Crabtree Valley Mall

[RaleighRob]

^ I'll have to check that out, Steven. Sounds neat.

On the Forever 21 topic, I saw they got the construction walls up for this. Whoah, I had no idea they were taking up this much room. From the looks of it, they'll be bigger than any other store there (excluding the department store anchors). And to think, only a few months ago, I'd never heard of them.

[ncwebguy]

The parking deck is now open between Belks and Barnes and Noble. The few people like me who actually walk on the "connecting" sidewalk have to look both ways now, instead of just toward the post office.

The Belk lighting is neat! If they are brighter *and* energy efficient, it should be rolled out to all of their stores over the next few years. If RTP-headquartered Cree is involved, so much the better.

The Pottery Barn expansion and Forever XXI spaces are still "coming soon", but the old L&T first floor entrance has only ads with no signs of tenants coming in before the holiday season.

[StevenRocks]

The Belk lighting is neat! If they are brighter *and* energy efficient, it should be rolled out to all of their stores over the next few years. If RTP-headquartered Cree is involved, so much the better.

I like them because they don't look like typical lighting. It feels more special and 'considered,' if you know what I mean.

[yoga]

Has anyone used these guys? I stopped in yesterday to inquire about having some shirts made, the guy was really nice & price seemed reasonable ($60 plus material). Just wondering if any of you kids had used them before.

Edited October 17, 2007 by yoga

[ncwebguy]

I did but it was 11 years ago (when they were across from what is now Kanki) to alter a suit I bought at Hechts.

They did all the chalk dimensions stuff and had it back to me in a couple of days.

[yoga]

Thankya kindly, ncwebguy.

And here I was, about to ask if anyone here wore clothes.

[DPK]

And here I was, about to ask if anyone here wore clothes.

I like it in the buff. * giggity *

j/k

[Jones_]

Lee's is great at what they do, but don't show up in a hurry. Pick up you stuff and get measured at some odd time when the mall is not busy as the register can get overrun pretty quick

[ncwebguy]

They have measuring down to a science. I took for granted going at an "off" time. If you can do that, it will help, thoguh I don't see them making many/any mistakes, though making something from scratch is probably a different process.

[Beth Y]

I have certainly used Lee's to hem some jeans while I shopped or take something in, but I guess I have never thought of them as a "real" tailor, like someone that would make your clothes from scratch. Do they have a good selection of quality fabrics or designs to show you? I know when I have used a tailor before (in another city) that is all they did....make suits, shirts, etc.

[DwnTwnRaleighGuy]

The parking deck is now open between Belks and Barnes and Noble. The few people like me who actually walk on the "connecting" sidewalk have to look both ways now, instead of just toward the post office.

The Belk lighting is neat! If they are brighter *and* energy efficient, it should be rolled out to all of their stores over the next few years. If RTP-headquartered Cree is involved, so much the better.

The Pottery Barn expansion and Forever XXI spaces are still "coming soon", but the old L&T first floor entrance has only ads with no signs of tenants coming in before the holiday season.

Great, thank you!

Do you know what the start date is for the expansion of the Barnes & Noble section are? My guess is sometime after the holiday season?

[ncwebguy]

Crabtree would be crazy to start any major construction projects between now and the end of the year. They don't want to lose any more parking spaces and/or confuse shoppers. The part of the deck between B&N and the mall proper closest to Glenwood is still surface parking. That part of the deck, and the restaurants on top, will probably start construction in early 2008, or whenever the weather permits.

According to the N&O the new new stores are still a month or so away.

Pottery Barn's rennovation opens in mid-November and Forever 21 opens in December. Missing the Friday after Thanksgiving seems odd, but its not my money.

[StevenRocks]

I had a chance to walk through Crabtree tonight. Everything looks healthy and Hudson Belk's main floor looks amazing for the first time in decades. Nothing new is open yet, but there's new concept stores by American Eagle and Journeys in the works, as well as the previously announced Forever 21.

