Future Retail in Charlotte

[kickazzz2000]

They also opened a store a couple of years ago here in Va Beach.

[DCMetroRaleigh]

Speaking of Atlantic Station...H&M has confirmed that they are opening their first southern US store there...Charlotte can't be more than a couple of years away, and I had heard that they have been eyeing the market waiting for the right project to enter the market with.

[DealMan]

H&M is looking at Southpark in Charlotte and Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh currently. They will be looking at late 2009 or 2010 openings.

In regard to the IKEA poster previously, it is very hard to develop their site b/c their building is over 350,000 SF. I don't think everyone understands how large that is. You can't just plop that down on a couple of acres in a downtown area. When Atlantic Station was done, it was the largest brownfield site redevelopment in the history of the US, and one of the largest mixed use projects in US history. There were so many dynamics and tax benefits given to IKEA and the developer to do that deal.

In regard to Charlotte development there will be no more traditional "closed in" malls,as they are not cost effective, and are frowned upon by most retailers currently. In addition Northlake Mall opened very slow, and most retailers are performing better in "lifestyle centers" with their sales now and their operating costs are far less than an enclosed mall. Howver there will still be regional Malls. Bridges at Mint Hill will be the next one as it is 1.2 million SF and contains dept. stores. It will be open in 2010.

In regard to other types of Charlotte development there will still be a ton of grocery store growth, as they are following rooftops. Expect speciality grocers to continue to open stores here, and perhaps Whole Foods might actually get in on the act sometime this century.

High end restaurant growth will continue especially in Southpark and Uptown as that is where the tourist/convention dollars as well as the large daytime populations are located.

As far as larger centers go, expect more Target, Kohls, JC Penney anchored centers with junior boxes and shops over the next 5-10 years. Expect Kmart to close stores. Expect a redevelopment of Eastland Mall in probably 5-7 years as it will take that long for the developer to buy back the department store boxes and get control of the property, and get their arms around a quality plan.

Expect a dept. store downtown within the next 5-10 years, as well as more urban downtown retail because of the success of midtown and surrounding projects making that a viable trade area for larger format retailers.

[tozmervo]

Atlanta's IKEA is more urban than the ones I've seen in Europe. Like the previous poster said, those stores are monstrously huge - over twice the size of the full size Walmart Supercenter. And most of the merchandise is huge - you pretty much have to use a personal vehicle or pay for expensive shipping. IE, they have to provide a LOT of parking. Atlanta's store, which sits on a two story garage, has to use overflow parking lots on Saturdays with traffic cops. That place is insane. (although my kickass dining room chairs came from there. curse their stylish yet affordable offerings!)

[voyager12]

There was another article in the O recently about city footdragging on pushing for retail revitalization on the Eastside. Painted a pretty depressing picture. The Walmart planned for the blighted center along Independence is stalled, a leaseholder is not being very cooperative on moving out. The redevelopment plan for Eastland has been nothing but talk talk talk months after the heralded plans were put forth. Corridor enhancement takes time as can be seen with the gradual improvements to parts of Wilkinson and Freedom but I don't blame Eastside residents for being fed up with the lack of any forward movement.

[Charlotte_native]

There was another article in the O recently about city footdragging on pushing for retail revitalization on the Eastside. Painted a pretty depressing picture. The Walmart planned for the blighted center along Independence is stalled, a leaseholder is not being very cooperative on moving out. The redevelopment plan for Eastland has been nothing but talk talk talk months after the heralded plans were put forth. Corridor enhancement takes time as can be seen with the gradual improvements to parts of Wilkinson and Freedom but I don't blame Eastside residents for being fed up with the lack of any forward movement.

[voyager12]

There is blame to go around for sure and I truly believe that City Council and staff want to improve this area. It just must be galling though for Eastsiders to look at thriving and prosperous South Charlotte and wonder why they always get low priority. The conversion of Independence to Sharon Amity into highspeed traffic has helped to ease congestion. Unfortunately this improvement made retail renewal more difficult. I don't feel safe turning off Indy along that stretch, the movement of cars is almost to a 77 caliber. This atmosphere does not encourage driveby browsing. I think I read that Eastland Mall is owned by at least three different entitites that don't agree with each other or the City on how to move forward. What a mess all around.

