The Butte Plaza Mall is losing another business. The Book Exchange is closing their Butte store entirely to expand their Missoula Store.

In a postcard sent to their customers, this is what they had to say…

We’re sorry to inform you that we will be moving our Butte store to Missoula in mid-August. It is with great regret that we’re leaving Butte America! We’ve had a wonderful twelve years here.

Moving the Butte store will allow us to expand the Missoula store from 3,600 sq. ft to 11,200 sq. ft., which will obviously increase our book selection enormously and allow us to better serve all of Western Montana.

When in Missoula after September 5th, be sure to check out our new store and continue to use your credit and gift certificates. If you don’t shop in Missoula, you can use your credit in Butte through August 12th (we’ll be at full inventory).

Thanks again to all our wonderful customers. We’re going to miss being in Butte.

Rebecca Haddad, General Manager

I scanned the postcard they sent out. See the bigger version by clicking on the image below, then clicking “All Sizes” on the flickr page.

The Book Exchange is pretty much the last store in that hall of the mall. Now the only reason to head up there is if you have to use the restroom. The Regis salon is still up there, right? Any other stores?

I hate to beat a dead horse about the mall, but when is the mass exodous going to stop?

Related tidbit: Sam Goody’s last day open will be Father’s Day.

With the news in today’s paper that Universal Athletics will be moving to its own store on Harrison Aveune and the recent announcement that Sam Goody is pulling out of the mall, Butte residents are starting to wonder if the mall will survive the next few years.

It’s widely discussed that mall space is dispropotionately expensive and mall rents are pushing people out. The old “Stage” store at the south end of the mall has been empty for years (except for the occasional formals, spay/neuter clinics, and Rudolph’s fire sales :-)). The wing that includes The Book Exchange is sparingly empty these days with the closing of the novelty knife store a few years back and the relocation of the wireless store to the old optical store location next to Payless.

What can the mall management do to foster more business within the mall and keep the current stores open? Is it just a matter of out-of-state management or is it just Butte residents following the big-box-stores or going elsewhere (Missoula, Bozeman, or even Spokane) to get the designer clothing they desire?

Is it something local government can do more about or does it lie in the hands of the mall owners?

What would it take to get you back to shopping at the mall?