The Death Of A Shopping Mall

[Timkin]

^ 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.

[vicupstate]

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.   

[mtraininjax]

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.

[ThisDJ]

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!!!

[wsansewjs]

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

[mtraininjax]

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 - 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....

[wsansewjs]

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 - 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

[mtraininjax]

What 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? 

[JECJAX]

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 !

[duvaldude08]

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 

[duvaldude08]

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! 

[Arlingtondude]

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.

[mtraininjax]

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.

[BackinJax05]

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.

[Mike D]

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.