Business Journal: Board Game Barrister finds new home

GREENDALE (WITI) -- FOX6's media partners at the Milwaukee Business Journal have reported a business owner who lost his space at Southridge Mall has found a new home for his business: Board Game Barrister.

The Milwaukee Business Journal reports the Board Game Barrister will close at Southridge after its April 7th business day to make way for Victoria’s Secret. It will open at the Greenfield Towne Center, 6120 W. Layton Ave., in May.

The Boardgame Barrister store has two locations -- one at Bayshore Mall, and another at Southridge Mall. The owner was told the Southridge location must be moved, or the store would close. This, to make room for a temporary Victoria's Secret location.

At the Boardgame Barrister store at Bayshore Town Center, business is doing very well, according to Executive Manager Gordon Lugauer.

"We've been here a long time. It's a great store and we're really part of the community here," Lugauer said.

At Southridge Mall in Greendale, Lugauer's store is also thriving.

"Compared to the first February at Southridge to the first February here, we're doing better at Southridge," Lugauer said.

It's the store at Southridge that is being uprooted, to make space for a temporary store for a national chain: Victoria's Secret.

"There's not place for us to move to that we can still operate in Southridge," Lugauer said.

Christopher Dick, a loyal customer and gamer is worried about what that means for the gaming community.

"Now to be forced out just because another chain is remodeling is disappointing. Gaming groups that go there are going to have no where to go now," Dick said.

Southridge Mall released a statement that reads, in part: "Southridge Mall continues to expand and welcome new and exciting retailers following our successful renovation. We're always looking for ways to enhance this mix and are excited for what 2013 will bring for the center."

The new store will be 5,400 square feet, a little smaller than the Southridge location but with a similar sales floor and game area, Lugauer said. Landlord Zilber Ltd., Milwaukee, is building out the space for him, he said -- according to the Business Journal.