[Matthew.Brendan]

The Walmart planned for the blighted center along Independence is stalled, a leaseholder is not being very cooperative on moving out.

[Justadude]

the other two businesses which recently moved a mile or so down Independence to a different strip mall were a cigar shop, and a head shop.

[Raintree21]

Shame to hear that Infinity's End finally gave in and relocated -- though I'm glad to hear it survived and hasn't moved too far away from its going-on-historic location. Where has it moved to?

[Justadude]

^ Thanks. I dedicate my 1000th post to Infinity's End's many years of service to Charlotte's recreational tobacco smokers

[UPTOWNGIRL]

I don't know if anyone posted this earlier, but some new (and much needed) retail is about to open up Uptown within the month.

The Meck ABC Board has announced that they are opening the Uptown ABC on Trade Street, directly across from the federal courthouse (in the bldg, next door to Bijoux). If you walk by there are signs in the windows confirming this as well (I had to walk over to check out if the rumours were true - and they were!)

[JBGB]

I don't know if anyone posted this earlier, but some new (and much needed) retail is about to open up Uptown within the month.

The Meck ABC Board has announced that they are opening the Uptown ABC on Trade Street, directly across from the federal courthouse (in the bldg, next door to Bijoux). If you walk by there are signs in the windows confirming this as well (I had to walk over to check out if the rumours were true - and they were!)

[ScottCLT]

This is the worst location ever! ABC always does a great job on hard to get to areas when they plan there locations. My wife works at a law firm at this building they have chosen. It's not retail it's all offices. There is no parking at all and just stupid.

[Charlotte_native]

I have a feeling that this ABC store is not targeted towards people that are driving to get to it. There's one on Graham and one on 3rd for that. But if you think about the amount of people in Avenue, Trademark, Fifth and Poplar, Catalyst, and in Gateway Village that would walk to it, it makes more sense. If you think about it, there are liquor stores on seemingly every street corner of major cities like Chicago, NYC, and Boston -- I'm not really comparing Charlotte to those cities, but if they can support literally hundreds of liquor stores downtown, Charlotte can probably support one.

[sleightofhand]

I don't know if anyone posted this earlier, but some new (and much needed) retail is about to open up Uptown within the month.

The Meck ABC Board has announced that they are opening the Uptown ABC on Trade Street, directly across from the federal courthouse (in the bldg, next door to Bijoux). If you walk by there are signs in the windows confirming this as well (I had to walk over to check out if the rumours were true - and they were!)

[PlazaMidwoodGuy]

An ABC store right across the street from Trademark!!!!

Heaven help us!

[Charlotte_native]

An ABC store right across the street from Trademark!!!!

Heaven help us!

[Miesian Corners]

I don't know if anyone posted this earlier, but some new (and much needed) retail is about to open up Uptown within the month.

The Meck ABC Board has announced that they are opening the Uptown ABC on Trade Street, directly across from the federal courthouse (in the bldg, next door to Bijoux). If you walk by there are signs in the windows confirming this as well (I had to walk over to check out if the rumours were true - and they were!)

[Justadude]

As long as it's upscale, it's a benefit to the area. There are already plenty of corner stores for the vagrants to get their hands on cheap wine, so I don't see this ABC location being much of a problem.

[Andyc545]

I spoke with a woman at the Meck ABC Board. She says that the store is not official yet. Not quite sure why they would put signs in the window if the board hasn't approved the site.

[Windsurfer]

Not bad that it's also on the Gold Rush line.

[Raintree21]

As long as it's upscale, it's a benefit to the area. There are already plenty of corner stores for the vagrants to get their hands on cheap wine, so I don't see this ABC location being much of a problem.

[Windsurfer]

I'm sure as others have said that this will be a "nicer than usual" store and that they will be quite quick to kick anyone out who even appears to be causing any trouble.

[sleightofhand]

So, sleight, you think it's a BAD thing to have an ABC store in Uptown Charlotte? The closest one I know of currently is the new one at 3rd/Cherry/Charlottetowne. Seems to me that Uptown residents can benefit from having this store within walking distance instead of having to drive to one.