New tenant for ex-Circuit City in Arborland? Construction begins at long-vacant space

The company liquidated in 2009, vacating a 30,000-square-foot space in the shopping center on Washtenaw Avenue.

But after years of vacancy, construction activity recently began at the space.

The Circuit City sign was removed this week and construction crews at the site told AnnArbor.com interior demolition is under way.

The space is situated on the west end of Arborland, between Famous Footwear and Petco. It’s located near the former Borders store — which is being replaced by beauty superstore Ulta and five below, a discount retailer that targets teens and pre-teen customers.

The 30,000-square-foot space is listed for lease for $14-per-square-foot with Landmark Commercial Real Estate Services' Michael Lippitt and Rick Shlom, who did not respond to several requests for comment. A Landmark “For Lease” sign remains in the window of the space.

Denise Eckardt of Connecticut-based AmCap Inc. — the company that owns Arborland Center — said no lease has been signed yet for the space but negotiations are under way.

The activity comes amid several other changes at the shopping center on Washtenaw Avenue. Among them:

--Five Guys Burgers and Fries opened in the outlot portion of the center.

--A Sleep Number store relocated from Briarwood Mall to Arborland’s outlot.

--BeautyFirst, a chain cosmetics retailer and salon, closed its Arborland location.

--Old Navy downsized its store, creating room for a new 6,000-square-foot tenant.