The Beginning of the End for Regency and Arlington.

[thelakelander]

The owner is GGP.

[duvaldude08]

The developer probably hasn't done anything because they are broke and a large scale redevelopment at that site would be a huge financial risk in this market.

I agree. The market is terriable. The best Regency probably could do for now is try to retain the teanets they already have. Just keep Sears, Belk and JcPenney in tact and they should be able to survive. (for the short term) When general growth was going through bankruptcy, they stated none of their properties are in danger of closing. (including Regency).

[Tacachale]

It's pretty clear that Arlington is experiencing a decline, such as many other neighborhoods have gone through. I think the wider Regency area is going to remain a workable commercial area for a while, if not just because of the huge amount of traffic that goes through there, regardless of how the mall does. The mall is a different story.

[duvaldude08]

It's pretty clear that Arlington is experiencing a decline, such as many other neighborhoods have gone through. I think the wider Regency area is going to remain a workable commercial area for a while, if not just because of the huge amount of traffic that goes through there, regardless of how the mall does. The mall is a different story.

I think that the regency area will do fine. I think people sometimes over think the whole Regency thing. Even now, I still actual go to the Regency Area. I stay around the corner from the avenues and never go there. I guess because I grew up during Regency's hay days and Regency is all I know.

[thelakelander]

When I think of a dead mall, I think of Gateway, St. Augustine's Ponce De Leon Mall or Titusville's Miracle City Mall.

Gateway Town Center:


Ponce De Leon Mall:


Miracle City Mall:

When Miracle City Mall opened in 1968, the space program was thriving and Titusville was a boom town. Forty-three years later, the mall has only two businesses in its quiet interior.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20110723/NEWS/107235002/1326?Title=Miracle-City-Mall-Was-Once-a-Bright-Spot-in-Titusville

After taking a walk through Regency the other day, I don't think things are to the point of no return.  While the west side of the mall has a ton of vacancies, the east side looks to be in pretty good shape, although the decor (ex. color scheme, floor tile, exterior, etc.) of the entire place looks like you're stepping back into the 1990s.  Given that the place still is situated in a great location for a regional retail center, I think keeping it as retail has merit.  All it needs is a makeover that preserves/upgrades the east mall and remaining department stores while converting the west mall into an open air lifestyle center with some tenants not in the Jacksonville area.  There are successful examples of this all over the country and state.  Renovated a few years back, Cordova Mall in Pensacola is one good example of this concept.  When that mall lost Montgomery Ward, Simon ended up building an open air component in its place and renovated the look of the entire complex:

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), the country’s largest owner, developer and manager of high quality retail real estate announced today an exciting enhancement of Cordova Mall.

Common area features/amenities to be addressed as part of the interior and exterior renovation include seating, restrooms, redesigned mall entrances, graphic signage, landscaping, lighting, flooring and a covered customer drop-off entrance.

Certain mall amenities noted above will receive major upgrades. Examples of features/amenities to be given special treatment include introduction of expansive seating areas featuring soft seating, furniture and planters and the addition of new restrooms that will include family lounges.

Specific projects include:

-Creation of a new food court area.

-Redesign of the mall’s center court area.

-Construction of new restrooms. These “Grand” restrooms will be larger, incorporating many family-friendly amenities including a family restroom, a nursing room, an infant changing room and a lounge area.

-Redesign of the north mall entrance to include a covered customer drop-off area.

-Carpeted soft seating areas added throughout the mall for customer comfort and convenience.

-New flooring installed throughout the mall to include carpet and tile.

-An updated Guest Services kiosk and retail carts and fixtures.

-Addition of attractive way-finding signs, both interior and exterior.

-Modification of ceiling architecture creating a more open appearance.

One of the highlights of the renovation will be a relocated and redeveloped food court. The significant features of the new food court include a circular ceiling design with circular skylight, modern wall and floor finishes, state-of-the-art lighting and acoustics, new graphics and landscaping. The food court’s seating area will be much more spacious with a capacity of 350 seats. Eight tenant spaces will be available in the redesigned food court.

“Through this renovation we intend to examine a myriad of ways through which Cordova Mall can even better serve the needs of our customers, whether they are here to shop, to be entertained, or just to enjoy a welcoming and comfortable environment,” said Julie Harrell, area mall manager.

“While we intend to focus on improvements that will appeal to all segments of our shopper base, we will place special emphasis on family-friendly amenities, especially since families account for much of the region’s population base and growth and Cordova Mall is such a popular destination for families to spend time together,” Harrell added.

