1462 replies to this topic

[burt]

For you Yogurt fans, I read this in today's Ric Biz Sense:

Sweet Frog has leased 1,594 s/f in Staples Mill Square at 9073 Staples Mill Road.

Yapple Yogurt has leased 1,479 s/f in The Shops at Willow Lawn.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Yep! Of course, I live right in good ol' Glen Allen, and this just happens to be the neighborhood Food Lion and Target I visit frequently
A Sweet Frog here will only brighten me up even more. And there are like only 3 spaces left in the Staples Mill Square shopping center I believe. When SF opens in one of those spaces, only 2 or 1 will be left!! The leases here are getting signed like that!

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

I know it isn't much, but after exploring the Stony Point Fashion Park website, clicking on "Stores for Me", and then "Coming Soon", in which it lists 7 shops, it says Teavana is coming to SPFK, which would mean the second location in the Richmond area. I'm not sure if they plan on closing the Short Pump store, but I hope not, because all I have to do is cruise down 295 to get there. If it closes, I'd have to cross the river! And we all know how much of a headache THAT is for Henrico residents...

http://www.shopstony...ores_for_me/new

Edited by RVA-Is-The-Best, 26 January 2012 - 08:53 PM.

[KingDog]

And the Fro-yo bubble continues to grow.

"...plan to open Mix It, a self-serve frozen yogurt and cereal bar, in the West Broad Village shopping center in March. And the venture hopes selling bowls of cereal as well as fro-yo will give it a competitive edge in an increasingly crowded market."

From today's Richmond Biz Sense: http://www.richmondb...o-yo-in-the-mix

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

KingDog, on 27 January 2012 - 11:55 AM, said:

And the Fro-yo bubble continues to grow.

"...plan to open Mix It, a self-serve frozen yogurt and cereal bar, in the West Broad Village shopping center in March. And the venture hopes selling bowls of cereal as well as fro-yo will give it a competitive edge in an increasingly crowded market."

From today's Richmond Biz Sense: http://www.richmondb...o-yo-in-the-mix

And if you read deeper into the article, it will say a shop by the name of Zinga Frozen Yogurt has leased in Henrico somewhere. I will continue to look into this.

[540_804]

I wish "Mix It" all the success in the world (especially considering it will be co-owned by a young VCU student!) but the Froyo market is really getting crowded and I don't necessarily think a cereal bar is enough to differentiate it from the others. Adding cereal to the menu is so easily immitated that any sort of competitive advantage it would bring would be short-lived.

Just curious: Are there any froyo places in the Shockoe and Downtown areas?

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

540_804, on 28 January 2012 - 02:43 PM, said:

I wish "Mix It" all the success in the world (especially considering it will be co-owned by a young VCU student!) but the Froyo market is really getting crowded and I don't necessarily think a cereal bar is enough to differentiate it from the others. Adding cereal to the menu is so easily immitated that any sort of competitive advantage it would bring would be short-lived.

Just curious: Are there any froyo places in the Shockoe and Downtown areas?

One could only wish..... I'm just waiting for the day Sweet Frog opens up a 'flagship' in Downtown RVA..... so far all my friends down in the condos of Canal Walk and Shockoe have to drive all the way on Broad to get to Cary (since Cary's a one way street) just to reach the nearest location. Also, I believe this is the only location within city limits? Or is the one in Forest Hill in the city, too? I wish SF or some Froyo chain would open up their doors in downtown..... just goes to show you how underretailed that area really is....

[burt]

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE will provide donations to certain local charities in each of its store locations.

From today's Richmond biz sense:

http://www.richmondb...ips-nationwide/

[flaneur]

Does anyone know how Stony Point is performing? I usually avoid malls and support local businesses, but so far as malls go, it's a nice one and I love that the tax dollars actually support the city, so if I can't find something in Carytown whenever I'm back in RVA, I try to visit this center. I just looked online and it appears as if the Hugo Boss and Hollister stores have both closed since when I was last there at Christmas. If that's true, this leaves some fairly significant vacancies in key areas emanating from Saks (the area near Dick's and Dillard's has always seemed to be more marginal). It would be great if Stony Point could land a J. Crew, Apple, and Crate and Barrel to tighten that strong upscale core. I really hope the mall performs well as it's so much nicer than Short Pump. Of course, I hold out hope that cycles will reverse and we'll one day see retail back in downtown.

