Jump to content

Retail in Richmond


vdogg

Recommended Posts

hey stephen looks like we were right about American Apparel after all.....they are setting up shop in hip Carytown!!!!!

"Coming to Carytown

Look for an American Apparel store to open in Carytown this year.

The store will take over space in the Cary Court Shopping Center in the former Pickles & Ice Cream shop.

American Apparel got its start in 1997 by making T-shirts from a manufacturing plant in Los Angeles that a company's executive calls a "sweatshop-free" environment. It sold the T-shirts initially as a wholesaler.

But the company has since expanded. It now operates nearly 70 retail stores in the U.S. and elsewhere, with plans for more than 100 by next spring. The first store opened two years ago.

American Apparel also makes and sells other casual clothing for men and women."

American Apparel in Richmond

Link to comment
Share on other sites


That same article mentioned that Orvis just opened in Short Pump town center's expansion.... the two-story, 15,000 sf, adirondack inspired store even allows patrons to test out fly-fishing rods in the water feature outside the store as burt mentioned earlier....

also, Kroger is to open its 15th richmond-area store at the former K-mart location at Ivymont SQ, which is near the intersection of Midlothian Tnpk and rt 288....should be open by late 2006...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

A sad sign of the times. The venerable old Carriage House Book Shop on North Harrison Street in VCU Monroe campus is closing. The big boys (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc.) have beaten it to the ground.

If I remember correctly from my younger days, the bookshop was not actually on Harrison but in an alley just off the street in an actual carriage house. :unsure:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry for the silence, Burt. I was watching the Target/Wal-Mart oversaturation race. So far, Wal-Mart's ahead by an aisle or two, but Target's on its tail. :lol:

Seriously though, I think that we're going to see more big-box and luxury stores and a reduction in the traditonal middle-class retailers in Hampton Roads, Richmond and Roanoke. It's already starting to happen in Northern Virginia, and usually, they're on the first wave of Virginia retail.

An immediate concern is whether all the Hecht's stores in the state will survive the Macy's conversion. Lynchburg, Hampton and Norfolk are very iffy, IMO. I also feel like some of the mall-based JCPenney stores are going to relocate into strip centers under Penney's new prototype. It's been happening a lot in neighboring states.

Gazing further into my faux crystal ball :lol: I can see another luxury store, possibly Saks, opening in the Virginia market in Tidewater. Dsespite Lord & Taylor's collosal failure at Lynnhaven Mall, I think the market could stand another nicer retailer. I can also see Taubamn making a play for Neiman Marcus in Richmond to replace Dick's at Stony Point.

I also see the first wave of brand-name upscale retailers: Williams-Sooma, Banana Republic, Pottery Barn, et cetera, landing in Southwest Virginia in the next few years. It's a seriously untapped market.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry for the silence, Burt. I was watching the Target/Wal-Mart oversaturation race. So far, Wal-Mart's ahead by an aisle or two, but Target's on its tail. :lol:

Seriously though, I think that we're going to see more big-box and luxury stores and a reduction in the traditonal middle-class retailers in Hampton Roads, Richmond and Roanoke. It's already starting to happen in Northern Virginia, and usually, they're on the first wave of Virginia retail.

An immediate concern is whether all the Hecht's stores in the state will survive the Macy's conversion. Lynchburg, Hampton and Norfolk are very iffy, IMO. I also feel like some of the mall-based JCPenney stores are going to relocate into strip centers under Penney's new prototype. It's been happening a lot in neighboring states.

Gazing further into my faux crystal ball :lol: I can see another luxury store, possibly Saks, opening in the Virginia market in Tidewater. Dsespite Lord & Taylor's collosal failure at Lynnhaven Mall, I think the market could stand another nicer retailer. I can also see Taubamn making a play for Neiman Marcus in Richmond to replace Dick's at Stony Point.

