EVERETT — A flooring business is taking over the old Everett Macy’s building.

Announcement signs appeared recently at the Everett Mall.

The Macy’s closed in 2017 as part of a weakening of the retail sector nationwide. It has been empty since.

The new tenant is Floor & Decor, which has more than 80 stores around the country.

The Macy’s building is not owned by the same investment firm that purchased the struggling mall last year. Still, mall officials Friday said they have been in touch with Floor & Decor, as well as the building’s owners. No opening date has been set.

It is important for the mall to have a good mix of tenants that can serve the growing population, General Manager Glen Bachman said in a prepared statement.

“Floor & Decor certainly matches the needs of the Everett community, so when we were approached … we agreed it was a smart choice,” he said.

The former department store has been surrounded by chain-link fence, shipping containers and semi trucks in recent weeks. Construction crews were at work Friday.

City records show seven permit applications since January. Some involve demolishing the interior to prepare for the new tenant, city spokeswoman Meghan Pembroke said.

The building has about 133,000 square feet. It appears to be Floor & Decor’s second store in Washington. The Everett shop is not listed on its website, which says a Tukwila location is set to open in June. The company could not be reached for comment for this story.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com, Twitter: @rikkiking.