The previous owner of Mills department store in Halifax says homeless people make it difficult to succeed on the "dangerous" street.

"The street people down there are getting aggressive," said Mickey MacDonald, who owned the landmark store from 2007 to 2012.

MacDonald sold Mills to four businesswomen. Two of the four — Lisa Gallivan and Candace Thomas — remained with the company, which was placed in receivership on Tuesday.

Gallivan and Thomas said they weren't selling enough merchandise.

MacDonald, a successful entrepreneur and president of Micco Companies, said people shopping downtown risk threats and aggressive behaviour.

"It used to be a place where people would go and hang out down there and used to feel safe. Now it's becoming more dangerous, especially at certain times of the day," he said.

"People are getting a little bit fearful of some of the people who are down there."

MacDonald, who owns several pieces of property downtown including the building that used to house Mills, wants to see more police officers downtown, and said construction is taking up prime parking spots.

"When you're walking through Halifax Shopping Centre or Mic Mac Mall there's nobody begging for money, and the parking is free," he said.

'I just can't get this women's clothing thing'

MacDonald purchased Mills in 2007 because of its central location on Spring Garden Road.

"It was just one of those iconic retail spots. People are going to miss it, the memory of the Mills. Maybe more than Mills itself," he said.

The store wasn't his main focus, and MacDonald admits upscale women's fashion isn't his strength.

"I just can't get this women's clothing thing. I can do lots of things, mechanic, lots of things. But women's clothing is a whole different world," he said.

MacDonald sold the store to Gallivan, Thomas, Deanne MacLeod and Katharine Perry in 2012.

"There's four very talented girls who took the challenge to run that business. It's being passionate about your business," he said, "but you also need the city to be working with you."