Northgate returning to 'business as usual' less than one week after fire

'There are some repairs that still need to be done but nothing affecting the flow of traffic at that entrance or the interior of the mall'

Northgate Shopping Centre. Photo: Stu Campaigne/BayToday

To say this holiday shopping season has been a challenging one for the retail community might be the understatement of this pandemic-ridden year.

At Northgate Shopping Centre, despite not one but two arson fires on its grounds within a few weeks, retail and mall management and staff continue to stay positive and persevere during their busiest time of year.

Jordanna Grant, the marketing director for Northgate tells BayToday, "It is business as usual at the centre and the parking garage entrance is open."

She adds, "There are some repairs that still need to be done but nothing affecting the flow of traffic at that entrance or the interior of the mall."

The day before Northgate anchor store Walmart reopened after a November fire caused millions of dollars in damages and losses, another intentionally set fire caused havoc at the south end of the mall, near the parking garage.

The fire was set outside the former lottery kiosk located between the south entrance and Best Buy. Fire officials say the flames breached the structure and smoke spread throughout the southern end of the shopping centre.

The North Bay Police Service arrested and later charged 50-year-old Robert Atkinson of North Bay with arson and breach of a release order. Atkinson was also charged in July with arson in relation to a fire on Main Street East.

"We had a team of cleaners come in and have been purifying the air at the parking garage entrance with industrial purifiers and filtering machines," advises Grant.

One uncertainty for shoppers is the status of Best Buy, as its location is in close proximity to the major fire damage.

Grant says Best Buy "remains closed as they tend to their own space and we will post updates on that as they come in from the store management."