Where are the Malls?

[chipwich]

IKEA usually needs a metro population of 1.9 mil and up to open a store.  They have however made exceptions before.  These exceptions are usually in areas with many colleges around them such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. 

Then again, there is an IKEA in Salt Lake City (pop. 1.2-1.3 mil) yet no IKEA in Denver.  Go figure.

[reednavy]

IKEA usually needs a metro population of 1.9 mil and up to open a store.  They have however made exceptions before.  These exceptions are usually in areas with many colleges around them such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. 

Then again, there is an IKEA in Salt Lake City (pop. 1.2-1.3 mil) yet no IKEA in Denver.  Go figure.

Mormon bribery, shhhh.

[Ocklawaha]

It's either 110 degrees in the shade out at SJTC or pouring rain. I love the one who writes "what winter"... I won''t go into details for most of you kids are too young to remember.

I have seen the temp hover just above 0f in Jacksonville.
Snow like the devil in Jacksonville
Sleet like two devils in Jacksonville (should have seen the bumper cars on I-95!)
Hail? Well hell, it hailed today!
How about back in the 1980's when it was BELOW 30 degrees for over a week?

So while we often get away with little or no winter, that knife can/AND DOES cut both ways! The worst part of the weather here is that generally we have Summer and Winter (our winter is ever bit as fickle as it is in Oregon or Oklahoma).

OCKLAWAHA

[CrysG]

I wonder how many people wanted to take a slow stroll through SJTC with the temps over 100?


As for Ikea, I'll sign that petition.

[copperfiend]

I wonder how many people wanted to take a slow stroll through SJTC with the temps over 100?

The parking lots were pretty packed.

[thelakelander]

^I had to make a business stop out there yesterday.  The place is still packed but people typically drive to their destination and go inside.   

[Deuce]

Sadly, Ikea will never come to Jacksonville (barring a radical change in store philosophy). We are already in the "market area" of their Orlando store, so they wouldn't even consider us for a store of our own. Ikea knows that people will drive a couple hours to get to their stores.

Tampa is even closer though. I think we'll eventually get an IKEA. We have a growing market for modern design with the recent additions of Bo Concept, West Elm, and lest I forget Nest Living and we have the population that spends it's money cheaply (see comment below).

Jacksonville does have the demographics to support those high end stores.  If Charleston, SC has the demographics to support a high end department store, then how can anyone say Jacksonville doesn't? There are so many upsclae neighborhoods here with incomes well over 80k a year. I think it has more to do with marketing and selling the city/region to these high end retailers than us not having the demographics.

What I've heard is that it's all the rich folks are cheap and go shopping at places like Wal-mart instead of the higher end alternatives. After living here for 4 years, I beginning to think there's some truth to that.

[copperfiend]

What I've heard is that it's all the rich folks are cheap and go shopping at places like Wal-mart instead of the higher end alternatives. After living here for 4 years, I beginning to think there's some truth to that.

Everything but the Goodwill store and flea markets are a higher end alternative to Wal-Mart.

[shanshan1218]

was just in the orlando ikea the other day....i love ikea..i doubt we will be seeing one anytime soon....however, i will surely sign the petition.

as for any "town center" or "lifestyle center"......its too freakin hot!!!! i normally avoid malls but i will surely go to an enclosed mall in the lovely n florida summer humidity long before i go to a center exposed to our climate!

[Shwaz]

What I've heard is that it's all the rich folks are cheap and go shopping at places like Wal-mart instead of the higher end alternatives. After living here for 4 years, I beginning to think there's some truth to that.

Not to mention all the consumer's "buying down" in this economy. People who used to eat out all the time are now shopping for meal's at Publix and previous Publix shoppers are shopping at Winn Dixie. I had read that Walmart's average customer had a family income of $20K -$30K and spent around $30-$50 per visit. Now they're average customer's are in the $50K -$70K range with an average ring up of $80 -$100.

[fatcat]

I buy my stuff at Salvation army thrift shop. Everything is 50% off on Wednesdays.  They only time I shop at non-thrift store is to use my discovercard rewards.  This is the only way for a cat to get fat.

[Cliffs_Daughter]

I buy my stuff at Salvation army thrift shop. Everything is 50% off on Wednesdays.  They only time I shop at non-thrift store is to use my discovercard rewards.  This is the only way for a cat to get fat.

Seriously, everything??

Wow, I'm normally fine with Goodwills in my area, but I may have to take a long lunch break to check that out tomorrow!

[hooplady]

I buy my stuff at Salvation army thrift shop. Everything is 50% off on Wednesdays.

Shhh!  That was supposed to be an insider secret!  Now they all know!

[mtraininjax]

I would pressure some of Jax's malls offices to improve their image...if a mall looks newer and cleaner, more people will be attracted to go to it.

We have people who live in houses that cannot even keep their grass cut, or who park cars on their properties the likes of a junk lot, when will code enforcement get around to inspecting Jacksonville Malls? At least the Malls still have power and people go in them. Could be worse, as some strip malls and the old Phillips mall found out the hard way.

Rain at STJC, anyone here ever heard of an umbrella? Perhaps people will melt with some rain.

[Ocklawaha]

Welcome to Town Center, YES this is a FLORIDA photo

MTRAIN and OCKS ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER SURVIVAL GUIDE

Well MTrain, before our negative friend goes out and causes someone to get their butts fried at STJTC, let's go on record saying THINK! You are in Sub-Tropical Florida, LIGHTNING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD! The LAST thing you want to do in an afternoon thunder storm is get out of the car and pop an aluminium umbrella handle straight up toward the sky. DUMB MOVE. If the wind doesn't rip it apart from the storms outflow, the lightning may just finish your shopping day forever...

So since I'm using your post for some constructive advice from a "Certified NWS Oklahoma Storm Chaser":

In a thunder storm:

DO NOT hide under a tree
DO NOT RUN
DO NOT stand by or touch a fence.
DO NOT stay in a pool, lake, river or stream
DO NOT rely on a convertable automobile for protection, get under cover.

Rule of thumb, lightning can strike as far as 20 miles from the storm itself, thus the saying ("A bolt out of the blue"). So use the rule that if you can hear it, it can probably strike you.

If you suspect a tornado, get indoors, lowest level, center of the building. Forget the old "open the windows myth" if that twister wants your windows open, it's completely able to do this all by itself, it doesn't need your help.


Yes newbies, these too, in numbers you wouldn't frickin believe! How about right up with Oklahoma, and Texas? YEP! FACT!

OCKLAWAHA