Eastland Mall Redevelopment

[101_ce]

Just file it under "it was only a matter of time" - Burlington Coat Factory is closing its Eastland location. It's last day will be March 20.

I knew they would close soon.

[mallguy]

I can't see this place lasting for long without anchors. Then again, Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore lasted nearly 35 years after Sears left with no large anchors.

The mall directory online (http://eastlandnc.mallfinder.com) shows a pretty good range of in-line tenants- is it current? The mall also had plenty of foot traffic (literally) the last time I was there. I agree with you.

[Urbanity]

With Burlington closing I don't see how it is economically feasible for any small store to stay in business there. Am I incorrect in assume that all mall tenants contribute to the building's operation costs (security, utilities, property tax)? If so, I can't imagine the small stores being able to shoulder the costs alone.

[mallguy]

With Burlington closing I don't see how it is economically feasible for any small store to stay in business there. Am I incorrect in assume that all mall tenants contribute to the building's operation costs (security, utilities, property tax)? If so, I can't imagine the small stores being able to shoulder the costs alone.

I agree with you- and as the mall was losing money when Glimcher owned it, the small stores + the then-anchors weren't paying enough to keep it afloat.

StevenRocks, how in the world did Mondawin Mall in Baltimore survive for 35 years without anchors yet remain over 90% leased (as I read) and finally got an anchor back- a Target?

[101_ce]

The mall directory online (http://eastlandnc.mallfinder.com) shows a pretty good range of in-line tenants- is it current? The mall also had plenty of foot traffic (literally) the last time I was there. I agree with you.

I am not sure but I think that it probably is not.

[StevenRocks]

StevenRocks, how in the world did Mondawin Mall in Baltimore survive for 35 years without anchors yet remain over 90% leased (as I read) and finally got an anchor back- a Target?

Mondawmin's local trade are never abandoned the mall. Neither did its management company.

[mallguy]

Mondawmin's local trade are never abandoned the mall. Neither did its management company.

What filled the vacant anchors while it was anchor-less?

[StevenRocks]

I think the Sears at Mondawmin was divided into smaller stores. Murphy's was there, and could have possibly taken part of the Sears space.

[perrykat]

This place can't even keep BCF, things must be in horrid shape. I will be very, very surprised if Eastland makes it to the end (heck, middle) of 2010. Over 1 million square feet GLA and all that is going to soon be in there is around 50 stores and a church in the old movie theater.

It's time for this one to go.

Edited March 8, 2010 by perrykat

[perrykat]

Any new tenant changes/mall announcements since Coat Factory said they were closing? I imagine a store closing sale has been underway?

This is going to be interesting to watch. I'm curious to see how management plans to keep the mall in operation - usually when the last anchor goes, the rest of the mall goes along with it right after.

[mallguy]

I'm anxious for any news as well. The store directory online doesn't show many changes:

http://eastlandnc.mallfinder.com/go/dirlisting.cfm?fl=all

(That website is really hard to find!)

Let's be positive here- Eastland is gaining a fourth Future Anchor, to much fanfare!

[perrykat]

Hah! Very true....most recent article I can find regarding Eastland Mall:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/03/12/1309875/did-city-ruin-future-hope-for.html

That link still lists several in-line tenants (if it's up to date), but when Burlington leaves they probably will as well. This mall has died such a horrible death.

[mallguy]

How's Charlotte's newest unanchored center doing?

The store list on the website is clearly outdated:

http://eastlandnc.mallfinder.com/go/dirlisting.cfm?fl=all

I haven't been since the Sears was in the process of shutting down but will need to go!

[perrykat]

This is obviously the mall that refuses to die. The listing online is outdated, but apparently it's still open. I don't think this place is ever going to close.

[Batou]

Well now it's going to die http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/04/18/1384628/end-is-near-for-eastland-mall.html

[Boricua]

Well now it's going to die http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/04/18/1384628/end-is-near-for-eastland-mall.html

Finally! Eastland has had one slow agonizing death. GOOD RIDDANCE!

[Batou]

Finally! Eastland has had one slow agonizing death. GOOD RIDDANCE!

Yeah it really is a shame what happened to it, never been to it myself (passed by it once and that was scary enough), it's heyday was long before my time. It's a good study about what poor planning etc does to an area.

[Charlotteman]

Isn't the area around Eastland known for it's high crime? Because of that, I must assume many many criminals live in the neighborhoods ringing Eastland.

In the future, if the mall area is used as a mass transit staging area, wouldn't that give the local criminals easy access to the rest of the city?

[tozmervo]

Next thing you know, someone will start claiming that sidewalks in suburbs will increase the crime rate.

Oh wait, Bill James already did that.

In any event, Eastland already has a transit center that connects several bus routes and would serve as the terminus of the future streetcar.

[mallguy]

I want to buy the sun logo. Maybe the Museum of the New South would display it?

[DigitalSky]

I would argue, on behalf of Eastland and most of its area residents, that it was more the "perception of crime" that plagued it than the actual amount of crime itself.

[NCMike1981]

I remember back in early 2002 I almost got a job at the Dillards in Eastland and almost moved into an apt complex a couple of blocks away. Back then the mall had all it's dept store anchors and I remember thinking that the outside was ancient but the inside wasn't that bad. It kind of resembled the defunct South Square Mall in Durham a bit to me. I remember Eastland having Gap and American Eagle among typical mid market stores and the food court had the typical Sbarros/Chick Fil A. The apt complex I looked at really wasn't bad, had a pool/clubhouse, looked to have been built in the early '90s and I didnt feel in danger while touring the property. I ended up changing my mind and moved up to MA instead but I sometimes have to wonder about what could have been...

Edited April 20, 2010 by NCMike1981

[StevenRocks]

I would argue, on behalf of Eastland and most of its area residents, that it was more the "perception of crime" that plagued it than the actual amount of crime itself.

I agree. I never felt unsafe at Eastland.

[mallguy]

I remember Eastland having Gap and American Eagle among typical mid market stores and the food court had the typical Sbarros/Chick Fil A.

Where was the Gap- upstairs near Belk? Where was the Sbarro?

What else was there? I recall the slew of Limited-related stores upstairs near Belk, a Bombay Co., American Eagle

and Things Remembered up near Dillard's but the other typical mall stores were long-gone when I went there in 2005 for the first time since 1991.

[nonillogical]

I would argue, on behalf of Eastland and most of its area residents, that it was more the "perception of crime" that plagued it than the actual amount of crime itself.

though i haven't lived there, i am inclined to agree. i go to the area somewhat often for the awesome authentic hispanic and asian restaurants in the area, and never felt like it was anywhere near as bad as its made out to be.

public opinion on these kinds of things can tend to snowball out of control, especially when the most vocal detractors seem to be suburbanites on the outside looking in.