By MIRANDA GILBERT

Staff Writer

Guymon Daily Herald

A modernized look will soon embrace Northridge Shopping Center, as remodeling of the outside begins as early as next week. The expanse of the shopping center’s front will be transformed by new entrances, stucco, and the bricks will don fresh paint.

“We’re actually going to build out – it’s almost like towers and columns – out front of both Stage and United, to really broaden the entryways,” said Brian Mitchell, who owns the shopping center. “We’ll be putting stucco up above, and at United and Stage there will be new signs and lighting. Then we’ll paint the brick down below a different color, put crown molding up all along the top and edges, around the columns, and actually do a little bit of brickwork on the bottom of the columns.”

Mitchell says that the columns are not traditional columns, but square support beams gussied up.

He also wished to preserve the large overhang which provides much needed shade and shelter for those who stroll up and down the fully occupied shopping center.

“We’re going to tear off all the old shingles and we’ll put painted metal on that. We’re still going to preserve the large overhang but just jazz it up a little bit,” Mitchell said, adding that the roof will most likely be blue in color.

The first steps have already been taken, starting with the removal of old signs and the south end awning.

Mitchell addressed the question of anything closing in the shopping center, specifically United.

“No, nothing’s closing,” Mitchell said, adding that United just signed a multi-year contract. “They’ve got 28 stores in the state and they compete in every one of them, so they’re not going anywhere.”

Temporary signs or banners will be put in place during the remodeling phase, and new signs will be erected upon completion. 

Mitchell cites a recent visit to Phoenix, Ariz., the design of his shopping center in Newton, Kan., and the growing activity in the area as his inspiration to get moving on the renovation plans.

Stage’s entrance should be completed this fall, and the rest of construction will continue after winter, as soon as weather permits.