YAKIMA, Wash. -- The Valley Mall has received plenty of attention (and ink in this column) regarding the arrival of several national brands new to the Valley, including Bed Bath & Beyond and Ulta.

But there are also businesses that move out of the mall.

Take Yakima Networking, a computer repair and service shop. The company recently moved out of its 1,700-square-foot space at Valley Mall Plaza and headed across the street to a strip mall next to the Applebee's restaurant.

It would have been nice to stay at the mall, said owner John Storlie.

"The financial motivation was too great," he said.

Storlie says the mall's owners charge too much for rent and common area maintenance, or CAM fees, which pay for things such as security guards, property taxes and parking lot cleaning.

At the Valley Mall, he was paying $27 per square foot for his space plus nearly $12 per square foot in CAM fees.

At his new space, he pays $16 per square foot for rent and just $5 per square foot for CAM charges.

The property owners also offered Storlie free rent while he completed his lease at the Valley Mall, which will expire in January.

"You can't tell me that 100 yards away, the real estate is worth twice as much," Storlie said.

Fees more affordable for national retail

Storlie believes there is an opportunity for neighboring retail developments to market to locally owned businesses looking for more competitive rents and fees.

He believes the fees at the Valley Mall are priced more for national retailers.

"I think (the Valley Mall) wants to get the big national stores and they're not motivated to keep the local businesses," he said.

Ron Bonlender has wanted to reopen a Sub Shop of Yakima location in Union Gap since he shut down his Valley Mall Plaza store three years ago. His space is still vacant.

He's looked throughout Union Gap for potential sites recently.

He's already ruled out returning to the Valley Mall. He said he opted to close the store at the Valley Mall Plaza because of the high CAM fees.

"I got no love for them whatsoever," he said.

Bonlender has noticed that neighboring properties have been aggressive in attracting new tenants.

"I think they are definitely lowering the costs," Bonlender said.

Rick Baumgardner, known for operating the Photo Haus photo business and Baumgardner's Studio, has been looking for a tenant for a small retail development he owns on Washington Avenue and South First Street.

The 1,275-square-foot space was vacated in February when Bella Scrapbooking closed its doors.

After seeing what some neighboring properties were charging, he presented a bargain of his own -- rent of less than $10 per square foot and just $200 in CAM charges per month.

"There are more businesses struggling to make rent. Landlords are trying to keep their places rented and not go dark. That's the environment today," he said.

He's received several inquiries on the property, but no deal has been secured yet. He would still like to rent the space to a local business.

"We're just a local family company," he said. "I would want (a break) like that."

Valley Mall not worried

The low rent and fees from his neighbors doesn't worry Valley Mall's owner, CenterCal Properties.

CEO Fred Bruning agrees that the mall probably charges more than neighboring properties, but he justifies the cost because the mall provides more services, such as extra security.

He also believes that tenants pay for the visibility and foot traffic that a strip mall might not have.

And when compared to other malls, such as Kennewick's Columbia Center, the Valley Mall's CAM fees are up to 60 percent less.

"For the level of service, we think we provide a good value," he said.

Storlie says he has done just fine at the new location. Store traffic has remained steady.

"We get here in the morning at 9 and people are waiting to come in," he said.

Bruning said he certainly understands that logic.

"If they can do the same level of business in a place that provides less service, then it's a good business move," he said.

But that might not apply to every business, he pointed out.

"At the end of the day, you get what you paid for," he said.

Did you notice?

* Speaking of the Valley Mall, Bruning said CenterCal is working on seven different leases. Names will be revealed when those leases are signed, but Bruning says they're all from -- you guessed it -- national retailers.

* More than a year ago, I reported that The Depot Restaurant and Lounge was working to lease the neighboring 3,000-square-foot space, which once housed Grant's Brewery Pub, for meeting space.

Nothing has happened since then. But co-owner Karl Pasten recently gave me an update.

"We have a lease opportunity," he said. "But we got to get a hold of capital before we take advantage
of it."

He's still looking for a partner to bring in that capital.

"In order to expand, we need money, and there's no credit," he said.

* Curious about the work being done at the small shopping center on 16th and Summitview avenues?

Pet Pantry is moving from its current space at 58th and Summitview avenues to the 4,500-square foot space at the shopping center, said property owner Butch Gaberman.

The move will occur in the near future.

* Mai Hoang's Reporter's Notebook is published Mondays in the Marketplace section. To reach her, call 509-577-7685 or e-mail mhoang@yakimaherald.com.