[RaleighRob]

I had a chance to walk through Crabtree tonight. Everything looks healthy ....

Except for their ridiculous insistence on putting up Christmas decorations in mid-October.

But I digress.

[StevenRocks]

^Yeah, I know. Most malls are starting now. Crabtree tends to have a large holiday set-up so it's not too unusual.

[dmccall]

It doesn't really change my outlook on Jesus or anything, but these early early early Christmas decorations just make the season absurdly long and boring. It used to be that Halloween was a nice, hard holiday, complete with decorating, that couldn't be interrupted by Christmas stuff. Now, I'm desensitized to the whole season. By the time mid December gets here I pretty sick of it all by then. Yeah yeah. Call me "Scrooge".

[Gard]

It doesn't really change my outlook on Jesus or anything, but these early early early Christmas decorations just make the season absurdly long and boring. It used to be that Halloween was a nice, hard holiday, complete with decorating, that couldn't be interrupted by Christmas stuff. Now, I'm desensitized to the whole season. By the time mid December gets here I pretty sick of it all by then. Yeah yeah. Call me "Scrooge".

Agreed. Its really sad to see Christmas kicking Halloween out of the picture these days. It seems to get earlier every year. Next thing you know, it really will be Christmas in July!

[RaleighRob]

The part I found was funny: Last time I was at Crabtree, I walked in that new entrance where the first floor of Lord & Taylor was, where they have outdoor speakers with music and a recorded announcer. As I was approaching the door, there was some announcement regarding "Come to Crabtree Mall on Halloween night to do all your Trick-or-treating!". At that very moment I walk thru the doors and see a ton of big Christmas displays right in my path!

Yeah...not that I would've liked to trick-or-treat in a mall when I was a kid...but I sure as heck wouldn't wanna do it in a place covered in Christmas decorations!

[Beth Y]

I am aggravated how Thanksgiving has just fallen by the wayside! My kids like to decorate for each holiday, but you just can't find Thanksgiving decorations anymore. The stores jump from Halloween to Christmas!

[ncwebguy]

Last night I told my wife about reading about the decorations on here and she said she doesn't want to go now till after Thanksgiving. She's made it a point to tell the manager at Linens and Things, Bed Bath and Beyond and Rite Aid that its too soon for Christmas stuff.

Are they hoping "Black Friday" lose its appeal by putting out the decorations earlier? Do they honestly think people will start their holiday shopping because the decorations are out in full force?

I got used to seeing the Halloween space in Target swapped out for Chrismas, but having them "side by side" reduces the meaning of both holidays. If mom didn't save the cornucopias, turkeys, etc. then we wouldn't have anything for Thanksgiving. Ugh.

[StevenRocks]

I dunno. Christmas stuff has been out in stores since Labor Day. At some point, I've learned to turn off my gag reflex on the commercialization of Christmas and the 'Christmas-fication' of Halloween. It really doesn't bother me.

I wonder if anyone's considering locating a store in the new hallway under Hudson Belk Men's. It'd be a pretty good spot for something high-traffic.

[rooster8]

Just went to Crabtree yesterday. I hadn't really been there in a few years, at least long enough to look around. It's funny that I still think back to the pre-90's renovation days (I miss Hungate's). Anyway it's amazing how quickly stores come and go over the years. I was really surprised at how large the Forever21 space is. It appears like it will be one of the biggest non-anchors once completed.

[rooster8]

Sorry to reminisce so much, but I decided to check the Web Archive to see what I could find out Crabtree's past. Here is the oldest store listing I could find:

Crabtree Directory 1996

I consider this the peak of the post-renovation period.

[NCMike1981]

wow thanks for that link! Very interesting

[dmccall]

Crabtree Directory 1996

Gosh, I can't wait for that Speedo store to open.

Strange thing about that list is that it lists Spencer and the TenderBox as "new". Perhaps they meant new locations as those stores were in the mall when it originally opened, IIRC.