QuoteThe death of a shopping mall
By Jeff Hoayun | Published June 15, 2012
I live in Arlington and absolutely adore the Regency Square Mall.
Yes, I adore the mall known for its shootings, rampant shoplifting and roving bands of unscrupulous-looking youths.
But as a kid, all those things seemed so far away, and frankly, I didn’t notice them. All I have are warm memories of this place as it was in the past.
Having lived in this fair city my entire life, I’ve come to think of two places outside of school as hallmarks to the experience of growing up in Jacksonville: the beach and the mall.
The beach is first because not every city has a beach, and well, every city has malls.
But in spite of malls inhabiting every city, I think they play a special role in Jacksonville. Maybe it has to do with just the sheer number of friends I had who would always seem to lament on there just being nothing to do in Jacksonville.
After all, Jacksonville isn’t so much a city as it is a giant collection of suburbs, with stores sprinkled in between miles and miles of green, cozy residential areas.
I never necessarily agreed with my friends’ assessments of their being nothing to do, but I do remember a lot of our time together involved shuffling around the Regency Square Mall. We looked at nice things we couldn’t buy, loitered and wasted quarters at the arcade.
Before the eerily sophisticated and decidedly bourgeois St. Johns Town Center opened, Regency was the place to hang out. If I was not already planning to meet school friends at Regency, we were crossing paths randomly â€" simply because everyone just went there.
This was the place where friendships bloomed, love burned and where hearts went to be broken.
But alas, this was the Regency of the past. Its current self is merely a shell of its former glory. A large portion of the stores have closed, including some of my favorites such as B. Dalton Bookseller, Zensations and Montgomery Ward.
And as a result, visiting the place is not unlike being in a ghost town. The once almost suffocating crowds seem to have long moved on, presumably to the fancier St. Johns Town Center, and, yet, I can still see the ghosts of a prosperous memory past.
So while the Regency Square Mall still lives on as a place that is home to much of my youthful memories, it’s a bit saddening to see it slowly die.
Source: http://unfspinnaker.com/the-death-of-a-shopping-mall/ (http://unfspinnaker.com/the-death-of-a-shopping-mall/)
I've never understood why people thought the town center was "sophisticated." Sure, they have "upscale" chains (that are, well, just chains), but they also have a dollar store, a target, and a mcdonalds. Hardly upscale.
That is true Core but it also has numerous stores located nowhere else in Jacksonville, and it does have several high end stores. More than any other palce I can think of in Jacksonville. Like it or not, this is usually the place that a new store or chain tests in Jacksonville.
I too grew up with Regency Mall being the premier mall in Jacksonville. Arlington changed and the customers at the mall changed. Gangs moved in and even though they try to control them, there is more crime there than any of the other malls in town, so the customers who spend money no longer frequent the mall. I'll drive by the mall more often than not to go to the Avenues or Town Center just because I would prefer to have a lower chance of being a crime victim.
Quote from: carpnter on July 25, 2012, 11:16:36 AM
I too grew up with Regency Mall being the premier mall in Jacksonville. Arlington changed and the customers at the mall changed. Gangs moved in and even though they try to control them, there is more crime there than any of the other malls in town, so the customers who spend money no longer frequent the mall. I'll drive by the mall more often than not to go to the Avenues or Town Center just because I would prefer to have a lower chance of being a crime victim.
I think its about about perception. There having been mugging and robberies at the town center. The most recent when a store was robbed in broad day light and the clerk pretty much got punched in the face... Crime is not limited to one area of town. Another situation is when a lady and her dagugther was kidnapped at gunpoint and robbed... at the beloved town center. I personally, have no problem with Regency. I can not wear anything at the town center, thus have no reason to even go there. I only go there to eat.
BTW, what "gangs" are you referring to? Jacksonville has no real "gangs"
Quote from: coredumped on July 25, 2012, 10:50:39 AM
I've never understood why people thought the town center was "sophisticated." Sure, they have "upscale" chains (that are, well, just chains), but they also have a dollar store, a target, and a mcdonalds. Hardly upscale.
Upscale compared to Town and Country Shopping Center or South Gate Plaza.
