xyhamiltonboi

Columbiana doesn't need to be expanded. Not enough parking now as it is.

I spoke with a few leasing people at other centers around town and they said they have been in talks with them, but they don't seem optimistic. I don't work there, I have a few inside sources in leasing and management.

Columbiana Centre is not making comments on it. I don't even think the store is saying anything. They officially have stopped receiving shipments and currently don't have a store manager (not hiring a store manager either).

Abercrombie & FItch and Abercrombie Kids will close in Columbiana Centre January 14, 2012.

Not feeling too good about Abercrombie & Fitch lasting at Columbiana (Abercrombie & Fitch and Abercrombie Kids). I'm not expecting them to last too long after Christmas.

Hey growingup15. This is a positive move for Columbia Place. Prior to this opening there were no family shoe stores in the mall and this is a very important category. Athletic shoes don't attract familes. Here's a look at the mix of what the other malls and Columbia Place consider as family shoes and hopefully you'll understand this as a step in the right direction. Columbia Place Burlington Coat Factory Macy's Marshall's (Outside the Mall) Payless Shoesource Shoe Dept Encore (Opening Fall 2011) Sears Columbiana Centre Belk Dillard's JCPenney The Shoe Dept. Payless Shoesource Rack Room Shoes Sears Dutch Square Mall Belk Burlington Coat Factory The Shoe Dept. Richland Mall Belk Village at Sandhill Belk JCPenney Rack Room Shoes Shoe Carnival TJ Maxx

Opening Fall 2011: Shoe Dept. Encore - This store will be located on the lower level in the bottom portion of the former Old Navy. This is Shoe Dept.'s most successful concept and if you don't remember Columbia Place did lose Shoe Dept. in 2009 from the upper level across from the former Old Navy. Possible steps in the right direction for this mall.

Macy's isn't going anywhere and there's a little bit of movement on the old Steve & Barry's space as well. Economy was the biggest factor in Columbia Place. I don't see Columbia Place taking a turn for the worst or magically getting it's luster right away. Columbiana is getting better and VAS is eating their lunch, but please don't forget. Columbia Place is Columbia's #2 mall with the markets only Macy's near Fort Jackson and I-20, I-77 and 277 from town.

Despite the economic downturn. Columbia Place Mall is not losing any major stores during the January month. Last year they lost several stores. A few updates for you on the property. Basix is not going to open at Columbia Place. In my opinion someone must have heard my constant beotching on why this would only continue a downward urban spiral. There is activity on two pieces of property in the parking lot that are owned by others. The former Toys R Us is being renovated and the former Sticky Fingers space has very serious leads.

WOW THIS IS UGLY!!! Glimcher bought a mall from the Richard E. Jacobs Group a few years back that shared the same name with the Charlotte Eastland Mall, but with a different makeup altogether. Now that Eastland is considered the redheaded stepchild; EastlandMall.com now points you towards the Columbus, Ohio Shopping Center. Eastland Mall of Charlotte is nolonger owned by Glimcher, but rather managed and their new website is http://eastlandnc.mallfinder.com/

Keep in mind a good number of urban stores only do leases for 1-2 years. Examples include Trendz, Authentiks, Style Setter, and Just Casual. Northlake isn't dying. Eastland is dying simply because of the lack of investment in the mall and the area. To keep shareholders happy when a space goes dark put something in it until you get what you want.

Listening to a good number of REIT conference calls. Retailers are cutting back where necessary and trimming expansion plans due to the economy. Healthy retailers do exist and most of them are continuing to renew leases for in some cases 1-2 years versus the traditional 5-10 years because things are so uncertain. Its forcing REITS to court Regional and local tenants because they haven't nearly been exposed to what the national tenants have gone through. Northlake is not dying by any means.

Well while you guys discuss new anchors for Columbia. I'll add one specialty store is coming to Columbiana......Bare Escentuals opens in September. Now I'm going back to the other side of teh street to my forum at Columbia Place

1. Macy's has no plans to move to Columbiana 2. yes that is the only two story Old Navy in the state. 3. Best Buy just completed an extensive renovation of the Two Notch store and canceled plans to open their store at Sandhill.

Old Navy will close later this month.

The way the article selected the 84 "dead malls" isn't the way most companies rate their shopping center's success.

Wow I don't read this for a month and wow so many claims about a mall I know all too well about. Macy's owns their space and has no plans to open a new location or shut the Columbia Place store. That store brings in close to $18,000.00 and since Dillard's closed that amount has increased. You don't fix what isn't broken and that's why Macy's has continued to invest in that store. Visit it, you'll see the renovation that took place a few years ago and the investment in bringing Sunglass Hut in. I know Sunglass Hut coming to Macy's was a corporate move, but the store does very well. A dead mall doesn't generate interest from national or regional chains and Columbia Place has demonstrated in the last few years that their still lies interest. There have been a few urban store deals that have taken place, but stores like Express, Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, Chick-fil-A, and Zales have renewed their leases. I've always called chains doing site visits at malls they'll never open in a "comedy tour" and some of the names that have recently visited the former Steve & Barry's location (Columbia Place owned) and the former Dillard's location (Dillard's owned) are reputable places. Also keep in mind the economy for retail isn't the best and even ol General Growth and Columbiana Centre aren't doing what they want. It is very evident with a drive thru Columbia that Sandhill is underperforming, Richland got help, Dutch Square's redevelopment is on hold and we've read the news of GGP. There have been some new local stores that have opened in Columbia Place, but I guess I like the fact that it hasn't gotten to the point of Eastland where you don't feel safe and every store that opens caters to current and former convicts.