I also see the first wave of brand-name upscale retailers: Williams-Sooma, Banana Republic, Pottery Barn, et cetera, landing in Southwest Virginia in the next few years. It's a seriously untapped market.

My goodness! You ARE optimistic. Is Stoney Point's Dick's in trouble? (that sounds kinda dirty, doesn't it? hahaha). What about Short Pumps Hecht/Macy's? Is there still hope for Bloomies there? And you think Saks for HR and Neiman's for Richmond, eh?

Edited by vdogg
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I really enjoy shopping at Target. I was told by an associate at Khols at Pembroke Mall that Target is suppose to tear down the Furniture Liquidators and build a new store at the back of the mall. At one point the mall said they were going to build a parking deck and with the new Target I can see that happening. I hope the Target store is nice and big and maybe slightly upscale since it is going in the new DT in VB. :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Steven Rocks I love the way you think. :lol: But why do you think Dicks will move from stony point I go there all the time buying baseball equipment. Is it because theres so many of them all over Metro Richmond. But yea Neiman Marcus would be sweet. I also think Strawbridges would be a nice fit as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My goodness! You ARE optimistic. Is Stoney Point's Dick's in trouble? (that sounds kinda dirty, doesn't it? hahaha). What about Short Pumps Hecht/Macy's? Is there still hope for Bloomies there? And you think Saks for HR and Neiman's for Richmond, eh?

Steven Rocks I love the way you think. :lol: But why do you think Dicks will move from stony point I go there all the time buying baseball equipment. Is it because theres so many of them all over Metro Richmond. But yea Neiman Marcus would be sweet. I also think Strawbridges would be a nice fit as well.

AFAIK, The Stony Point Dick's is doing okay. but I think the mall lost a little something when it lost Galyan's and got the same anchor as a half-dozen other strip malls in the area. The appeal of the store shrank from regional to neighborhood just like that. At a mall the size of Short Pump, Dick's isn't as critical to the malll's image, but at a smaller mall like Stony Point, evry anchor matters. That's what I'm basing my reasoning on.

Short Pump is killing Stony Point in the retail popularity contest with no abatement in sight, and the place needs a shot in the arm to keep its forward momentum going.

Keep in mind however that Neiman's is only one possible solution. The thing that steps up Stony Point's game could be something entirely different. But I do know NM would make it a major destination combined with Saks and all those designer boutiques.

Downtowner, Strawbridge's and Hecht's are the same chain, so they're both becoming Macy's next year :(

Burt, Short Pump will probably get Macy's. I think Federated would bring in Macy's and Bloomingdale's if they had two anchor spaces available (darn you, Lord & Taylor, for giing up too soon LOL) but with one anchor spot available, it's gonna be Macy's. Kepp your fingers crossed, though. I'm wrong sometimes. ;)

Yep, I can see Saks in Virgina Beach (Town Center maybe?) or Norfolk eventually. If the right opening appears, it's inevitable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the same thing happend when VB's Galyans changed over to Dicks. There was already a Dicks about 8 miles away so like you say now it is just another neighborhood store instead of a regional draw. I was sad to see them go.

Edited by guynvb
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah there is a Dick's across from Chesterfield Towne center which is maybe 5-6 miles away from the Dick's at Stony Point. The CTC Dick's is still a one story concept, and I know Dick's was really going after the 2-story concept so how viable would a shuffle at Stony Point be? Also, is there not room for another potential anchor to be built??

I know that Short Pump dominates in the upscale market, but is it as if Stony Point is struggling? It's smaller, but most of the stores are unique to the market and every time I'm there, the parking lots are pretty full and there's a lot of foot traffic. I think the fact that Richmond could sustain two upscale malls opening within weeks of each other says many good things about the market.

I'd love to see a Nieman Marcus in Richmond. well haha not that I could buy anything there but it has a nice ring to it :lol: I think it would best fit in at Stony Point.... Sak's, Louis Vuitton, Nieman Marcus... it just fits.

