My article awhile back that talked about the mall being revamped was confirmed to a certain extent in the Philly Inquirer this past week.
The confirmed that all the zoning laws were approved for the Wal-Mart. They also confirmed what I said about the Sears space, although they cliamed it was going to be 3 not 2 stores. I am guessing this will be converted into almost another wing of the mall.
However, despite all these good nuggets of news out there. Rick claims that the Cinnabun is leaving. Although, that this years Black Friday wasn't all that "crazy". If this is true that would be the third place to pull out of the foodcourt in less than a year. Till recently it was one of the few bright spots in the alling mall.
The past two Christmas's have seen a large number of stores pulling out right after the shopping season is over. Wonder if anyone else is pulling out this year. Wonder if people are just pulling our leg about the Mall being revamped.
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Did Preit say what they were planning on doing with the rest of the mall because that is still empty. Everytime I go in there it is like another store has closed down. Two weeks ago I went wanted to go to Gertrude Hawk for some Thanksgiving favors for my mom and they had closed down too. But for some reason the wacky Indian and Oriental stores are still open and I have never seen anyone in them. OH! I think Wilson's Leather was closed as well. I hope Walmart and the Sears thing isn't the only thing that Preit has up its sleave. There are no music stores, GAP is gone, and there are only two anchor stores left (Boscov's Sucks), and the food court is just a shame. What the hell happened to Boardwalk fries? That place was great. The only good thing is that there is virtually no line for Santa so that is where I am taking Hunter this year.
Gertrude Hall closed the day after Easter this year. I went there to get a carmel apple for Liza and they said they were going to be pulling out. She said they will come back when the mall gets back on its feet, but that wont be for years down the line so they were leaving.
Boardwalk fries has been gone for ages I think.
The entire company of Wilson's leather is in trouble they may have gone totally under. Yeah a mall just isn't a mall with out a place to buy CDS. Sam Goody pulled out like a few months after FYE. Sam Goody the company is struggling too. I guess thats what the get for charging literally 30 dollars for DVDS you can get anywhere else for 14.99.
I think between Jan and June of 2005 are going to be the months where we can actually see once and for all where this mall is going.
I know Boardwalk Fries has been gone for awhile but I want it back. I didn't realize that about Wilson's Leather, but I would like to know what other stores they will be bringing in too. If you find out let us know. Email Preit or something Keith, you're good for doing that stuff.
Patience, fellow mall rats, patience. Echelon didn't reach its sorry state in a day. The stores who have left were weak links, who would have trouble surviving even in decent malls.
It's ironic how everyone panics when another store leaves, and eulogizes it as if it were the greatest store in the universe. If you love the mall so much, and if you really hate to see stores leave, SHOP THE MALL SO THEY WON'T HAVE TO!!!
Don't worry Jenna. TUcker's World will get to the bottom of it.
I didn't write that last comment. I would imagine we wouldn't see any new stores till the spring. In the mean time they should be revamping the appearance of the mall.
Also will they for the love of God replace the sign! It hasnt even glowed at night in years and the E is missing several pieces. Not to mention it looks like something out of Austin POwers style wise.
Ok, for one, don't call me a mall rat; 2) I do shop there, I even sheopped at all the stores I mentioned that have shut down. 3) Are you seriously suggesting that the GAP is a weak link? I think it is still doing pretty well in the other malls.
Thank You Tucker. I know you will research your little butt off in order to ensure my peace of mind. Thank you.
Jenna: Please forgive my lame attempt at humor. It was a long day. In any case, my point is that we should all continue to support the mall and have patience. Turning the mall around is a huge project, and it will take time to complete.
I'm just amazed at how active the new owners are in keeping the mall involved in the community, and the efforts they've made to improve the upkeep.
I don't see that they have made much of an effort. If they know that a store will be closing they should make a point to have a replacement ASAP for the space. Instead they are waiting until they revamp the dead part of the mall and I don't think that is exceptable. Preit needs to understand that a lot of people have written the Echelon Mall off and now go to Deptford, Cherry Hill (which has also gone down hill since Preit bought it as well) or to the Promenade in Marlton. I just think it would have been smarter to replace stores as they go instead of trying to do a huge revamp of the mall all at one time. Think about it, less and less revenue is coming into that mall because more and more stores are closing down. This means more and more jobs are being lost, unless these retail stores are allowing their employees to transfer to other stores, which doesn't always happen. So jobs are being lost and Preit is taking their good old time to make a come back. It is comparable to the NHL, the longer they dick around they less people will be there for them when they come back.
Sorry about that rant, I am all better now.
It's not as easy to replace a tenant as you think (unless, of course, your King of Prussia or Christiana). In a situation like Echelon, there are probably any number of tenants interested in going in. My guess is that they (and not PREIT) are waiting to see what happens.
The alternative would be to fill vacant space with flea markets and substandard stores. While painful to watch in the short-term, the mall will be better off down the road.
You know what they say more is lost by indecision than making a decision. PERIT bought the mall in early 2003. The first year they didn't anything to the mall besides plaster the logos all over the stores that were closed. It really frustrating to watch, because from what I heard all the store owners were left in the dark too. So, of course many more pulled up and left, because they most upbeat rumors out there was that the Mall would be back in order in 5 years. So, what are the stores supposed to do in the mean time?
By fall of the first year PERIT said they might just make paritally full of offices. They already have an H and R Block there. But that just confused shoppers who already thought the mall was going to close by the end of the year. MOst people when you mention that mall will either ask you...isnt it closing? or I heard Rowan bought and its going to be a campus. I think everyone of those college rumors were bs.
Anyway, looks like PERIT has their eye on the ball and when I started this story thread I was actually pretty harsh on them. There is effort now, but that have to stop the bleeding now. If the Cinnabun (sp?) rumor is true then who knows how many others will follow their lead. That will be 3 food court spots in one year. Although one was for legal reasons.
These store owners can't just twiddle their thumbs till 2006 when Wal Mart opens. They need to do something big by June of 2005.
This mall has to get rid of the marketing people. They are repeats of the past. It is the same old mentality and that is why this mall will continue to fall. They are not open minded and have no real ideas about people. Walmart is a joke and it shows that obviously that is the best they can do. I'm sure they will attract plenty of trailer trash and section 8 now.
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