Simon malls need contractors for repairs

We always like to pass on tips that might help local contractors. Here's one: Simon Property Group, which owns four large malls on Long Island, is looking for contractors to help with refurbishments to the shopping centers.Robert Guerra, Simon's regional vice president in the Northeast, held three job fairs last week, one at the Simon-owned Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove.

Guerra said about 100 contractors showed up at each of the fairs. The others were at Simon malls in New Jersey and Westchester County.

"We are looking to improve our base of contractors," Guerra said. "We've had a very harsh winter. There's just been wear and tear" on the buildings. "What we're looking at is roofing, paving and air-conditioning" repair work.

Guerra said the job fairs were the first of their kind for Simon in the Northeast.

Marc Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors' Association, said such work would be beneficial to the hard-hit construction industry.

The work may not be as lucrative as the municipal jobs contractors often get, but, said Herbst, "We'd be most interested. We wouldn't sneeze at this."

Aside from the Smith Haven Mall, Simon's other Long Island holdings include the Walt Whitman Mall in Huntington Station, Roosevelt Field in Garden City and the Mall at the Source in Westbury.

Interested parties may contact Guerra via email: rguerra @simon.com.