A group of Port Angeles business representatives is looking for a peninsula resident to act as general manager of a proposed local department store in the former Gottschalks building.

The 34,900-square-foot, two-story building at 200 W. First St. is managed by the K.O. Erickson Trust and has been vacant since Gottschalks closed last summer.

Jerry Nichols said the informal board of directors has met over the past six months to develop an idea for an anchor store on one of downtown Port Angeles’ main streets.

"We need someone with some expertise in the field of retail to be the general manager and help us at this time to organize a (cooperative effort) and get investors and open the store," he said.

The board members envision a department store with clothing, shoes, cosmetics and other products, with a local focus, he said.

"We’ve discovered that each of those is kind of a specialty in itself," he said. "We would need someone that has experience in buying the products and managing the store."

Nichols said in keeping with the theme of the store, the board wants a local resident to have the position.

For more information, call Nichols at 417-2803.