Regency Square Mall Thread

[I-10east]

Just a couple of updates, Chicken Now is gonna open sometime this season (spring) at the food court.

www.higmgt.com/chicken-now/

I know that I'm likely very late with this one, Lunar Golf (a dark, space themed indoor mini golf spot) has taken the spot where Old Navy was at.

[ben says]

Just a couple of updates, Chicken Now is gonna open sometime this season (spring) at the food court.

www.higmgt.com/chicken-now/

I know that I'm likely very late with this one, Lunar Golf (a dark, space themed indoor mini golf spot) has taken the spot where Old Navy was at.

Never, ever go out there, but glad to see some businesses are still investing in the area. I've always felt that mall is just a potential dead-zone in waiting.

[Adam W]

Just a couple of updates, Chicken Now is gonna open sometime this season (spring) at the food court.

www.higmgt.com/chicken-now/

I know that I'm likely very late with this one, Lunar Golf (a dark, space themed indoor mini golf spot) has taken the spot where Old Navy was at.

Never, ever go out there, but glad to see some businesses are still investing in the area. I've always felt that mall is just a potential dead-zone in waiting.

They should tear it down and convert the whole space into parkland.

[ben says]

Just a couple of updates, Chicken Now is gonna open sometime this season (spring) at the food court.

www.higmgt.com/chicken-now/

I know that I'm likely very late with this one, Lunar Golf (a dark, space themed indoor mini golf spot) has taken the spot where Old Navy was at.

Never, ever go out there, but glad to see some businesses are still investing in the area. I've always felt that mall is just a potential dead-zone in waiting.

They should tear it down and convert the whole space into parkland.

Now we're onto something!

[Elwood]

I recall reading that there were proposals for revamping Regency, including bulldozing the newer section (west end) and possibly doing something similiar to SJTC. Guess the economic downturn killed that.

[Anti redneck]

I had a really good vision a while back on what to do with regency mall. See if a mall group would buy it, one if the good mall groups, and do wonders with it.

[I-10east]

All of the people that are negative about Regency, are probably negative about every mall period, or atleast every mall in Jax, so take that for what it's worth. Reg bulldozed for parkland? 'Great' idea!!!  

[Adam W]

All of the people that are negative about Regency, are probably negative about every mall period, or atleast every mall in Jax, so take that for what it's worth. Reg bulldozed for parkland? 'Great' idea!!!

I grew up near Regency mall and it was my favorite place to go hang out at on Friday nights as a teenager. I worked there in Camelot music when I was in university. I absolutely loved Regency mall. It's a shadow of its former self and the area in general is just a mess. Too much development.

If downtown were ever to grow again and become the hub of the city, Regency would make an ideal place for a mixed-use commercial/residential development - basically tower blocks of condos over shops with a metro stop so locals can get into town for work.

I have nothing against malls. One of the highlights of my trips back to Jax is visiting the St Johns Towncenter. We recently had a massive new mall open up a few miles from us and I visit it regularly. Malls have their purpose. Especially if you live somewhere where it rains a lot or is really, really hot.

[Bativac]

I grew up near Regency mall and it was my favorite place to go hang out at on Friday nights as a teenager. I worked there in Camelot music when I was in university. I absolutely loved Regency mall. It's a shadow of its former self and the area in general is just a mess. Too much development.

I grew up near there, too, in the 1980s and 90s. The area has seriously declined over the last few years, though now that the old Sound Advice and Toys R Us buildings are no longer vacant, maybe the area is on the upswing.

But the public perception is that the mall is unsafe and unlike the public's perception of downtown as a deadly no-man's land, they might be right on this one. The last two times my wife was visiting Regency Square, there was a shooting during the first visit (which was in the news) and a fistfight during the second. She's done with that mall and I've been done with it for years.

[Adam W]

I grew up near Regency mall and it was my favorite place to go hang out at on Friday nights as a teenager. I worked there in Camelot music when I was in university. I absolutely loved Regency mall. It's a shadow of its former self and the area in general is just a mess. Too much development.

I grew up near there, too, in the 1980s and 90s. The area has seriously declined over the last few years, though now that the old Sound Advice and Toys R Us buildings are no longer vacant, maybe the area is on the upswing.

But the public perception is that the mall is unsafe and unlike the public's perception of downtown as a deadly no-man's land, they might be right on this one. The last two times my wife was visiting Regency Square, there was a shooting during the first visit (which was in the news) and a fistfight during the second. She's done with that mall and I've been done with it for years.

Perhaps. I went there last July and it was almost empty.

Jacksonville has too many malls. That's not a statement against malls, but rather an observation. Regency mall is barely hanging on and it's getting to the point where it might not qualify as a mall much longer - if the large anchor store spaces are converted to other purposes (like entertainment). The place already has a police station.

Although my comment about converting it to parkland was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, I think the mall has outlived its usefulness and should be razed. They could find better use for the land.

After downtown, I'd place the Regency area high on the list of places needing regeneration.

[duvaldude08]

I grew up near Regency mall and it was my favorite place to go hang out at on Friday nights as a teenager. I worked there in Camelot music when I was in university. I absolutely loved Regency mall. It's a shadow of its former self and the area in general is just a mess. Too much development.

