Manatee County Public Library Eyes Mall as Branch Location

Link to October 15 Bradenton.com post, "Library to replace Dillard's at mall?"

Excerpt:  Manatee County has entered into talks to acquire the former Dillard’s department store in the DeSoto Square mall and would consider moving the Central Library there, Administrator Ed Hunzeker said Thursday.

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Hunzeker said discussions with mall owner Simon Group of Indianapolis are in their “infancy state.”

But the county is interested in the property because of its prime location and proximity to a Manatee County Area Transit station.

“If we were to do something, the library would be a possibility,” Hunzeker said. “We’re looking at a number of ways we could better serve the public from that location and possibly bring traffic to the mall."*


*Dillard's, one of the mall's four anchor stores, closed in October 2009.  Other recent departures:  Old Navy, Lady Footlockers, Waldenbooks, and Starbucks.

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