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FantaCity (International Mall)


cityboi

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Greensboro's newest mall is an indoor mall with exterioir store fronts as well. Its a very unique mall that has two buildings with inddor shops and stores. Its not a really big mall like Four Season or Hanes and it also doesnt have the sam kind of stores.

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- Triad's frist International mall

- unique, international and basic goods and services

- event, entertainment and performance space

- banquet/meeting room for conferences, seminars, ect.

- indoor mall and outer facing retail stores

- opportunity to own or lease

- 110,000 SF available for purchase or lease in Phase 1

- 77 retail and office units

- 3 casual/fine dining restaurants

- spanish architecture with covered walkways

- "downtown city sqaure" activity, energy and atmosphere

- 10,000 SF multi purpose auditorium (seats 600-700)

- outdoor and indoor stage for performances and events

- 3,000 SF food court

- anchor store 10,000 SQ FT

- outdoor farmers market

- wide corridor for kiosk and street vendors

FantaCity is strategically positioned to become a unique Triad destination and gathering spot.

It will replicate the atmosphere, energy and excitement of a thriving downtown city square, a place where people not only shop and dine, but gather to exchange ideas, learn, entertain and be entertained.

It will be a place of cultural exchange, lively and diverse, vibrant and animated--a place people can shop for the extraordinary, enjoy great food and performances, play a game of chess in the outdoor pavilion, meet friends next to the fountain, play a guitar or cello, jump on stage and read a poem, grab friends and sing Karaoke, or simply sit, watch and take it all in.

FantaCity will offer the spirit and vitality of a downtown marketplace yet in a safe, self contained and easily navigable environment.

It will be a place for families, children and teens, young and old alike.

FantaCity will feature retailers offering international and ethnic goods and services.

Some will appeal to specific ethnic groups residing in the Triad, while others will enjoy crossover and mass market appeal. Possibilities include Hispanic/Latino, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Greek, German, Italian, Portuguese, and the diverse cultures of South America, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa.

A key part of FantaCity's market positioning and strategy is to cluster retailers who offer goods and services that cannot be conveniently found elsewhere. Retailers with both mass market and ethnic market appeal.

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For retailers FantaCity's layout is also unique and offers several advantages.

Retailers can choose locations with store fronts facing the inside of the mall, or store fronts facing outward and street-side. These outer facing units will feature covered walkways and parking spaces directly in front of stores for the shoppers' convenience.

FantaCity also features an indoor auditorium with seating for 600 to 700 people, a banquet/exhibition hall, outdoor pavilion with fountain and performance stage, and wide corridors to accommodate kiosks and "street" vendors.

These facilities will enable FantaCity to host a variety of professional, community, cultural, educational and entertainment events, and to increase foot traffic and patronage of the mall. Ongoing events and performances will also contribute to the energy and vitality of the mall.

Another significant part of FantaCity's strategic positioning is the full time scheduling of special events and performances.

FantaCity will provide both indoor and outdoor space to accommodate a variety of ongoing cultural, professional, educational and entertainment events.

A dynamic and eclectic mix of performances will be scheduled to appeal to persons of different ages and backgrounds. Live jazz, rock, hip hop, classical and a variety of folk music for example. Drama. Dance. Competitions. Poetry readings. And more. Regional and national talent as well as local amateurs and professionals will all be invited and welcomed.

More than just scheduled and professional performances, FantaCity will create the space and atmosphere for spontaneous and amateur "performances."

We want local musicians, garage bands, school choirs, drama clubs, theatrical groups, and other performers to use our space. FantaCity's outdoor stage and pavilion, including a fountain, will provide space for patrons to relax and enjoy the open air, and if they wish, hang out and play an instrument.

This combination of open space and frequently scheduled events will help FantaCity's create a lively and energetic atmosphere--a place where people wish to gather.

Events and performances are just one more way we plan to drive more traffic to your store or business, and make FantaCity a destination for the entire Piedmont Triad.

Why an "International" Mall?

Several reasons.

Presently there are ethnic stores and restaurants scattered throughout the Triad, frequently in small strip malls or standing alone.

Many of these enjoy patronage from both their own ethnic groups as well as the mainstream public--for example a Vietnamese restaurant or Chinese Acupuncturist--yet they are often difficult to locate and access.

FantaCity will cluster such businesses to make them more accessible.

Secondly, the market is ready to be tapped.

North Carolina has the fastest growing Hispanic/Latino population in the nation and the second fastest growth rate for Asians. And the Triad has the highest growth rate for Hispanic-Latinos within North Carolina. Racial and ethnic minorities now account for over 30% of the population and an estimated 23.1% of total buying power.

