22 replies to this topic

[xivinrah]

I'm curious to know in which direction the Peachtree Mall is headed. With many stores either closing it's doors or relocating to Columbus Park Crossing, there doesn't seem to be much hope for it anymore. If Macy's, Dillard's, or JC Penney's relocate or vacate the Columbus market altogether, I fear that that entire retail stretch will become a dead-zone much like what happened to Columbus Square. Any information on how or what management plans to do to make the mall much more viable than it is now? I did hear about there being an expansion proposed for the mall (2-3 stories) but it was turned down by the City Council. Anyone knows what will happen next. This is disheartening for a young college student who is new to the area and sees the mall as sort of a place to go beyond whatever the campus already has to offer in terms of food, definitely shopping at a slightly higher caliber than Columbus Park Crossing... I live along St. Mary's Road and having to go so far north just to go shopping is becoming more and more of a nuisance.

What do you think could be done to improve that mall and entice new, economically strong and slightly upscale retail in a mall in which everything seems to be pulling away from?

Besides... the library on Macon Road was a good idea, but what could they possibly do if the mall should become defunct other than expand or add a new runway to the Columbus Metro Airport?

Edited by xikartu, 29 January 2009 - 11:13 AM.

[Columbus1984]

I think the mall is doing fine. Yes, some stores have closed, but it is the economy that is doing that. Macon Mall is bankrupt and losing stores every week. That mall could close any day now. Peachtree Mall should be OK. The economy is killing retail right now.

[xivinrah]

Columbus1984, on Jan 29 2009, 04:56 PM, said:

I think the mall is doing fine. Yes, some stores have closed, but it is the economy that is doing that. Macon Mall is bankrupt and losing stores every week. That mall could close any day now. Peachtree Mall should be OK. The economy is killing retail right now.

That makes a lot of sense. Makes me wish I had just posted a message instead of a whole new topic.

[aboutmetro]

I tend to agree with Columbus1984. Peachtree is still a good property with good demographics.  The general trend of indoor malls has been to redevelop as hybrid indoor/outdoor malls, like the Brookwood Village in Birmingham, AL (also in the photo below).  It has some similarities to Columbus' Peachtree Mall. It's on a major urban highway, it has a creek in front of it. It's undergone several renovations. Its last renovation was a major one to add the outdoor store fronts and sidewalks with outdoor dining.

If/when GGP comes out of bankruptcy, they could take a page from Colonials handbook (they've done it in other locales), the mall would continue to be not only viable but a hot property. GGP's recent renovation of the Augusta Mall did something similar. The old Parisian space, which is actually owned by Dillard's) would make an awesome location for a hotel with condos mixed in on top... Imagine watching airplanes land from your soundproof penthouse condo!  Really, though, the best thing for the Mall might be if the airport is relocated to a more central location with Auburn-Opelika and the airport property get re-master planned for a master-planned community incorporating the Mall and the university.

Edited by aboutmetro, 02 February 2009 - 11:30 AM.

[mitchella81]

I tend to agree with previous posters. I think peachtree is doing ok. It's hard to see the mall closing some of the stores that are struggling nationally are leaving the market like Eddie Bauer which was projected to possibly go under this year. On a brighter side WRBL ran a story about Peachtree Mall about 2 weeks ago because there had been several rumors circulating around the valley that the mall was closing down. The mall manger stated that some stores were leaving, but there are several unnamed new tennants that will be opening in the mall in early spring. I tend to think that Columbus will do better than other parts of the state during the hard economic situation because of Ft. Benning. The base provides so much revenue to the city including Tourism dollars. Ft. Benning provides basic training as well as many schools which bring troops in from all over the country even some international. Those personal have graduation ceremonies which bring their families into the community and those families want to spend money and many of those dollars go to the stores at peachtree mall. As long as that base is there I think Peachtree will survive.

On a seperate note it is sad to hear about Macon Mall. The Macon Mall was the largest outside of Metro Atlanta in the state at one time. The Macon retail Market is changing drastically not just the mall.