BTW stephen... I heard that Forest City (the company that developed Short Pump TC) is bidding to buy some land in the east side of town (The Viasystems property on Laburnum across from the Ukrop's out there).... it's a HUGE piece of land and I hear they would be planning a lifestyle center there for the East end that is finally starting to mature a little.

What are your thoughts oh wise wizard of all that is retail? :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Saks Fifth Avenue at Stony Point is hosting some kind of benefit gala tonight and its entire 2nd floor will be turned into a reception area with food, drinks, music and, I'm sure, elegantly turned-out ladies with sleek escorts.

Steven or Guy, what is the info on American Apparel in HR?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Huh Stephen I never knew that Strawbridges and hechts were the same thing because I remember seeing them for the first time at the

King of Prussia Mall. I can tell ya you can get alot of good ideas for a store for a mall from the King of Prussia Mall. Also I would like to see Sears leave from Regency and try to draw something bigger in that space I really think Regency needs to step it up. Because they just lost a big time store which was Eddie Bauer. Another one of my Solutions for Regency is that we knock down the Sears Store and build something there in place of it. I think that would be really awesome but I've heard from alot of people in my part of town that they still go to regency because its so convenient and it has a roof over it but I really think the sears has to go and start over on that part of the mall.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Huh Stephen I never knew that Strawbridges and hechts were the same thing because I remember seeing them for the first time at the

King of Prussia Mall. I can tell ya you can get alot of good ideas for a store for a mall from the King of Prussia Mall. Also I would like to see Sears leave from Regency and try to draw something bigger in that space I really think Regency needs to step it up. Because they just lost a big time store which was Eddie Bauer. Another one of my Solutions for Regency is that we knock down the Sears Store and build something there in place of it. I think that would be really awesome but I've heard from alot of people in my part of town that they still go to regency because its so convenient and it has a roof over it but I really think the sears has to go and start over on that part of the mall.

Maybe Regency should get rid of Sears and put in an indoor waterpark or small amusement park just like they do in this part of the world (Montana and northern states). They do it up here because it is so cold half the year, but it might work there too. Although, on second thought, Regency is supposed to be somewhat upscale and a project like what I'm speaking of would probably kill that ambiance...unless, very tastefully done. Who knows...there's got to be a niche out there that Regency could capitalize on that no one else in that region is doing. I was just thinking outside the box a bit - forgive me if it was too far outside the box. :unsure:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You guys have given me a lot to respond to :D

burt, this is the closest I could get to an answer on American Apparel in Hampton Roads. Go to http://www.americanapparel.net/storelocati...metroareaid=101 and click on "Are we there yet? Notify Me>" they have a form you can fill out that will send you an email when they announce new store plans in the area. I signed up. :)

wrldcoupe, you're right. It's not as if Stony Point is in trouble...yet. The problem is that if Short Pump continues its forward momentum while Stony Point vacilates, two upscale malls on a level playing field soon become unequal and Stony Point's most distinctive retailers start getting picked off one-by-one, just like Regency's, and end up at Short Pump.

I worry about this because all the people I know in Rchmond seem to prefer Short Pump by a wide margin. I'm personally a Stony Point fan. It's a far more elegant mall, and the people watching is better. If they had Nordstrom instead of Dillard's and Franco's, Apple, Saxon and The Cheesecake Factory, I'd have no reason to go to Short Pump.

There is nominal room to expand Stony Point. That's why Neiman Marcus makes sense. Neiman's would more than likely only be about the size that Dick's is now, which would cause very little disruption to mall shoppers.

I didn't know about Forest City buying land on the Eastside. It will be interesting to see what happens there. I can see a new Macy's and Dillard's and maybe a new JCPenney coming out of a development like that. Probably not another Short Pump or Stony Point retailer-wise...yet.

