an even more striking store.
“I like it; it makes you like pink,” said Rachel Snyder of Duluth as she shopped at the store Saturday afternoon. “It makes you think you can look sexy, coming in here.”
Pamela Forrett of Aurora also likes the updated look and decor.
“There’s more of a variety,” she said. “It  makes you want to shop and try things on.”
While Justice’s space near the food court is being remodeled, the store is temporarily housed in the nearby former Wet Seal space. The store, which is popular, should move back to its own space in mid-April.  
Although the struggling Sears Holdings Corp. is closing stores, its Miller Hill Mall store isn’t one of them, Kendrick said.
“Our Sears is fine,” she said. “Nothing is happening to our Sears.”
Ditto with the mall’s J.C. Penney store. Company-wide, the chain is undergoing a retail comeback, but it has a way to go to reach financial stability.
“Penney’s is beautiful,” Kendrick said of the mall store that was totally remodeled in the past few years. “They’re not going anywhere.”
 And what of Radio Shack?
The electronics retailer has filed for bankruptcy and could close hundreds of stores, but its Miller Hill Mall store is safe, Kendrick said.
“We are one of the few malls in the nation keeping our Radio Shack,” she said. “So that’s good news.”
When the dust settles, there will be three empty store spaces at the mall -  the former A Dollar store space next to Sears, the former Sleep Number store across from Pam’s Hallmark and the Wet Seal space across from the food court.
“It’s the first time in a long time that we’ve had spaces available,” Kendrick said. “We don’t wish for that, but we’re excited to get new stores.”