PROVIDENCE — Six of the remaining businesses at the Arcade have been granted permission to stay in America’s oldest indoor mall until Sept. 1, a relief to business owners who expected to be kicked out July 1.

The Arcade’s owner, Granoff Associates, on May 29 announced plans for an $8-million renovation to the Westminster Street mall, likely modifying it to serve a single tenant, rather than the polyglot of small shops and eateries that have defined the structure since its construction 150 years ago.

The businesses inside were told they would have to vacate by June 30. This, they said, was unfair, and they hired a lawyer.

Monday, the businesses that were up-to-date on their rent were told they could stay until Sept. 1, according to several Arcade businesses.

Evan Granoff could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Despite some stores winning the extra time, several businesses closed last weekend, and others will follow shortly. The Arcade Barber Shop relocated to 76 Dorrance St., and the Dragon Inn shut down. Pick Pockets and Ma’s Kitchen are expected to close soon.

Over the summer, The Providence Cookie Co. and Copacetic, a jewelry store, will relocate together, sharing space at nearby 17 Peck St.

Carol Giovanni, an employee of the Cookie Company for 15 years, said the extra time will allow them to keep the business open while they prepare to move to the new site.

“We’re just very excited — the small guy won! We get to stay,” she said. “It feels like 20 pounds of weights have been lifted.”

Café LaFrance, Le Greque, and Shalmar Fashion Eyewear are still searching for new locations for their businesses, but will remain open for the time being.

Shalmar’s owner, Sal LiBassi, said the Arcade is quickly emptying out — a strange sight for those who remain.

“That leaves just a few of us. We’ll see what happens,” he said.

The Rhode Island Black Heritage Society is also still looking for office space and a site for its museum, said office manager Lee Schenck. The extra time was direly needed, as the museum needs a fairly large space.

The society has been in the Arcade for a decade, and though Schenck has only been there for two of those years, she said she will miss the camaraderie of life in the Arcade.

“I’m going to miss it. We all became neighbors, we all became family,” she said.

The Arcade was built in 1828, and renovated in 1901 and 1980. Johnson & Wales University bought the building in 1995.

The businesses in the Arcade have operated on month-to-month leases since the Granoffs took full ownership of the property in February 2006. Since then, nearly 20 businesses have closed their doors and the Granoffs have not accepted new tenants, knowing that they would be renovating the structure.

The Granoffs have said that they have consistently lost money on the Arcade, as much as $10,000 a month.

dbarbari@projo.com