I grew up near there, too, in the 1980s and 90s. The area has seriously declined over the last few years, though now that the old Sound Advice and Toys R Us buildings are no longer vacant, maybe the area is on the upswing.

But the public perception is that the mall is unsafe and unlike the public's perception of downtown as a deadly no-man's land, they might be right on this one. The last two times my wife was visiting Regency Square, there was a shooting during the first visit (which was in the news) and a fistfight during the second. She's done with that mall and I've been done with it for years.

Perhaps. I went there last July and it was almost empty.

Jacksonville has too many malls. That's not a statement against malls, but rather an observation. Regency mall is barely hanging on and it's getting to the point where it might not qualify as a mall much longer - if the large anchor store spaces are converted to other purposes (like entertainment). The place already has a police station.

Although my comment about converting it to parkland was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, I think the mall has outlived its usefulness and should be razed. They could find better use for the land.

After downtown, I'd place the Regency area high on the list of places needing regeneration.

TO be honest, indoor malls are dying a slow death nationwide. This "lifestyle center" craze has taken over and most malls are barely hanging on. In regard to regency, as long as they keep their major teanets (sears, Belk, Jcpenney etc) They will be fine. I got their on a regular basis and I am more comfortable their than at the Avenues for personal reason. To me, the mall looks the same. The west end looks kinda empty, but it always has. Even growing up we never had a reason to go that end of the mall. I still cant tell you what is down there but Sears. When I moved around the corner from the Aveunes I went a few times and dont see what all the rave is about. Food court is tiny and there no variety. And the mall is started to look very dated. Also, there arent any stores in there that I would even shop in except for blek and maybe jcpenney. I cant even fit anything that they sell in the other stores.

[I-10east]

I grew up near Regency mall and it was my favorite place to go hang out at on Friday nights as a teenager. I worked there in Camelot music when I was in university. I absolutely loved Regency mall. It's a shadow of its former self and the area in general is just a mess. Too much development.

If downtown were ever to grow again and become the hub of the city, Regency would make an ideal place for a mixed-use commercial/residential development - basically tower blocks of condos over shops with a metro stop so locals can get into town for work.

I have nothing against malls. One of the highlights of my trips back to Jax is visiting the St Johns Towncenter. We recently had a massive new mall open up a few miles from us and I visit it regularly. Malls have their purpose. Especially if you live somewhere where it rains a lot or is really, really hot.

Thanks for responding, and I totally agree with everything that you said. The 'video game arcade' era was good times for places like Regency(filled to capacity), and The Landing(when it had all national retailers). Regency in it's heyday was a great place to be. One thing I noticed when I went there yesterday was the increased security, (due to that incident) that's a good thing. Hopefully Reg will continue to take these baby steps and survive. The key is being unique; Although Chicken Now, and Lunar Golf aren't gonna bring in the 'glory day' droves by no means, it's a small step in the right direction. IMO Reg's food court would be a great spot for a Nathan's (with the other Jax-area one being way at JIA).

[Adam W]

I grew up near Regency mall and it was my favorite place to go hang out at on Friday nights as a teenager. I worked there in Camelot music when I was in university. I absolutely loved Regency mall. It's a shadow of its former self and the area in general is just a mess. Too much development.

If downtown were ever to grow again and become the hub of the city, Regency would make an ideal place for a mixed-use commercial/residential development - basically tower blocks of condos over shops with a metro stop so locals can get into town for work.

I have nothing against malls. One of the highlights of my trips back to Jax is visiting the St Johns Towncenter. We recently had a massive new mall open up a few miles from us and I visit it regularly. Malls have their purpose. Especially if you live somewhere where it rains a lot or is really, really hot.

Thanks for responding, and I totally agree with everything that you said. The 'video game arcade' era was good times for places like Regency(filled to capacity), and The Landing(when it had all national retailers). Regency in it's heyday was a great place to be. One thing I noticed when I went there yesterday was the increased security, (due to that incident) that's a good thing. Hopefully Reg will continue to take these baby steps and survive. The key is being unique; Although Chicken Now, and Lunar Golf aren't gonna bring in the 'glory day' droves by no means, it's a small step in the right direction. IMO Reg's food court would be a great spot for a Nathan's (with the other Jax-area one being way at JIA).

They did a great job with the food court when they renovated it. It's much nicer than the Avenues was (not sure if that has been renovated since I was there last). I noticed in July that Regency looked a lot cleaner and nicer than the Avenues did, but I chalked that up to less traffic.

I'll always love Regency, though I fear its days are numbered. That said, I hope I'm wrong. I do prefer to shop online, so I can see why malls are struggling.

[coredumped]

I agree that it needs a facelift, but regency is far from "Dead" as so many here have claimed.

They still have over 100 stores open and Arlington is the 2nd most dense neighborhood in jax (behind riverside). There is great potential for this area. The owners just need to give people a reason to stop driving by regency on their way to the SJTC (I guess parking isn't one of them)

[coredumped]

I heard from one of the western regency mall stores that they mall has asked them to move to the eastern side of the mall (towards JCP). The clerk told me that the mall wasn't going to assist them financially in building out their new location, so once their lease is up they're going to close up shop.

This is 100% hearsay, but has anyone heard anything similar? Are they going to do something with the Belk->Sears side of the mall?