5 Reasons Why Regency Square Mall's Days Are Numbered

[JECJAX]

maybe a casino would work on the property since the poker room is such a big success

[drhandbook]

Regency would be a great location for New Hamsterdam.

[jaxjaguar]

maybe a casino would work on the property since the poker room is such a big success

I would approve of this. Use the revenues to fix up the area and pay into the pension plan It would also bring in some out of towners which could spark some continuous life into the hotels.

[IrvAdams]

I think Floridians are weakening on the gambling rejection vote, anyway. It's just a matter of time before some form of large, organized gambling comes our way.

[FSBA]

Sears announced they are increasing store closures from 130 to 235, but haven't  announced which stores. Any chance Regency might get the ax?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/04/us-sears-holdings-results-idUSKCN0JI12T20141204

[coredumped]

I've always heard that Sears does well. In fact, when their was talk of demoing that part of the mall, sears was said to be a stand alone building.

[thelakelander]

They'll do well until the entire chain shuts down, which will probably happen faster than any of us expect.

[BrSpiritus]

Security Square Mall had the same problem up in Maryland.  Eventually a Korean concern bought or leased 1 side of the mall and turned it into Seoul Plaza with an asian market, nail places, shopping and a mini food court upstairs.  It was cool while it lasted but the Koreans got tired of being robbed nearly every night so the idea died quickly until only a couple of nail places were left and the pool parlour.  Long story short, you may breathe life into an old mall but the rally is usually short lived.

[thelakelander]

There are a few malls in FLorida that have stood the test of time.

1956 - Westfield Southgate (Sarasota)

1956 - The Mall at 163rd Street (North Miami Beach)

1960 - Southland Mall (Cutler Bay "Miami-Dade County")

1962 - Dadeland Mall (Miami)

1963 - Coral Ridge Mall (Fort Lauderdale)

1965 - Edison Mall (Fort Myers)

1967 - Westshore Plaza (Tampa)

They tend to have a few things in common. They're in areas with favorable demographics and they've been reinvested in repeatedly over the years to keep them up to date with the latest retailing trends and preferences. Unfortunately, Regency doesn't have either of these things going for it.

[isphil]

Of all the reasons mentioned, the loss of Belks is a huge blow. I hope the new owners can keep it afloat but it's going to be a challenge. Regency is my go to place for getting in my daily walk when the weather is bad and there are a few of the merchants there I patronize on a regular basis but the West end is a ghost town.

[thelakelander]

Belk will close in two months. Article mentions that Regency's management have no perspective tenants to replace Belk. Instead, they'll close off the store, creating two separate malls. So going from JCPenney to Sears will require getting in your car and driving to the other side of the property or walking through the parking lot.

Potential tenants they'd would like to see move into Regency include a furniture store in Belk's space, a charter school, and an antique mall in the former Montgomery Ward space. Hmm, doesn't sound good for the future of retailing, IMO.

Belk to start Regency Square Mall 'moving sale' Sunday

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=544494

[coredumped]

The new owners need to go to sears and offer to help pay for their move to the old belk. If they could move sears then they could demo the "new" side of the mall and keep all the lively shops together.

[Charles Hunter]

Moving Sears (which is having its own corporate financial problems) to the Belk site would be complicated by Sears owning their current store site (and some parking?).  Would have to work out some sort of property swap.  But it does make sense.

After the demo' the west end - maybe they could bring back Annie-Tiques!

[southernbellefla]

When you do not feel safe in a public place that should be for shopping, spending time with your family, etc...as a retail merchant your days are numbered.  I do not blame the businesses for leaving.  Ineffective management of shop lifting, displays and merchandise destroyed, gangs of hoodlums walking around swearing and acting out....what do you expect.  The Avenues Mall is suffering the same fate and so is JAX Beach.  My granddaughter and I went to JAX beach for the last Fair that was there, by 4:00PM we were literally being pushed off the side walk, knocked aside trying to get on rides and saw fist fights and heard swearing like an R rated film....I almost ran to my car to get her out of there.  I have not been back since and will only go if the beach is NOT having an event. We have a BIG time drug ad gang problem in this City that is not being effectively addressed. People simply will not go to places that they do not feel safe in, period.  My beloved City is rotting from the inside out.

[spuwho]

When you do not feel safe in a public place that should be for shopping, spending time with your family, etc...as a retail merchant your days are numbered.  I do not blame the businesses for leaving.  Ineffective management of shop lifting, displays and merchandise destroyed, gangs of hoodlums walking around swearing and acting out....what do you expect.  The Avenues Mall is suffering the same fate and so is JAX Beach.  My granddaughter and I went to JAX beach for the last Fair that was there, by 4:00PM we were literally being pushed off the side walk, knocked aside trying to get on rides and saw fist fights and heard swearing like an R rated film....I almost ran to my car to get her out of there.  I have not been back since and will only go if the beach is NOT having an event. We have a BIG time drug ad gang problem in this City that is not being effectively addressed. People simply will not go to places that they do not feel safe in, period.  My beloved City is rotting from the inside out.

Having frequented the Avenues often, mostly for the food court, I do not see the hoodlum presence you speak of.  Avenues has other issues and most of them are not related to the people frequenting it. If you have some stats to share, I would love to see them. Their Paul Blart presence is pretty visible and active.

The beach on the other hand..........