The article listed on The State has a very important statement that is completely false. Best Buy will OPEN a new location in March in the Village at Sandhill, but will not close the store near Columbia Place. The Columbia Place store has been under renovation for several months and has just been completed. It is also one of the highest volume stores of the area. Management at Best Buy will retract that statement and make a correction in the next few days. As far as Columbia Place is concerned; there are a few changes taking place in the mall. At this point nothing too major, but enough to shake up the mix and give some fresh paint in areas. Foxmoor/Rainbow is moving downstairs near Sears in the old Sam Goody space. Sissy's furniture is moving to the old Briar Patch space and more annoucements on new stores will come soon. I love articles like this because it allows a person to take a look at an area, but it also ads a stigma to an area. While anyone with eyes can see that the Columbia Place area is not the same as it was just 10 years ago, its also noted that there are numerous opportunities for redevelopment especially with the money pumped into Columbia Place as the areas main anchor and the investment in area schools.

GEORGIA Cross Country Plaza (COLUMBUS) Discover Mills (LAWRENCEVILLE) Glynn Place (BRUNSWICK) - Closing Houston County Galleria (CENTERVILLE) - Closing Macon Mall (MACON) Perimeter Square (ATHENS) - Closing Savannah Mall (SAVANNAH) NORTH CAROLINA Akers Center (GASTONIA) Biltmore Square (ASHEVILLE) Greenville Mall (GREENVILLE) - Closing Marketplace Mall (WINSTON-SALEM) Oak Hollow Mall (HIGH POINT) Sardis Road (CHARLOTTE) University Centre - Wilmington (WILMINGTON) White Oaks Plaza (SPINDALE) - Closing Wilson Mall (WILSON) - Closing SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia Place Mall (COLUMBIA) Edgewood Square (NORTH AUGUSTA) - Closing Festival Centre (NORTH CHARLESTON) Gallery Shopping Center (GREENVILLE) Inlet Square Mall (MURRELS INLET) - Closing Rock Hill Galleria (ROCK HILL) - Closing Springdale Plaza (CAMDEN) - Closing Steve & Barry's Sumter (SUMTER) - Closing

Retail typically trims right at a presidential election, I have no worries for that space. Just found out however that Steve & Barry's will keep 3 stores in South Carolina. Columbia, Greenville, Charleston. All others will close. I have the list for all states.

There's always that possibility only because of the size of the Belk store at VAS and the performance of Midtown at Forest Acres.

I wasn't prepared and God that was a horrible thing for me to have to deliver bad news about the mall I am so pationate about. I did some research. Dillard's financials look horrible. They lost 38 million dollars compared to 25 million last year?!? It's a wonder they have any locations. After talking to management at other department stores like Macy's and Belk; they say Dillard's problem is not marking down merchandise and appealing to everyone during this economic crisis. Macy's and Belk seem to always have a sale catered to home sales, clothing or shoes. Dillard's finds itself losing prime customers to markets where Macy's or Belk have a presence. As for the Columbia Place store....no store closing is a positive....but it will be replaced. Spartan, I would like to move to open a group titled "Dillard's replacement prospects" and open the floor to my own scenarios. 1. Belk would relocate from Midtown at Forest Acres finishing off the mall to a better looking and larger location at Columbia Place 2. Dillards space is split with one of the following joining the mall: (Dick's Sporting Goods, Bed Bath & Beyond, TJMaxx, Sportsmans Warehouse) 3. JCPenney comes back to Columbia Place to fill the space. 4. Target opens a store at Columbia Place 5. A theatre would seem unlikely.

Dillards will close on November 4th. Does anyone know why Dillard's is performing so badly?

Mid Year Update on Columbia Place Mall STORE CLOSED IN 2008 (Includes Only Permanent Tenants): Cato (underperforming) (My Opinion: Shouldn't have been from the beginning) Ritz Camera (underperforming) (My Opinion: Declining Camera Stores) Family Christian Stores (relocated to Sandhill) (My Opinion: Shouldn't be located in a mall) KB Toys (underperforming) (My Opinion: Market share decreased by WALMART) Fredericks of Hollywood (underperforming) (My Opinion: Corporate Problems) demo (companywide closure) (My Opinion: Chain could have been saved but I understand the economy) Cones N Cappucino (underperforming) (My Opinion: Not much put into this shop) McDonald's (underperforming) (My Opinion: Did anyone ever deal with staff at this restaurant) Yo Taco (underperforming) (My Opinion: Wrong market for this restaurant) PacSun (underperforming) (My Opinion: More could have been done to save this store, but I'm sorry to see it go) Fines/Street Stuff (companywide bankruptcy) (My Opinion: Thank god) Piercing Pagoda (underperforming) (My Opinion: No Opinion) Briar Patch (companywide restructuring) (My Opinion: Who's handling this companies realestate, he/she should be slapped)

Columbiana Centre will lose two stores by the end of 2008. Limited Too Whitehall Jewelers