Improvements are expected to begin in a few weeks and that work performed will be done in such a way as to minimize interference or customer inconvenience during the mall’s operating hours. Construction is scheduled to be finished by mid-2008.

The 850,000-square-foot regional mall, anchored by Belk, Dillard’s, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond and World Market originally opened in August, 1971. The mall expanded in 1986 and 1987 with the addition of Parisian and DH Holmes. The lifestyle component began in 2004 with Panera Bread and JoS. A. Bank. It continued in 2005 with Romano’s Macaroni Grill and Moe’s Southwest Grill. It will be completed in 2007 with the addition of Coldwater Creek, Ann Taylor Loft and Chico’s to the front of the mall.

http://pensacolad2.blogspot.com/2007/10/cordova-mall-renovation-news-release.html

Since that one worked, Pensacola's other mall is getting ready to undergo a similar transformation.  However, this one will be more extensive.  That mall's owners plan to keep the three existing anchors, demolish the entire enclosed interior and rebuild an outdoor SJTC style lifestyle center in its place:


University Mall interior
http://skycity2.blogspot.com/2010/02/university-mall-pensacola-fl.html


University Mall redevelopment concept


Smyrna, Georgia's (Atlanta) Cumberland Mall did a similar thing when Macy's and JCPenney closed a few years back:

In 2003 Cumberland Mall lost its first anchor, Macy's (formerly Davison's). The vacant store resulted in a major redevelopment plan. The redevelopment included the demolition of the old Macys, which was replaced with a new mall entrance complete with an open-air wing. The wing includes five new restaurants: Maggiano's Little Italy, The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Stoney River Legendary Steaks and Ted's Montana Grill. Other changes included the demolition of the JCPenney, which planned to close their store, for the construction of a new Costco. The changes also included a complete interior renovation with new skylights and an expanded food court. These changes were planned to keep the mall competitive even with only two regular department stores remaining: Macy's (former Rich's) and Sears. All the renovations were completed in early 2007.

I think Regency's owners would find similar success if they can muster up the cash to pull it off.

[02roadking]

''I hate to be the bearer of bad news to a lot well-intentioned people, but probably no amount of righteous indignation is going to stop Garden Ridge from closing on Monument Boulevard and being replaced by a "poker room."

A para-mutuel company has a contract to buy the building and apparently meets the state's legal requirements to operate a poker room there, unless state regulators find some reason to stop it … which I doubt.''

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/406107/phil-fretz/2011-07-25/poker-looking-bright-side

This is an opinion blog, so, I'm not sure of all the facts. Interesting either way.

[fsujax]

I was told the Garden Ridge was relocating. Apparently, the store from what I hear has serious roof problems and leaks all over the place. Whoever takes over is going to have to do some repair work.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Everything is in place for the GR to become a poker room.

I am bidding the job now, as we speak. 

2 poker rooms, 1 VIP room, flex space, sushi bar, restaurant (buffet style), sports bar, etc...

[thelakelander]

I'm cool with a poker room opening there.  Garden Ridge is an eye sore, in my opinion.  If the new building has what NRW posted above, it should be an asset to Regency.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

But don't get too excited about the exterior - it's still going to be a large, window-less box.  The renderings only show some awnings added to the outside.

[Bativac]

But don't get too excited about the exterior - it's still going to be a large, window-less box.  The renderings only show some awnings added to the outside.

What about the landscaping and the parking lot? One of the worst aspects of that eyesore is the terrible condition of the parking lot. Any plans to clean it up?

[finehoe]

When I think of a dead mall, I think of Gateway, St. Augustine's Ponce De Leon Mall or Titusville's Miracle City Mall.

I was just in Titusville the week before last and went to that dead-ass mall.  Of course, everything in Titusville is dead.  It's one place that makes even Jacksonville look like a thriving metropolis!

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

What about the landscaping and the parking lot? One of the worst aspects of that eyesore is the terrible condition of the parking lot. Any plans to clean it up?

I can't tell from the site plan and I don't have any of the landscaping or civil plans.

From experience, they'll probably just re-asphalt what's existing, clean up the overhead lights and put in some new trees, but that's nothing more than a guess.

[urbaknight]

They should tear down the GR store building, tear up the parking lot and remake the land into woods.

[ac]

They should tear down the GR store building, tear up the parking lot and remake the land into woods.

I can see it now: A thick grove of crape myrtle and non-native palms.