MARQUETTE – The middle portion of the Marquette Mall will be torn down early this year as part of a major renovation to the shopping center, according to the building’s owners.

Representatives with Escanaba-based Dagenais Enterprises, which owns the shopping center and operates the Riverside Auto Dealership at the location, said there is no timeline set for construction, but demolition of the mall portion, which includes Dunham’s Sports, is expected to begin in the first half of 2015.

Dunham’s is no longer open to the public, but staff will remain working through the end of the month, said an employee at the store who wished to remain anonymous because of corporate policies.

The employee said Dunham’s staff members were notified of the store closing and were told it was because a lease agreement couldn’t be reached with Dagenais Enterprises.

Denis Severinsen, vice president of real estate for the real estate company, said the renovation project is part of the reason for the Dunham’s closure.

“We’re in a redevelopment phase for that shopping center and it didn’t have to do with their current store,” Severinsen said. “It had to deal with building them a whole new store.”

Denny Roberts, Dunham’s district manager overseeing the Marquette location, said he couldn’t comment on the store closing, and attempts to contact John Palmer, a Dunham’s corporate spokesman, were also unsuccessful.

Severinsen said Dagenais Enterprises has a conceptual plan for the shopping center that includes individual storefront entrances for each tenant and expanded parking to allow for access to each business.

According to a news release, the Marquette Mall’s redevelopment plan is projected to provide approximately 50,000 to 60,000 square feet of newly constructed space, in addition to a 9,000 square foot multi-tenant structure closer to U.S. 41.

“This is a major undertaking, and everyone associated with the Marquette Mall is excited to begin this new venture, and hopeful that it will be well received and supported by both the city of Marquette, as well as the entire Marquette County community,” the news release states.

Initial renovation phases will require demolition of the middle mall section between Riverside Auto and the building occupied by Dollar Tree and Big Lots.

The two stores will remain in the current location, as will the Michigan Secretary of State office and the outlying businesses.

Severinsen said he wasn’t sure what would happen with Jim’s Music, but it won’t remain in its current site and may be repositioned to another location at the center.

Jeff Krebs, a manager at Jim’s Music, said the store is waiting to see how things fall into place.

“We really don’t know at this point,” he said. “We’re committed to staying in Marquette, but we don’t have a location as of yet and we’re in talks with a few property owners.”

Following demolition of the mall section, the space will be available for new construction, and Severinsen said Dagenais Enterprises hopes to attract national retailers to the redeveloped shopping center.