[540_804]

flaneur, on 02 February 2012 - 03:10 PM, said:

Does anyone know how Stony Point is performing? I usually avoid malls and support local businesses, but so far as malls go, it's a nice one and I love that the tax dollars actually support the city, so if I can't find something in Carytown whenever I'm back in RVA, I try to visit this center. I just looked online and it appears as if the Hugo Boss and Hollister stores have both closed since when I was last there at Christmas. If that's true, this leaves some fairly significant vacancies in key areas emanating from Saks (the area near Dick's and Dillard's has always seemed to be more marginal). It would be great if Stony Point could land a J. Crew, Apple, and Crate and Barrel to tighten that strong upscale core. I really hope the mall performs well as it's so much nicer than Short Pump. Of course, I hold out hope that cycles will reverse and we'll one day see retail back in downtown.

Frankly, I'm surprised that there isn't a J. Crew, Apple and/or C&B in Stony Point.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

540_804, on 02 February 2012 - 03:14 PM, said:

Frankly, I'm surprised that there isn't a J. Crew, Apple and/or C&B in Stony Point.

Then again, with a population of 1.2 million, Richmond should be happy with at least ONE Apple Store, because it is really rare for a metro our size to land more than one of those. Same with C&B. Yes, I agree however on J.Crew. But then again, ALL of those 3 stores are in that suburban traffic nightmare we know as Short Pump... would be nice to see them come into Richmond city limits

[burt]

RVA-Is-The-Best, on 02 February 2012 - 03:29 PM, said:

Then again, with a population of 1.2 million, Richmond should be happy with at least ONE Apple Store, because it is really rare for a metro our size to land more than one of those. Same with C&B. Yes, I agree however on J.Crew. But then again, ALL of those 3 stores are in that suburban traffic nightmare we know as Short Pump... would be nice to see them come into Richmond city limits

I read the other day that the Metro Richmond area has gained 26,000+ in population since the 2010 census and now stands at 1,285,000+.  It ranks 44th among US Metrpolitan areas.

On topic, I'd like to see Dillards convert to a Bloomingdales at Stony Point Fashion Park.   

And, welcome to this site, flaneur.

[jbjust]

If that Dillard's changed to a Bloomingdale's, it would transform the whole mall.

I didn't know about Hollister, but was surprised Hugo Boss lasted so long in the Richmond market.  With Tiffany's and Vineyard Vines coming in just the last few months and last year's addition of Cinebistro, I wouldn't be too concerned about Stony Point.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Of course I agree with transforming the Dillard's into a Bloomingdales, mostly because the nearest one is all the way up in Tysons Corner Center. But its not the driving that's a headache. That place gets like a million people a day. Too crowded!!

[540_804]

More Froyo!  Has this already been mentioned?

Quote

Zinga! Frozen Yogurt leased 2,000 square feet in The Corner at Short Pump at W. Broad Street & Lauderdale Drive in Henrico County.

http://www.richmondb...dup-for-2-3-12/

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

540_804, on 03 February 2012 - 10:08 AM, said:

More Froyo!  Has this already been mentioned?




http://www.richmondb...dup-for-2-3-12/

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it once or twice, but if not, then it is a really good find! Of course now some people will start thinking the market is saturated with this, with like 20 here now and 5 coming or u/c. But with a pop. of 1.2 mil and growing, I'm pretty sure that it is safe to say that the market can handle all of these fro-yo eateries. This is Zinga's main webpage. It's locations page has no place anywhere that says it is coming to RVA.


http://www.zingafroyo.com/

Edit: Okay, I don't know how that font change happened, but in regular readable font, here is the website for Zinga.

http://www.zingafroyo.com/

Edited by RVA-Is-The-Best, 03 February 2012 - 06:27 PM.

