Local MC Sports staff said they could not comment on the expansion, and the corporate office did not return calls to the Springfield News-Sun.
Lost Nation sells skateboarding, snowboarding and wakeboarding equipment and originally opened in Urbana about four years ago. Then in November 2010, owner Kevin Shockey moved the store into a larger space in the Upper Valley mall.
Shockey said he knew the expansion was happening for some time, but did not realize until a month ago that there would be no utilities for the front part of the space for them to operate. The 3,000 square foot space MC sports will move in to is currently used as an indoor skate park. The front part of the store is still intact, but without gas and electric and bathrooms it is not habitable for a business.
“Without utilities it will no longer be able to be used, so as of right now we will close up shop,” he said.
Lost Nation had a short-term temporary lease with the mall, meaning that if a larger company wanted to move in they could, Shockey added. Upper Valley Mall officials confirmed the temporary lease.
“We love having (Shockey),” said Brenda LaBonte, mall manager. “We wish we could find a space for him.”
Shockey said for now he hasn’t found the right spot for Lost Nation.
The store will reopen “sometime in the future. We plan to continue to sell on Facebook and online,” he said.
The mall does have some open spots, but LaBonte said the mall is currently working with some other potential tenants to come in. She did not disclose the details since the mall is still negotiating with businesses.
Lost Nation is open today from noon to 9 p.m. and is having a final closeout sale.
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