Columbiana Centre

[digital_sandlapper]

The management company is filing for bankruptcy, this doesn't mean the mall or its stores are losing money or going down the drain. The company owns ~200 malls. Part of their bankruptcy might involve selling their assets, and so CC could have a new owner. However, I see this as indicative of what I was saying earlier: indoor malls are becoming less and less relevant to consumers while newer "neo-traditional" lifestyle centers are exploding.

Columbiana should be fine for now, but Columbia Place's days are numbered. It is ironic that the former's owner is the bankrupt one, though, isn't it?

[waccamatt]

I think rumors of Columbia Place's demise are greatly exaggerated.

[Temeteron]

I think rumors of Columbia Place's demise are greatly exaggerated.

no, i think its right on the money......its a ghosttown there

[waccamatt]

no, i think its right on the money......its a ghosttown there

So you come down from Charlotte (or is it Boston or Seattle?) to shop there often?

[mallguy]

I've been to Richland a few times, Columbia Place once (2 years ago) and Dutch Square a few times, and I'm also surprised that a mall like Dutch Square has a thriving Belk (as the mall seems to be a bad version of McAlister Square in Greenville, which shut down), but indeed the mall seemed to be bustling at Christmas 2007. Richland seemed beyond dead but the Belk there also seemed healthy enough, although I cannot imagine that a mall missing 2 anchors can limp on for a long time in its current state (although even when I went there in 1995 it was a ghost town)- surely once the economy picks back up, it'll be redeveloped into something (hopefully like the Midtown plans called for). Columbia Place seemed to be pretty attractive on the inside and didn't seem nearly as bad as reports suggested, but missing Dillard's and JC Penney and now Steve & Barry's cannot be a good thing for its long-term future.

In short: Columbia has a ton of malls that have some problem yet people must just love Belk's so much.

If Columbia had 2 Parisians and a Bonwit Teller in the past, who's to say that it won't ever get an upscale department store (again)?

Greenville had a few malls that lost anchors or also had a problem but the malls quickly went bust and were turned into something else (office/school space or a big mound of rubble).

[Temeteron]

So you come down from Charlotte (or is it Boston or Seattle?) to shop there often?

it's called visiting family......I used to shop there back when there were stores actually worth shopping from, say 10 years ago...

[101_ce]

I've been to Richland a few times, Columbia Place once (2 years ago) and Dutch Square a few times, and I'm also surprised that a mall like Dutch Square has a thriving Belk (as the mall seems to be a bad version of McAlister Square in Greenville, which shut down), but indeed the mall seemed to be bustling at Christmas 2007. Richland seemed beyond dead but the Belk there also seemed healthy enough, although I cannot imagine that a mall missing 2 anchors can limp on for a long time in its current state (although even when I went there in 1995 it was a ghost town)- surely once the economy picks back up, it'll be redeveloped into something (hopefully like the Midtown plans called for). Columbia Place seemed to be pretty attractive on the inside and didn't seem nearly as bad as reports suggested, but missing Dillard's and JC Penney and now Steve & Barry's cannot be a good thing for its long-term future.

In short: Columbia has a ton of malls that have some problem yet people must just love Belk's so much.

If Columbia had 2 Parisians and a Bonwit Teller in the past, who's to say that it won't ever get an upscale department store (again)?

Greenville had a few malls that lost anchors or also had a problem but the malls quickly went bust and were turned into something else (office/school space or a big mound of rubble).

Where was the second Parisian?

The mall shows only 98 stores on the website, but has 104 stores total in the mall. However, I also counted Sears Automotive, Sears Dental & Sears Portrait Studio, which do not count. That means that there are less than 95 stores in the mall. Foot Locker is also listed twice,so that is down to 94. Gold Italia is also listed twice so that is 93. Marshalls, Columbia Place Stadium Cinemas and Tire Kingdom are technically not part of the mall because they are "outside the mall". That makes 90. That means that the mall is 90/104 so that is only 87% leased which is not that bad. However, a good, popular mall usually is 95-100 percent leased. How can Columbia Place be "safe" if they have a Youth Escort Policy:Monday through Saturday 10:00 am - 9:00 pm Sunday 12:00 - 6:00 pm New Youth Escort Policy: After 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, all shoppers under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 21 years or older. Click on Security for full Youth Escort Policy.

The last time I checked, malls that have a larger amount of crime have this.