I agree duvaldude, it is about perception. I have lived in Arlington for the last 10 years. I have shopped at Regency during those same 10 years. I have yet to see the "gangs" that everyone always mentions.
carpnter, if you check SpotCrime online for the actual crimes at the different malls you might be suprised. I checked today. For the last two months the Town Center had 2 assaults, 2 ARMED robberies and 12 thefts. The Avenues had 1 assault and 2 thefts. Regency had 0. So I guess Regency does not have more crime than all the other malls in town.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on July 25, 2012, 11:59:58 AM
Quote from: carpnter on July 25, 2012, 11:16:36 AM
I too grew up with Regency Mall being the premier mall in Jacksonville. Arlington changed and the customers at the mall changed. Gangs moved in and even though they try to control them, there is more crime there than any of the other malls in town, so the customers who spend money no longer frequent the mall. I'll drive by the mall more often than not to go to the Avenues or Town Center just because I would prefer to have a lower chance of being a crime victim.
I think its about about perception. There having been mugging and robberies at the town center. The most recent when a store was robbed in broad day light and the clerk pretty much got punched in the face... Crime is not limited to one area of town. Another situation is when a lady and her dagugther was kidnapped at gunpoint and robbed... at the beloved town center. I personally, have no problem with Regency. I can not wear anything at the town center, thus have no reason to even go there. I only go there to eat.
BTW, what "gangs" are you referring to? Jacksonville has no real "gangs"
Jacksonville does indeed have gangs, just talk to those involved in law enforcement. They aren't the well organized gangs like you would find in Los Angeles, but Jacksonville does indeed have gangs.
All of the shopping centers have crime, Regency has more incidents than the Avenues and Town Center combined. Going to one of the other shopping centers does not mean you will not be a victim of a crime, but the chances you will be are much lower.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on July 25, 2012, 11:59:58 AM
Quote from: carpnter on July 25, 2012, 11:16:36 AM
I too grew up with Regency Mall being the premier mall in Jacksonville. Arlington changed and the customers at the mall changed. Gangs moved in and even though they try to control them, there is more crime there than any of the other malls in town, so the customers who spend money no longer frequent the mall. I'll drive by the mall more often than not to go to the Avenues or Town Center just because I would prefer to have a lower chance of being a crime victim.
I think its about about perception. There having been mugging and robberies at the town center. The most recent when a store was robbed in broad day light and the clerk pretty much got punched in the face... Crime is not limited to one area of town. Another situation is when a lady and her dagugther was kidnapped at gunpoint and robbed... at the beloved town center. I personally, have no problem with Regency. I can not wear anything at the town center, thus have no reason to even go there. I only go there to eat.
BTW, what "gangs" are you referring to? Jacksonville has no real "gangs"
What do you consider a real gang? Do you have to kill so many people or sell so much drugs to be a real gang? Gang style violence is gang style violence. I don't care if such violent crime is acted by a bunch of suburban rich kids; the violent outcome looks bad for a city and makes life hell for people in these communities.
carpnter... how is zero incidents for regency for the last two months more than the 19 for the Avenues and Town Center combined? Basic math 19>0.
No 'real' gangs in Jacksonville? ACCORDING TO FDLE:
American Nazi Party
Multiple Cities/Counties
Asian Bloods
Multiple Cities/Counties
Aryan Brotherhood
Prisons
Aryan Nations
Multiple Cities/Counties
Black Gangster Disciples
Multiple Cities/Counties
Black Guerilla Family
Multiple Cities/Counties
Bloods
Multiple Cities/Counties
Crips
Multiple Cities/Counties
Danger Zone
Palatka
Dog Pound Gangsters
Polataka
Ebony Kings
Jacksonville
El Rukn
Multiple Cities/Counties
Familia
Multiple Cities/Counties
Five Percenters
Multiple Cities/Counties
Folk Nation
Multiple Cities/Counties
G.O.D.S. MG
Multiple Cities/Counties
Gang Of 14
Jacksonville
Gangster Disciples
Multiple Cities/Counties
Grateful Dead MG
Multiple Cities/Counties
Hell's Angels
Multiple Cities/Counties
Imperial Gangsters
Multiple Cities/Counties
Imperial GD
Multiple Cities/Counties
Insane Gangster Disciples
Multiple Cities/Counties
International Posse
Multiple Cities/Counties
Jacksonville City Boys
Jacksonville
United Northern and Southern Knights of the Ku Klux Klan
Jacksonville
Latin Counts
Multiple Cities/Counties
Latin Disciples
Multiple Cities/Counties
Latin Eagles
Multiple Cities/Counties
Latin Force
Multiple Cities/Counties
Latin Gangster Disciples
Multiple Cities/Counties
Latin Kings
Multiple Cities/Counties
Maniac Latin Disciples
Multiple Cities/Counties
MS 13
Multiple Cities/Counties
N.S.W.W.P.
