nakers2

Even though cars cause most truck/car accidents?

You beat me to it, the DEC (which is what I'll call it until someone corrects me) would've still been under construction.

Nathan Pyle (cartoonist with 6.5 million followers on IG) posted this today.

Bummer, my girlfriend bought a really nice jacket from there.

Looks like the new development ordinance is inspiring some folks in Southpark. This is the first (or second depending on how you view it) home on Sharon Lane. I believe this area is still Southpark. If you're confused, this is the front yard of a large home being subdivided into I assume either townhomes or possible single family development. Perhaps not the best density as it is still car dependent, but Sharon Ln is *relatively* less congested than other area streets, and density is density in my book.

I have to disagree about Dillards. I've bought many fine clothes from them and the service has always been top notch for a mid-scale department store. I've never been "greeted" at a department store by anyone except the fragrance department before.

Saks 5th Avenue planned to come here years ago, I wouldn't go to great length to say they regret their decision, but I do think they made a mistake and might be the likely contender to remedy that in the Macy's space if the opportunity presents itself. If not, all bets are off. The lower level sans the upper level is unwelcoming, so splitting the levels between two retailers seems to be a stretch unless you can commit some kind of "lobby" that serves both.

Is it possible they might be seeking to convert it into a higher end brand such as a Rtiz Carlton or the like? Purely speculation, but I think most high end retail is still going to try and get into the mall regardless. A climate controlled shopping center serves the key demographic well.

It's not really "closed" just mostly vacant. I think it's proximity to the Spectrum Center and multiple hotels will bring enough foot traffic to allow word of mouth to spread and hopefully allow progressive growth and reimaging. I think if they made a big thing of it they might risk falling short on expectations.

I think people are watching with baited breath to see how "Queen City Quarter" (IE, former Epicentre) does with it's reimaging/rebranding. But Zara wants to play it safe, and for retail, Southpark is very safe. They're not so on the nose with the "Christian company" stuff, my Jewish girlfriend loves to shop there. I agree that the store(s) are massive, but considering that they convinced Southpark to allow them to cut a skylight out of the ceiling in their main store, they've got long term ambitions. I wouldn't put my money on Zara going there.

Not sure where else to post this, but apparently WBTV thinks that the courthouse is on the corner of 4th and Caldwell. https://www.facebook.com/116380896454/posts/pfbid02S7JG5RzuHQz3UogDQRS43Ew5zuYBGmPmTCL2g9AH9QFmDzyo6pXo1zt4566VTHWwl/?mibextid=cr9u03

People often joke that Charlotte is the biggest city that nobody's heard of. Obviously this is hyperbole, but it's not without merit. Charlotte for years was a large small town. People patronized local businesses or chains (Belk, Ivey's, etc) and the bank crowd uptown was the primary purchaser of high end clothing, usually not high fashion though, but rather your banker attire of suits and ties. Unfortunately this has translated into a stigma on what kind of "fashion" would succeed in the city. I think we will see a boom of smaller chains opening flagships at Southpark and around the city, and as they gain traction, the legacy luxury brands will follow.

Eh, I can dream

I’m curious if the mall would consider implementing some kind of traffic control system to show people where there are spots and not. Took me 20+ mins to find a spot today, and honestly the fact I found one was pure luck. (Person in front didn’t want to snag it for some reason) I think 9/10 mall patrons go in the first entrance they see, and for a big portion of them it’s the underground deck. Especially in the winter. Even on busy days I tend to find that the top of the Belk deck is empty or sparsely used. Not sure if that was the case today as I found a spot before going up, but I can only imagine that frustration causes some customers to give up, and causes countless arguments (as I’ve see today) not to mention pollution and wasted fuel. Can’t be good with all that wafting into the building from below.

The Park Hotel was where the now Marriott Hotel is. My mother used to work there, she provided room service to Whitney Houston and Huey Lewis.

I hope it stays that nice. This looks like something in Europe or Asia. (Though I've been on some gritty platforms in Europe too) San Francisco definitely has some issue with crime in their downtown. Chinatown was already pretty gritty last I visited in 2015, and while it was cool, I can't imagine the station under it looking this clean and shiny for too long.

Smoggy morning in the QC.

Went to the Thirsty Beaver (the Beav) the other night and I didn't meet anyone from Charlotte. Met someone from St Louis, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. Two had recently moved here, and one was considering the move. All of them expressed how much they love Charlotte, including Mr Pittsburgh, which well all know how proud those Steelers fans are. I think Charlotte has a lot of "surprising charm" as we are often a city that flies below the radar.

My Jewish girlfriend takes offense to that statement.

There's something about steel framing that really gives a classic feel to a tower. Am I wrong that Truist (Hearst) tower was steel framed? I was only 7 when it was being built, but my aunt took us to Charlotte to brag that she would be having her new office in that building, and I recall seeing the tower crane lifting steel into place. Perhaps it was concrete, but I distinctly remember seeing something being lifted, and that was probably my first memory of seeing a skyscraper being constructed.

I think it is far more realistic for Southpark to expand outward. And if one of the large department stores closes in the coming years (my money is on Macy's) utilize that space for small retail. The mall has tons of surface parking, and if they got creative, could even eliminate or build on/replace one or more of the parking structures with retail on parking.

I hope so, and I'm saying this as someone with modest income. I enjoy the atmosphere of the Southpark area. I know a lot of urbanists hate Southpark and places like it, but personally it give an heir of class. Not to mention that when I DO want to spend some money, I've got a central location to go to. As much as I'd love to see high end retail Uptown, I need to be realistic. It will take some time before St Laurent or Louis V will open a store up there, especially at or near the Epicenter.

I've said this for a while. When people began talking about how the Pandemic would finally kill Southpark, I retorted with this exact statement. I'm curious if this might spur a high end retail surge at other area malls? Perhaps making for other destination spots? I find it more likely they'd find space nearby the mall, like in Buckhead, Atlanta.

Charlotte is large enough to support at least one of each major luxury brand. There is money here. With that being said, I think the lack of the aforementioned brands is more related to retailers not wanting to make a bad gamble. Southend, and even Uptown is becoming a contender again for retail. With the Epicenter being (more than likely) reimaged and remodeled, and nearly every new development in Southend having their retail spaces booked before opening, high end retailers might question where the best place to locate themselves to catch visitors who will often patronize retailers like that. If Phillips Places becomes a high end shopping center, it will make Southpark the *obvious* choice.

I feel like Southpark (the neighborhood) has enough demand/draw to support two high end shopping centers. While Simon might not care for it, if anything it may motivate them to do better. I do love Southpark Mall for what it is, however there's certain things that I think keep it from being, or at least feeling as high end as it could be. I recall them saying they were remodeling a few years ago but I've yet to see any major changes other than the bathrooms. If their idea of remodeling is putting fresh paint on the walls and repairing broken tiles, then I'd call that more like neglected maintenance than a full remodel.