Mason Sells Departure, Plans Bargain Cellar

In August, Mason Hiba sold Departure, one of two stores he had in the Northwest Arkansas Mall, to Sergio Naumoff of Farmington.

Naumoff opened a second Departure store in November in Rogers’ Village on the Creeks shopping center. Departure sells luggage, travel and business accessories.

Hiba said he plans to open The Bargain Cellar in January in what was once the bargain basement of Campbell-Bell on the downtown Fayetteville square. The 1,800-SF store will be used as an outlet where Hiba can sell items from his other two stores at discounts of up to 70 percent.

Hiba also owns Mason’s Leather Boutique in the mall and Mason’s on the Square, a women’s clothing store he opened in August in the Campbell-Bell building.

Hiba said the other two stores will be used more as boutiques, and items that go on sale will be shipped to the Bargain Cellar.

“That’s the new thing for my philosophy next year,” Hiba said, “to bring in new merchandise every day. You have to clear space for new merchandise.”