Multiple Cities/Counties
******s From Lackawanna Jacksonville
Night Hawks Jacksonville
Outlaws
Multiple Cities/Counties
P Stone Nation
Multiple Cities/Counties
Pagans
Multiple Cities/Counties
Peckerwoods Jacksonville
People Nation
Multiple Cities/Counties
Shower Posse Jacksonville
Simon City Royals
Multiple Cities/Counties
Skinhead (Racist)
Multiple Cities/Counties
Solidos
Multiple Cities/Counties
Spanish Gangsters
Multiple Cities/Counties
Spanish Lords
Multiple Cities/Counties
Sureno 13
Multiple Cities/Counties
Sur XIII
Multiple Cities/Counties
Unforgiven
Multiple Cities/Counties
United Kings
Multiple Cities/Counties
Vice Lords
Multiple Cities/Counties
Westside Mafia Jacksonville
White Aryan Resistance
Multiple Cities/Counties
Worldwide Folk
Multiple Cities/Counties
Zoo ******
Multiple Cities/Counties
Zulus Multiple Cities/Counties
Meanwhile the URBAN DICTIONARY has this to say:
Jacksonville, FL 118 up, 247 down
Ever watch the show "My Name is Earl"? Well, take all the characters, multiply them by 500,000, and you got Jacksonville: the most racist, backward, inbred city of cretins in America. A NASCAR lover's utopia of mullets, beerbellies, crooked cops (see the documentary "Murder on a Sunday Morning" to know I'm not lying), and people with unforking family trees.
Jacksonville City Government is controlled by a Church/Cult/Hypocrisy center that keeps Jacksonville the badly dressed laughing stock of the other designer label Florida cities.
Full of fat chicks with supermodel attitudes. EVERY, and buddy, I mean E-V-E-R-Y girl over the age of 16 is an unwed mother. The favorite vacation spot for most inhabitants is jail. The general landscape resembles a half occupied strip mall filled with vagrants and no end in sight, but people who live there love to say that it's the hottest city in Florida (snicker).
KKK membership is mandatory to become a cop or city councilman. They have a beautiful new library that is always uncrowded, surprise, surprise.
In summary, Jacksonville, Florida is the only city that a Category 5 hurricane would actually improve.
Jacksonville, FL is a whole city populated by "Earl's" brother.
As I've said in other regency threads, Arlington is the 2nd most dense neighborhood in jax (2nd only to riverside). There's million dollar homes in the area on the water (and like every where in jax, low income housing).
There's no reason a mall in the area shouldn't do well. All the residents in arlington drive past regency to go to the dreaded town center. Regency needs a makeover and some new anchor stores, something "fresh."
This sprawl is killing the city, 1st downtown, then arlington, now look at baymeadows. What's next?
Quote from: stephendare on July 25, 2012, 09:06:56 PM
according to your chart, only nine are in jacksonville, ock.
Actually we have quite a history with gangs, back in October of 1949, the Toledo Blade reported that Jacksonville Police were tied with 'Vice Lords.' Haydon Burns promised to clean up the 3 vice lords that controlled the police! LOL!
In reality, not only the 9, but most, if not all of the gangs with multiple cities and locations have a 'chapter' in Jacksonville. The Latin Kings, The Outlaws (chapter 337), etc... have a presence in Jax. Not to mention every skinhead weirdo group of neo-nazi's that ever came down the boardwalk.
Okay let me rephrase what I said because I see it caused stir. ;D I was just asking carpenter to explain what gangs invaded Arlington and caused Regency to become the place no one wants to go. I just wanted to hear some facts based on that comment, not just an opinon or what they perceived. The whole Regency issue always strikes a never with me because I get tired of the exaggarated over the top perception that Regency is " so dangerous". I still go there all the time and I have never felt unsafe or threaten. The gangs have never robbed and beat me down outside the mall. True be told, Regency is just not the place to be anymore. It happens. Father time has run its course. I believe that is a more contributing factor to its decline versus the "crime".
Regency has declined because its a 45 year old mall that hasn't updated itself in nearly two decades. However, being realistic, it's lasted quite a long time and well above the lifespan of an average shopping mall. The enclosed malls of Gateway, Roosevelt and Grande Boulevard have all come and gone in the time that Regency has been around. It's still a viable market but it's time for a makeover.