In addition, the general public's appetite for international, ethnic and cultural goods has steadily increased as the region and our nation have become more diverse, and our economy more global. Because FantaCity is offering stores with both mass market and ethnic appeal, we are positioned to capitalize on both of these trends.

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I'd say most of the ethnic type businesses that are around are in the areas that they are because that is where the people they serve most are. Other ethnic groups may visit them...but that is secondary. Also they generally are in areas where the rent is cheaper than if they moved into a mall space.

Is this a "real" mall being developed...or just something proposed...or ?

I'd also say if it is the real design, having two buildings like that would be a mistake (even if connected by a walkway) Folks would generally flock to one side and not bother with the other.

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:rofl:

This will be just another piece of Parking Lot Nation fouling the landscape if it is built. Let's debunk the propaganda.

It will replicate the atmosphere, energy and excitement of a thriving downtown city square, a place where people not only shop and dine, but gather to exchange ideas, learn, entertain and be entertained.
Rubbish. A thriving downtown city square usually thrives due to residential and employment density, and its ability to accept all comers. This place has no residential, and it will be surrounded by parking, which is a streetlife killer all over the world.

As for exchanging ideas, let's see how free the exchange is at the mall when someone stages a politically unpopular or provocative protest there. Do you think you'd be able to busk songs that criticized George Bush at this mall?

FantaCity will offer the spirit and vitality of a downtown marketplace yet in a safe, self contained and easily navigable environment.

Sorry, but the "safe" quotient and comfort of upper-middle class shoppers will overwhelm the well-meaning but hideously implemented attempts to cultivate diversity. Will the homeless be allowed to idle on benches here, or will they be quietly ushered out? Will teens be given a curfew if they gather in large numbers on weekend nights?

This developer's fantasy is not of a city, it is a fantasy of a shopping mall pretending to be a city. The city is where citizens interact. This is a place where consumers purchase.

The true city is a place of magic because ideas collide, risks are taken, and people live intimately near each other and engage each other 24 hours a day, not from 10 AM to 9 PM, 12-7 PM on Sundays, oh, and later during the holiday shopping season.

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The reason it's being built where it is, is PRECISELY to re-use an existing building. It is going to open, after much renovation, in the former Guilford Mills plant on West Market in between Muirs Chapel and Edwardia. Right now, that is a big empty building, contributing nothing to an area that is a mix of small retail, light industrial, and lower-middle class residential. Yes, you could concievably knock the whole mess down and start over, but I don' t see that as a location for a mixed-use development with the surrounding area in its current state. I think the mall is a good idea, considering that the building is supposedly in excellent shape. We'll see how it works out though...

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I personally would have rather seen a development like this downtown, of course it would have to be designed a little differently to fit within the downtown landscape. An international mall would have been great if they built it near the downtown depot. But since the mall is suppose to be a regional mall, a west Greensboro location would make sense so it could be closer to High Point and Winston-Salem. I think the two building arent a bad idea but in the future, an enclosed wing could be built to connect the two buildings. Right now it looks like a covered walkway is connecting the two buildings.

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i love this idea and that cheap bus service up to NY will be very popular. It reminds me of a similar service up in DC that stops in Chinatown and arrives in Manhattan and theres always a line wrapped around the block.

It reeally is a wonderful idea. Imagine those tour buses stop at the future downtown civil rights musem as well. This is exactly what Greensboro needs, more tourism.

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i love this idea and that cheap bus service up to NY will be very popular. It reminds me of a similar service up in DC that stops in Chinatown and arrives in Manhattan and theres always a line wrapped around the block.

It reeally is a wonderful idea. Imagine those tour buses stop at the future downtown civil rights musem as well. This is exactly what Greensboro needs, more tourism.

This bus service will not be catering much to tourists. This service will cater to the travel needs of the ethnic communities to see family/friends in the NY area. I wouldn't expect an extremely large tourist boost from this service.

The Grandmart store will definitely be an addition to the Triad Market. I have been in their stores in GA and other similar themed International Markets. They usually give pretty nice cars away at the Grand Openings, even a brand new Mercedes SUV at one similar store. Usually though they give away Hyundais or Kias. When it opens, I suggest everyone go thru the store especially the fresh departments, you will see produce and offerings that you probably had no idea existed. If they have a food court, you'll be able to get fresh Korean food that's quite tasty(just know what you're ordering!)

:thumbsup:

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it just means more shopping choices in Greensboro and the Triad. :thumbsup:

The mall will primarily cater to Asian and hispanics but there will be other retail that caters to African Americans and the owner hopes to attract European restuarants and retail. a major retail center like this is needed because Greensboro has a very fast growing Asian and Hispanic population.

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