To build the new shopping center, Metro Commercial is planning to demolish the existing retail complex, according to the firm's vice president, Tom Londres. Cinnaminson Mall was originally developed back in the early 1970s as a 250,000-sf enclosed mall that was anchored by a Woolco discount department store. The old mall had been struggling for years and the death knell came a few years ago, according to observers, when then-anchor tenant Caldor went bankrupt, closed up shop and was not replaced.

According to a published report, the anchor tenants of the new shopping center will include a 100,000-sf national discount retailer, a supermarket and an office supply store, although company officials decline to name the tenants until the respective deals have been finalized. Metro Commercial officials also say that they are talking to the handful of existing tenants about becoming part of the new mix. Those tenants include Eckerd Drugs, Pizza Hut, Casual Male and Fleet Bank.

Besides the Cinnaminson project, Metro Commercial has the leasing exclusive for almost 160 retail properties totaling more than 14 million sf, and the company's property management subsidiary operates 50 shopping centers totaling some 5.8 million sf. The company also recently signed an agreement with the Daniel Group, based in Baltimore, to provide services for leasing, managing repositioning and selling enclosed regional malls. Both firms currently have several projects underway, including Metro Commercial's redevelopment here.