[flaneur]

Not picking up the fro yo topic; responding to a couple posts back re: Stony Point. I concur that a Bloomie's would be a better fit than Dillard's, but I really doubt the RVA MSA (metropolitan statistical area) can support two luxury department stores. Someone once told me Neiman's had seriously considered Stony Point, but I wonder if Saks has a non-compete clause precluding other upscale anchors in the same center. But back to my earlier post, I think Stony Pont seems to be doing well with the super high-end stores that cater more to women. That core around Saks with Tiffany, Luis Vuitton, Coach, Anthropologies, BCBG, etc., seems to do well and SP has clearly emerged as the high-end winner in the market. But it can't seem to hold on to the mid-market stores that seem to have pulled out in droves (Sketchers, PacSun, Hollister, American Eagle). I guess the mall can do fine if that upscale core stays strong and it continues to build on that line-up, but all the other vacant storefronts create an impression that's hard to counter. I hope CineBistro is doing well, and I hope that Restoration Hardware maintains its lease (they've pulled out of many prime locations recently such as Old Town Alexandria and MacArthur Center, and their departure would create a straight empty wall from Talbot's to the bridal store).

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

flaneur, on 06 February 2012 - 09:34 AM, said:

Not picking up the fro yo topic; responding to a couple posts back re: Stony Point. I concur that a Bloomie's would be a better fit than Dillard's, but I really doubt the RVA MSA (metropolitan statistical area) can support two luxury department stores. Someone once told me Neiman's had seriously considered Stony Point, but I wonder if Saks has a non-compete clause precluding other upscale anchors in the same center. But back to my earlier post, I think Stony Pont seems to be doing well with the super high-end stores that cater more to women. That core around Saks with Tiffany, Luis Vuitton, Coach, Anthropologies, BCBG, etc., seems to do well and SP has clearly emerged as the high-end winner in the market. But it can't seem to hold on to the mid-market stores that seem to have pulled out in droves (Sketchers, PacSun, Hollister, American Eagle). I guess the mall can do fine if that upscale core stays strong and it continues to build on that line-up, but all the other vacant storefronts create an impression that's hard to counter. I hope CineBistro is doing well, and I hope that Restoration Hardware maintains its lease (they've pulled out of many prime locations recently such as Old Town Alexandria and MacArthur Center, and their departure would create a straight empty wall from Talbot's to the bridal store).

Yeah.... kinda feel bad for Norfolk (on losing Rest. Hardware), but I'm confused on how it could lose business there, it is a very popular mall, and the store selection seem to match the level of Restoration Hardware.... but I'm shocked that Alexandria lost it.... there are so MANY people in that area (like I said before), that the possibility of NoVA losing such a store rather shocks me.... but then again, I think maybe (just maybe) NoVA is over-saturated with retail. Many people told me that Richmond is very much over-saturated, but from what I've seen so far, Tiffany & Co. and CineBistro have opened, we've sustained the two main "high-end" mall restaurants P.F. Chang's and Cheesecake Factory, and really the only loss for Stony Point was losing United Colors of Benetton.... and from what I've seen from people, I don't think it really bothered them too much... . But, like I said before, a Bloomingdale's (or even a Neiman Marcus) would really complete that high-end factor that the mall gives to you. No offense to Dillard's, but I think it really doesn't fit along with the other REALLY high end stores. Surely I'm not the only one thinking this?   I say complete the puzzle by bringing a high end anchor to Stony Point.... but then again, I really like Dillard's, and wouldn't be hurt if Dillard's stayed there long-term....

[georgeglass]

Does anyone know if the new 10,000 Villages that opened on 14th St has already closed? I drive by there almost everyday and I know they were open for a while, but the last week I haven't seen any activity and the stores looks kind of empty from what I can tell. It just seems strange since it seems like it only just opened.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

georgeglass, on 01 March 2012 - 06:19 PM, said:

Does anyone know if the new 10,000 Villages that opened on 14th St has already closed? I drive by there almost everyday and I know they were open for a while, but the last week I haven't seen any activity and the stores looks kind of empty from what I can tell. It just seems strange since it seems like it only just opened.

Yep, I drove down there while exploring and roaming Downtown while heading to Southside to bury my cat (see off-topic thread), and saw colorful, yet sad posters covering every square inch of the wall, saying "goodbye RVA" and "store closing" and such. I saw at least 10 people walk in while waiting to turn to cross the Mayo Bridge, but it is rather sad to see such a wonderful furniture boutique to close. This is another fantastic store ending it's run in Shockoe. Now we go back to primarily bars and nightclubs over there...

But I'm not actually sure if it's closed yet. When I drove there was two weeks ago, and the liquidation was going on..... hopefully hasn't closed JUST yet... still saddening if it did already...