^ J.C. Penney is remodeling as we speak. Belk looks okay still but could use new flooring in some areas. A lot of the rest of the Mall needs a total overhaul.
Charlotte city council just voted to spend $13mm to buy Eastland Mall, which is the CLT equivalent of Regency, and was for several years the largest mall in the Carolinas. Without a major infusion of cash, Regency is on the same path.
Supposedly Charlotte will sell the 80 acres to a developer with, most likely, plans for film studios.
Roosevelt still exists because the neighborhoods that surround it use it. Probably the same for Avenues, Phillips Mall died when people stopped using it in favor of Avenues, and Orange Park is used with the Theaters and really the largest shopping mall in that area.
Regency is too close to SJTC for people to decide where to go, Regency might consider the layout of SJTC and eliminate the "Mall" and create an outdoor theme where the Mall used to be, to cut down on utilities and save itself. What it is now, is leading it to the same demise as that of Phillips, Town Center, Normandy and the other air conditioned malls. Or grow to be like that of Avneues, get Simon to buy them and invest.
I too have some fond memories of Regency....
I think the location is the issue now, people have been let to believe that you MUST go to the Towncenter. I try to still support Regency, but the last time I went I was really dissappointed in the lack of stores/tenants.
I also was on that side of town and had a craving for an Orange Tree slawdog... They are no longer in Regency!!!
First of all, I want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread, and keep going. It is wonderful to see other perspectives.
Second of all, it is nice to see Uncle Ock and Stephen Dare debating again, since it is a rarity. Shoot me if I am wrong, but I haven't seen both of you debating in a long time.
Last of all, I agree that not only the Regency Mall needs a revamp, but the entire Regency area needs some facelift, rejuvenation some of a kind on a large scale in order to help the business including the mall.
-Josh
QuoteLast of all, I agree that not only the Regency Mall needs a revamp, but the entire Regency area needs some facelift, rejuvenation some of a kind on a large scale in order to help the business including the mall.
Josh - You cannot fix the whole without starting somewhere. Bite off more than you can chew and you just stop. If someone can revamp Regency Mall, the rest will come over time and on its own. STJC started with a few stores and just look at it now....
Quote from: mtraininjax on July 26, 2012, 09:39:02 AM
QuoteLast of all, I agree that not only the Regency Mall needs a revamp, but the entire Regency area needs some facelift, rejuvenation some of a kind on a large scale in order to help the business including the mall.
Josh - You cannot fix the whole without starting somewhere. Bite off more than you can chew and you just stop. If someone can revamp Regency Mall, the rest will come over time and on its own. STJC started with a few stores and just look at it now....
What happen to the old saying, "If you build it, they will come." in terms of the development area and roads?
-Josh
QuoteWhat happen to the old saying, "If you build it, they will come." in terms of the development area and roads?
Wasn't that line from a movie, and we all know the movies are 100% factual ::)
I was wondering, does Regency need new roads and new development, right now? 8)
I not only shop at Regency Square but I work behind the mall between the theatres and the Lowes shopping area behind the mall. I have not experienced all the violence and crime either. I also don't think the location is a bad one - considering the dense population in the area and the amount of traffic that passes this area on a daily basis traveling to and from the beaches. From what I understand, all the tenants are being consolidated in the original part of the mall between JC Penney and Belk. I guess the exceptions are going to be Sears and Dillard's. Could we benefit from a combination of the open town center and a smaller enclosed mall on the same property ? Could Sears and Dillard's become stand alone stores with possibly other stand alone stores on the property and keep the original part of the enclosed mall ? This would minimize the cost of a complete renovation. Most of the areas around the mall are in good shape and if they aren't they are being renovated (example across from the mall the shopping center where Sports Authority and Comp USA are). Maybe the answer is a new management company with money to invest. If I have a choice I'll always go to the Regency Square area before I go to the Town Center, the Avenues or especially Orange Park mall !
Quote from: thelakelander on July 25, 2012, 11:22:37 PM
Regency has declined because its a 45 year old mall that hasn't updated itself in nearly two decades. However, being realistic, it's lasted quite a long time and well above the lifespan of an average shopping mall. The enclosed malls of Gateway, Roosevelt and Grande Boulevard have all come and gone in the time that Regency has been around. It's still a viable market but it's time for a makeover.
Maybe Im just weird, but the mall doesnt look outdated to me. It actually looks pretty good for the last major remodel to had been done like 20 years ago. I cant see if it looked like Gateway or Landing, then I would agree 100 ;D
Quote from: ThisDJ on July 26, 2012, 09:13:08 AM
I too have some fond memories of Regency....
