Four stores in North Grand Mall have decided to call it quits.

Kinney Shoes, Meggie’s, Seiferts and the Piercing Pagoda have all closed their doors this month at North Grand Mall, 2801 Grand Ave.

Shelley Goecke, marketing director for North Grand Mall, said three of the four stores closed because of corporate decisions. Kinney Shoes, Seiferts and the Piercing Pagoda have closed stores in several other malls as well, she said.

“This is the time of year when we see this type of change occur,” Goecke said. “It’s an opportunity for us to bring in new stores that people are looking for.”

Mary Harms, owner of Meggie’s and marketing instructor at Iowa State, has been in the retail business for over 20 years.

Harms opened the North Grand location of Meggie’s in September of 1990, but recently decided to downsize her responsibilities by closing the store. Harms has another Meggie’s store in the Holiday Inn Gateway Center, 2400 Elwood Drive, which will remain open.

Harms said she felt “it was time for a change” and the timing just seemed right. She said the mall has changed over the years.

“I feel that in order to compete with downtown there needs to be more local ownership, but mall management thinks that there should be more national companies,” she said.

Harms also said stores going out of business during this time of year is fairly common.

“Most retailers make a large share of their profits in the holiday season, and it’s pretty common to see businesses go out in January and February,” she said.

Goecke was not able to comment on which stores will fill the vacancies of those going out of business. However, she said there are several active negotiations taking place.

“We have been able to maintain a high occupancy level the past 10 years,” Goecke said. “We are working to fill those spots.”