Downtown's Atrium Mall will close March 31

Citing a shortage of tenants and rising utility costs, Havre businessman Don Vaupel is closing the Atrium Mall on March 31.

"When your overhead costs exceed your income, you have to do something drastic," Vaupel said today.

The closure will not include Office Equipment Co. and Hanson's Western Drug, which are in a separate but attached building.

Merchants in the Atrium began receiving certified letters Saturday telling them that the Atrium is closing.

"Everybody's kind of stunned," said Donna Mangold, who has owned The Hair Co. in the Atrium for 23 years.

Merchants said today they don't know w...