I think the location is the issue now, people have been let to believe that you MUST go to the Towncenter. I try to still support Regency, but the last time I went I was really dissappointed in the lack of stores/tenants.
I also was on that side of town and had a craving for an Orange Tree slawdog... They are no longer in Regency!!!
Well I can only shop at Regency because I cant find my size anywhere else. I have to shop at "urban" stores to find what I need litte boy stores (Express, urban outfitters, banana republic, etc) I ususally go to man Alive or Jimmy Jazz and the Hat store by the food court. I patronize all the shoe stores. And I hit Belk for my dress clothes because they have a big and tall section. Ive tried shopping at the avenues and town center and I always leave empty handed. But hey, the town center has come good eating! ;D
From JECJAX: Most of the areas around the mall are in good shape and if they aren't they are being renovated (example across from the mall the shopping center where Sports Authority and Comp USA are).
There has been much activity around the mall in the last year or so with renovations/new construction. The strip across from Regency was recently remodeled/re landscaped. Southside KIA has opened on Atlantic Blvd. Both the ToysRUs and Sound Advice are being renovated in auto dealerships. The old Dodge dealership on Southside is now a school. The Target was totally renovated and remodeled into a "neighborhood market" concept. The old Garden Ridge is now the poker room. Fifth/Third Bank opened a new branch at the corner of Atlantic and Southside.
Why not turn the area into what we have on the westside at Lane, with a huge strip mall with store fronts, a Fred's, a Big Lot's, a few other stores, dollar stores, family dollar on opposite ends of the mall? If the clientele has changed, the area should change with it.
Quote from: Timkin on July 25, 2012, 02:23:56 PM
Quote from: coredumped on July 25, 2012, 10:50:39 AM
I've never understood why people thought the town center was "sophisticated." Sure, they have "upscale" chains (that are, well, just chains), but they also have a dollar store, a target, and a mcdonalds. Hardly upscale.
Upscale compared to Town and Country Shopping Center or South Gate Plaza.
LOL. Although many years ago Town and Country, & Southgate were as nice as Regency once was. Same could be said for the late Expressway Mall.
My impression is the owners of Regency Square have always done the minimum amount of updating they could get away with. The place is bleak. They've had years, for example, to put in some decent landscaping that could have matured into something attractive by now. Likewise, the exterior of the place is an ugly, blank canvas. There's nothing inviting about it. Welcome to the mall, circa 1972. Every mall can't be the high-end shopping destination, but that doesn't mean it can't be attractive and welcoming. If you want to see a mall that's gone through an enormous transformation over time, including a complete demographic turnover of the neighborhood, but has reinvented itself and remained vital, stop by the 163rd Street mall in Miami. It is possible to remain relevant, but the owner has to have a commitment to do more than just collect rents and hire security.
I think it may be that they do not want to expend monies to make the place inviting. One of the Anchor Stores, JCP is doing some upgrading.. other than that, I don't see anything special happening at Regency.
Looks to me like its declining and that the owners don't intend to do anything about it.
Perhaps they are waiting for the market to recover so they can redevelop in a form similar to the Arlington/Beaches Vision Plan, page 36 as numbered:
http://www.coj.net/departments/planning-and-development/docs/community-planning-division/plans-and-studies/0736-ar-final-vision-4-small.aspx
There's considerable profit potential in that degree of intensification, especially if your replacing a mall that' no longer viable.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on July 26, 2012, 11:11:34 AM
Maybe Im just weird, but the mall doesnt look outdated to me. It actually looks pretty good for the last major remodel to had been done like 20 years ago.
I agree that Regency's 'state of being outdated' is overblown. Regency's (infrastructure) is very similar, and in some ways even more updated (particularly in the food court) than the Oaks Mall in Gainesville; The main difference between the two is that Regency is in a downtrodden area as of late, with shopping competition galore from the other area malls, and the fledgling Oaks Mall is the only big mall in G-ville, just right down the road from UF.
The Death of Regency is not just a Jacksonville thing.
If you go to www.deadmalls.com (http://www.deadmalls.com) you will see a healthy list of malls at or near decline. You will see that 3 listed in Florida are in Orlando. Regency hasn't made the list because it still has 3 of its anchors.
