07/30/2020- What some viewed as a major loss for community, City officials and one local businessperson are using as an opportunity to reimagine the future of Menominee’s southern gateway. The former K-Mart building in Menominee has been vacant for months, but the availability of such a large piece of property in one of the busiest parts of the city could open the door to important redevelopment opportunities as Menominee continues its work updating its master plan. A joint meeting of the Committee of the Whole and Planning Commission was held Tuesday to allow these two bodies to discuss their visions for the land. M&M Plaza owner Keith Killen says he intends to purchase the property for redevelopment, which could be anything from community space, to destination shopping, to housing.

SmithGroup is assisting with Menominee’s Master plan and representative Kathleen Duffy says new energy from the frigate contract awarded to Marinette Marine coming to the M&M will bring with it all kinds of opportunities for growth, so it’s important that the master plan allow for some flexibility in the redevelopment of the K-Mart property.

Menominee’s K-Mart closed last December and was one of dozens of K-Mart and Sears locations to shut their doors across the U.S. amid changing retail demands.