[aboutmetro]

mitchella81, on Feb 5 2009, 10:24 AM, said:

I tend to agree with previous posters. I think peachtree is doing ok. It's hard to see the mall closing some of the stores that are struggling nationally are leaving the market like Eddie Bauer which was projected to possibly go under this year. On a brighter side WRBL ran a story about Peachtree Mall about 2 weeks ago because there had been several rumors circulating around the valley that the mall was closing down. The mall manger stated that some stores were leaving, but there are several unnamed new tennants that will be opening in the mall in early spring. I tend to think that Columbus will do better than other parts of the state during the hard economic situation because of Ft. Benning. The base provides so much revenue to the city including Tourism dollars. Ft. Benning provides basic training as well as many schools which bring troops in from all over the country even some international. Those personal have graduation ceremonies which bring their families into the community and those families want to spend money and many of those dollars go to the stores at peachtree mall. As long as that base is there I think Peachtree will survive.

On a seperate note it is sad to hear about Macon Mall. The Macon Mall was the largest outside of Metro Atlanta in the state at one time. The Macon retail Market is changing drastically not just the mall.

I did read in some trade journals where GGP did get an extension on their debt, so no bankruptcy yet.

[aboutmetro]

WSJ reported in late March that GGP has been unable to renegotiate debt and is still working to avoid foreclosure. The past due debt is rare, but debt holders don't want to takeover the properties.  Some communities have in other cases used local development funds to save major retail properties from closing.  Columbus' leaders should seriously consider a situation like this if GGP turns sour.

[aboutmetro]

Obviously the headline in this topic was unwarranted histeria.  Good news, however, if Simon Properties Group ends up purchasing General Growth (and Peachtree  Mall) as reported here by WSJ. Simon owns several shopping centers in the Atlanta area. Perhaps they could go ahead and fill the vacant [former] Parisian space. As I've mentioned before. A Costco in that spot would work great. Or even a hotel.  Of course, if we could get some visionaries in local leadership and go with this airport plan, A LOT could be done with that area. Or it could be developed into a 'city within a city' concept like Atlantic Station.

[ct36]

Abercrombie & Fitch is closing.

[Columbus1984]

ct36, on 04 January 2011 - 07:05 PM, said:

Abercrombie & Fitch is closing.

Wow that's really shocking. Is there a sign up?

[Columbus1984]

ct36, on 04 January 2011 - 07:05 PM, said:

Abercrombie & Fitch is closing.

Wow that's really shocking. Is there a sign up?

[Columbus1984]

ct36, on 04 January 2011 - 07:05 PM, said:

Abercrombie & Fitch is closing.

Wow that's really shocking. Is there a sign up?

[Columbus1984]

ct36, on 04 January 2011 - 07:05 PM, said:

Abercrombie & Fitch is closing.

That store has been there forever.

Edited by Columbus1984, 04 January 2011 - 09:33 PM.

[StevenRocks]

Abercrombie & Fitch is editing its store base because of company-wide sales issues.  I don't have any specific information on the local store, but I doubt the closing has much to with the mall or the market as much as A&F's dated product mix.

[ct36]

StevenRocks, on 04 January 2011 - 11:13 PM, said:

Abercrombie & Fitch is editing its store base because of company-wide sales issues.  I don't have any specific information on the local store, but I doubt the closing has much to with the mall or the market as much as A&F's dated product mix.

Pretty much. Guess the lease was up. However, I have heard that this particular location is usually empty and did very poorly.

[ct36]

Columbus1984, on 04 January 2011 - 09:28 PM, said:

Wow that's really shocking. Is there a sign up?

No. I found it out from a guy that works at the Town Center A&F.

[kendal 8]

Is the abercrombie and fitch store closing in columbus.or is this in another state or city your talking about.

[danielrhodes]

ct36, on 05 January 2011 - 02:52 PM, said:

No. I found it out from a guy that works at the Town Center A&F.

Are you talking about Columbus, OH? Town Center A&F, never heard of that. Please let us know.

[ct36]

danielrhodes, on 06 January 2011 - 09:39 AM, said:

Are you talking about Columbus, OH? Town Center A&F, never heard of that. Please let us know.

Columbus, GA
Town Center at Cobb

[Mellophonius]

Well, this *is* in the Columbus, Georgia section...