Buena Park to Weigh Backing Fedco Move

The City Council, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, will consider adopting a resolution today in support of a Fedco membership department store moving into Buena Park Mall to replace a May Co. store that is closing at the end of the month.

“It’s a big win for the city if we get it in there,” said Mayor Arthur Brown.

Brown said Fedco could replace sales tax revenue lost by the closing of the May Co. store Jan. 31.

The Community Redevelopment Agency will consider the resolution supporting a Fedco store because the mall is within a city redevelopment project area.

“The city is willing to negotiate with (Fedco) on whatever it takes to bring them to the city,” said City Manager Kevin O’Rourke.

“Fedco is a large-volume retailer, so this is an exciting opportunity for the city and the mall because it’ll bring a lot of traffic to the mall,” he said.

However, Michael Gantes, senior vice president of Santa Fe Springs-based Fedco Inc., said the company is looking at a number of sites in northeast and central Orange County to locate a store. Fedco has only one store in Orange County, in Costa Mesa.

“We haven’t signed any agreements, and we’re looking at all the possibilities for a new Fedco,” Gantes said. “We clearly haven’t decided on a location.”

Fedco has nine Southern California stores, with $671 million in sales for 1991, according to Fedco officials.

Gantes said that there is an estimated 100,000 Fedco members who live in the area near Buena Park Mall.

The May Department Stores Co. will close 12 Southern California May Co. and Robinson’s stores by the end of January. May Co. owns a 240,000-square-foot building at the mall and a 14-acre parking lot.

Gantes said Fedco is discussing with May Co. officials the possibility of leasing the building and property.

He said if Fedco decides to move to Buena Park, the May Co. store would be renovated and the new store could open by the fall of 1993.

David Sauers, executive vice president of City Freeholds USA Inc., owner, developer and operator of Buena Park Mall, said that while it’s not a done deal, Fedco would help to bring more people to the mall.

Brown said although the sales tax revenue to the city would be greater from Fedco, “the important thing is to get somebody in there right away so the stores at that end of the mall don’t suffer.”

The council will meet at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 6650 Beach Blvd.