You want to see a major "dead" mall? Try Dixie Square Mall in Harvey, Illinois!
http://deadmalls.com/malls/dixie_square_mall.html (http://deadmalls.com/malls/dixie_square_mall.html)
This is where the movie "The Blues Brothers" was shot when they drove through the mall shortly after it was closed. In fact, much of the damage inside the mall was from the making of the movie when the stuntmen would lose control of the cars. Suburban flight in Harvey was so rapid and happened so quickly, that the mall closed without many of the stores even getting boarded up.
They tried to tear it down this year (finally!) but stopped when the contractors didn't get paid and they couldn't locate the developer.
Cleveland's Randall Park Mall when it opened in 1976 killed off the Southgate Mall. However due to suburban flight in the 80's, Randall Park started its decline as well. Urban infill has now revived Southgate, but Randall Park Mall only has a Macy's. The rest of the mall is closed. Many trace the downfall to a shooting in the mall in 1989, but it was actually suburban migrations that was its downfall.
So I wouldn't blame your mall operators so much as blame your city fathers who allow malls to be built too closely to one another and are too desperate to drink from the trough of sales taxes at any cost.
Is there a reason to shop at Regency Square Mall when you have so many better stores surrounding it? I'd rather go to Target, Wal-mart or anywhere but inside the mall. And they are close enough to avoid the mall anyways.
I love looking through that Dead Mall website.
Personnally I have no reason to go to the Regency Mall. I live near the Avenues and don't go there unless I have to. To get to Regency I come close to the Avenues and Town Center. I do go to Town Center.............well to West Marine.
As I ve said before its personal perfernece. Im a big guy so there is no store I can shop at at the The Avenues or Town Center except Amercian Eagle (and they mostly sale their big sizes online). If I go to REgency, there are enough store to suite my needs. Its all personal perference. I also like Regency is more laid back. I can go with basksetball shorts on and Tshirt and dont have to worry about anybody turning their nose up at me.
I don't really go to any of the malls. I can't stand the environment. My mom killed that by dragging me to nearly every mall in the east coast to shop when I was a kid. I burnt a lot of time in Lerner, Burdines, Maas Brothers and Petite Sophisticated during the 1980s. At least the stops included a trip to Morrisons Cafeteria back then. Occasionally, I'll go to a Piccadilly for old times sake but most of those have closed now. However, I did stop by the SJTC McDonald's for a free coffee last week.
Quote from: thelakelander on October 02, 2012, 05:10:12 PM
However, I did stop by the SJTC McDonald's for a free coffee last week.
Lake! You sinner! <sarcasm> ;)
I've never been comfortable with indoor malls. Too many people in too tight a space (this being less a problem at Regency, but still), too many teenagers, etc. The SJTC, for all its faults, is preferable.
Quote from: spuwho on October 02, 2012, 05:36:15 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on October 02, 2012, 05:10:12 PM
However, I did stop by the SJTC McDonald's for a free coffee last week.
Lake! You sinner! <sarcasm> ;)
I was leaving UNF's campus, it was free coffee week and that was the closest Micky D's!
I never understood how a shopping center with a dollar store is considered up scale.
^^^Yup, because most modern US upscale shopping centers have everything 100% all upscale, just like you are in Milan, or Paris somewhere; Regular fast food restaurants, and department stores are far too low class for an upscale mall. ::)
Quote from: I-10east on October 02, 2012, 06:52:02 PM
^^^Yup, because most modern US upscale shopping centers have everything 100% all upscale, just like you are in Milan, or Paris somewhere; Regular fast food restaurants, and department stores are far too low class for an upscale mall. ::)
Milan? millennium mall in Orlando, considered upscale doesn't have dollar stores. Anyone who thinks TSJTC is upscale hasn't left cowford.
^^^The Town Center at Boca (Raton) has a Radio Shack.
The Port Charlotte Town Center, which has stores like Dillards, and Macy's has a Dollar Plus.
Oh no those cheap places are detriments to the area, and should be closed immediately, because those stores are too commonplace USA! The Cowford-pox is striking America!!!! :o
You make it seem like Louis Vuitton is next door to Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree is way of the other side of the mall near similar commonplace stores outside of the 'upscale area'. The Dollar Tree, Target side of the mall has it's own flavor to it, even though that section is part of the mall, it seems 'outparcel-ish', definitely not in the core of the mall, which is fine with me. So keep on exaggerating like Mayors is next door to Target, most people know better.
QuoteThe Economics (and Nostalgia) of Dead Malls
By NELSON D. SCHWARTZJAN. 3, 2015
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/business/the-economics-and-nostalgia-of-dead-malls.html?src=me