The Phoenix Group expects to have a new store in the defunct HA&E Smith's building open by November.

The owners of the HA&E Smith's building have leased the entire Front Street property to the Phoenix Group.

A Phoenix spokesperson this week declined to comment on Phoenix Group's plans for the prime retail space or what products will be available at the Smith's building.

The HA&E Smith's store, which is held mostly by Smith's directors and, in small part, by the Bermuda Church Society, has been empty for almost one year since its former tenant Trimingham Brothers went out of business at the end of July, 2005.

While many potential tenants expressed interest in renting partial space, the owners of the property were adamant that they wanted just one tenant for the entire 33,111 square foot building.