New Gateway Mall owners hope to bring in a Costco  

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He said he and his team are beginning with improvements to the building itself, including roof repairs expected to start next week. Alrifai said the goal is to support existing tenants while making the mall more attractive to new ones. 

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“We’re here to work with them and support them,” he said of current tenants. “We’re here to make it better. I work with everyone. We’re open for ideas.” 

Basel Almhithawi, the mall’s new operations manager, said the ownership group felt welcomed in Prince Albert and wants to restore the mall’s role in the community. 

“This community deserves better, and we need to deliver this better,” Almhithawi said. “We would love to bring the memories from 25 years or 15 years back where this place was the thriving heart of the city.” 

The Gateway Mall went to public auction last month with a starting bid of $990,000, a price far below its previous listing price of $5.8 million. The auction comes less than a year after the mall’s owners challenged a dramatic increase in the property’s assessment and tax bill, arguing the valuation did not reflect market realities.

Almhithawi said the property has been neglected but is not in bad shape.

Both Alrifai and Almhithawi said the immediate focus is on stabilizing the mall, addressing maintenance issues and working with tenants and the city, as they look for ways to fill vacant space. 

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com