Edit: The second Parisian was at Richland (just remembered)

Edited April 19, 2009 by ct36

[mallguy]

We're on the same page re: Columbia Place. My comparison point to it was Eastland in Charlotte, which was (and is) much more run-down and has far fewer regular national chain stores. I thought Columbia Place was actually pretty attractive in the inside, but poor thing, those 1970s malls in deteriorating parts of suburbia just aren't happening places these days.

[101_ce]

We're on the same page re: Columbia Place. My comparison point to it was Eastland in Charlotte, which was (and is) much more run-down and has far fewer regular national chain stores. I thought Columbia Place was actually pretty attractive in the inside, but poor thing, those 1970s malls in deteriorating parts of suburbia just aren't happening places these days.

It is pretty bad, but nowhere near as bad as Eastland.

[Captain Worley]

no, i think its right on the money......its a ghosttown there

Every time I go, they have pretty good crowds. For a ghost town, I suggest Richland mall.

Edited April 20, 2009 by Captain Worley

[101_ce]

Every time I go, they have pretty good crowds. For a ghost town, I suggest Richland mall.

But do you see any shopping bags?

[waccamatt]

But do you see any shopping bags?

I do; do you?

[Captain Worley]

But do you see any shopping bags?

Yeah, I do. Some are even mine

[waccamatt]

Yeah, I do. Some are even mine

Mine too. I shop at Macy's all the time.

[Temeteron]

Ok, back on topic, this is the columbiana centre forum *not* the Coslumbia Disgrace mall forum.....any news on the General Growth situation?

[CorgiMatt]

As I type this, someone I know very well who makes a living in retail is in the middle of an in-depth, very detailed and reasoned explanation surrounding a rumor he has heard from several people that Dillard's at Columbiana is going to close.

[waccamatt]

Dillard's, as a company, is in poor shape so it isn't beyond the realm of possibility. If they close I vote for Nordstrom's to take their place.

[101_ce]

Dillard's, as a company, is in poor shape so it isn't beyond the realm of possibility. If they close I vote for Nordstrom's to take their place.

I do not think that Dillards would close. That is its only one in Columbia. Nordstrom would probably not come because Greenville or Charleston will get one first, and neither have one yet.

[mallguy]

I do not think that Dillards would close. That is its only one in Columbia. Nordstrom would probably not come because Greenville or Charleston will get one first, and neither have one yet.

Tapp's has signed a lease to take over the Columbiana Dillard's spot.

(just kidding)

[waccamatt]

I do not think that Dillards would close. That is its only one in Columbia. Nordstrom would probably not come because Greenville or Charleston will get one first, and neither have one yet.

There's no reason that Nordstrom would move into the Greenville or Charleston market first. The per capita income in all 3 metro's is very close.

[mallguy]

There's no reason that Nordstrom would move into the Greenville or Charleston market first. The per capita income in all 3 metro's is very close.

Charleston has all of the tourists; I assume that's the reason a Saks and a lot of other King St. stores went to Charleston first- but I don't see Nordstrom locating in downtown Charleston anytime soon- its typical store format is way too big for the market.

No way is Greenville getting one- people just drive to Atlanta or Charlotte, and the Parisian in Greenville quickly went bust, so there's a pretty poor track record there.

[gman430]

All three metro areas will be getting a Nordstrom when their population base becomes large enough to support one. That is at least ten years away though and probably even more than that. I don't see Dillard's at Columbiana closing either. If they do, I will eat my shirt.

[Spartan]

I'd say that's' pretty accurate, citylife.

[101_ce]

There's no reason that Nordstrom would move into the Greenville or Charleston market first. The per capita income in all 3 metro's is very close.

Greenville & Charleston are ahead in retail. Both GVL and Charleston have Pottery Barn, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Apple. Nordstrom will not move in with at least a little of upscale retail. It will be a long time before Greenville gets one, but Charleston could. They have several thousand people. Most of Mount Pleasant and Isle of Palms consist of $1 million dollar houses and they also get a lot of tourist. They already have Saks and Gucci, so Nordstrom could come. But it would not go downtown, so it would not come. So really, I don't think all 3 of them will get one soon. So there is a reason why GVL or Charleston will get it first. Columbia has a lot of people, but companies do not only look at population. That is why Aspen has a Prada.

I agree with Citylife, Dillards will probably not close. If they do, the building will probably just be empty.

[waccamatt]

Likewise there are stores in Columbia that are not in Greenville and/or Charleston.