Downtowner, King of Prussia is one hell of a mall. Probaly the best mall complex I've ever been to. When I went in 1998, both Hecht's (former John Wannamaker) and Strawbridge & Clothier were Strawbridge's. Now, the Strawbridge & Clothier is The Pavilion, a mixed used project anchored by The Cheesecake Factory and Borders and Hecht's/Strawbridge's is scheduled for closure.

eandslee and Downtowner, truth be told, I love that Sears at Regency. I used to like it even more when it had the garish red panels on the side. :lol: That said, it is a drag on the place and it would be wonderful if they could get it to move, at least temporarily, and allow Macy's to take over and rebuild its space into a single Macy's instead of this "one store spread into three locations" garbage Hecht's has going.

With Hecht's North and South cleared out, Regency could spruce up its curb appeal, possibly land Dick's so that Stony Point would be clear for Neiman-Marcus and bring in additional new blood. I think Target would go great in the old Thalhimers (Hecht's South) and Dick's, a bookstore, and a new movie theater and food court (or Sears) would be great in the old Miller & Rhoads (Hecht's North).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Like yea I mean what I don't understand is how would they put a Neiman Marcus where Dicks is now because the style of the building just doesn't go with dicks but maybe when Watkins Centre gets built maybe that will have a really nice mall and have like 5 Anchors or 4 maybe and have like Macys,Neiman Marcus,Nordstroms and Bloomingdales that would be one heck of a Mall but I really think were gonna be Mall City one day if not we already are but I think when Chesterfield gets its second mall and if Eastern Henrico ever gets another one then I really think the city will be full of Malls. Another thing I really can't understand is why theres so few Hotels in Short Pump I mean theres a few in InnsBrook but I think downtown Short Pump could stand a few more even though its not even one bit of a downtown.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Stephen, do you mean to say they should close the dicks and replace it with a Neiman Marcus or simply build another Neiman Marcus.... If business is good at the Dick's how could they do something like that?

It's a game of musical anchors for the most part. Here's how it would work:

1) Sears closes at Regency Square.

2) Macy's takes over the Sears space, expands and renovates it, opening in the new position and closing Hecht's North, Hecht's South and possibly Hecht's Furniture Gallery.

3) Hecht's North and Hecht's South are gutted and renovated for new use.

4) Dick's takes over part of Hecht's North and closes at Stony Point. Rest of Hecht's North is opened as a new food court and movie theater. Target opens in Hecht's South.

4) Dick's at Stony Point is gutted and renovated for Neiman Marcus.

5) Neiman Marcus opens at Stony Point.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

sounds good in theory but is it practical? Would Taubman actually do something like that?

1. There is a target at Libbie and Broad about 3 miles away from Regency. Would that not be kind of close?

2. A Dick's at Regency may give Dick's a better regional distribution of locations (Currently, the Dicks at Chesterfield TC is less than 3 miles from the one at Stony Point).

3. There is a K-mart less than 3 miles from the Regency Sears... Perhaps they would be consolidated into one of Sear's new stores?

4. There's a movie theater less than 3 miles from Regency (West Tower)

Where's that put us?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

sounds good in theory but is it practical? Would Taubman actually do something like that?

1. There is a target at Libbie and Broad about 3 miles away from Regency. Would that not be kind of close?

2. A Dick's at Regency may give Dick's a better regional distribution of locations (Currently, the Dicks at Chesterfield TC is less than 3 miles from the one at Stony Point).

3. There is a K-mart less than 3 miles from the Regency Sears... Perhaps they would be consolidated into one of Sear's new stores?

4. There's a movie theater less than 3 miles from Regency (West Tower)

Where's that put us?

The Target at Libbie and Broad would stay open under this scenario. I think business is strong enough to warant a second location. Sears would likely find another location nearby, possibly in a former Kmart, but maybe in a new building. The shopping center aross Quiocassin from Regency has always been a good spot for stores but always has gaping vacanceis. A redevloped center with a new Sears would be a shot in the arm for the property. The theater nearby might close, but that's the other developer's problem, not Taubman's :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.