Bon Says Decision Not Near

A study commissioned by the owners of River Park Square says the area can support a third The Bon Marche store, but the chain’s senior vice president said Monday any decision on whether the downtown Spokane store remains open is months away.

“We’re going to continue running downtown just as we have,” said John Buller, who said he had not seen the report prepared by Real Estate Economics of Bellevue.

Backers of a proposed $80 million downtown renovation effort say The Bon and Nordstrom are essential to the effort.

The Bon’s plans have become a particular concern since officials announced the Seattle-based chain would locate a new store in the proposed Spokane Valley Mall. The Bon also has a store at NorthTown Mall.

Buller said The Bon needs a Valley store to capture sales in the east end of the Spokane market. Those shoppers do not come downtown, he said.

But he noted that The Bon has its roots in downtown areas, and has remained in many urban cores while other chains fled to the malls.

“We’re studying it real hard.”

Buller dismissed concerns by downtown backers that a decision on the fate of the downtown store is imminent. I Love Downtown members Monday forwarded petitions with 7,000 signatures to The Bon urging that it keep the downtown store open.

The market study was drafted by former Spokane resident David Eacret, who based his optimistic assessment of downtown’s prospects on its status as:

The regional meeting place for a 36-county area.

Home to concentration of upscale retailers.

An important draw for convention business.

“Those things work in a very synergistic manner,” Eacret said. “They’re really offering a different product downtown.”

River Park Square is owned by Lincoln Investments Co. and Citizens Realty Co., which are affiliates of Cowles Publishing Co., owner of The Spokesman-Review.

, DataTimes