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Chico's is closing completely.

I'll have an updated list on closings today including the recent announcement of d.e.m.o. closing as well.

The movie theatre is located right outside of what is now Burlington Coat Factory. A quick history General Cinemas ran the theatre thru about 2000 with 8 screens. The building was extensively renovated around 1985. Phoenix Theatres ran the theatre from 2001-2007 with 8 screens. The building was not remodeled during their tenture. Columbia Entertainment Group is currently running the theatre and has converted the 8 screens to stadium seating and remodeled it. They also have plans to reopen the Kent Cinemas (off property) behind the mall as a second run theatre.

McDonald's closing is based on effort from the local management. If anyone has ever been to the McDonald's, you can understand why it's closing. McDonald's threats can be traced back 3 years. So management has had enough time to prepare. Cones N Cappucino is blamed on the owner not keeping his commitment to advertising or keeping his location top prority. Briar Patch's closing is a part of Kirkland's nationwide efforts to eliminate mall locations. Columbiana closed earlier this year as well. Both leases at the malls weren't up, but the malls knew to start searching for replacements and when replacements were found the store could break the lease early. PacSun has struggled since day one with management and the idea of keeping certain merchandise assortments at Columbiana only. This hindered people from going to Columbia Place. Family Christian Stores is like Briar Patch and focusing on open air stores only. The store in Columbiana relocated next to Total Wine and the store in Columbia Place is moving to Sandhill. KB Toys has struggled and they announced closings of locations nationwide that were underperforming or coming close to renewal time.

Ms. Fulton is a great writer and over time has written some very good articles on Columbia Place. However, with every writer, they don't know exactly what is a temporary store or permanent store. Columbia Place's 2007 energy can be felt if you walked the hallways the last few days. The leasing team spent a good portion of the year renewing leases of existing national tenants such as Express, Express Men, The Limited, Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works while resolving speculation that Columbia Place was in decline with openings of Steve & Barry's and Burlington Coat Factory. What people don't realize is when an anchor goes dark it's like cutting off circulation of a body part. It's very difficult for retailers to keep traffic flowing in their wing if the hallway leads to an empty anchor. You can see this type of suffering nationwide. If not dealt with occupancy declines at a rate so fast that the developer begins cutting deals on mass amounts of space to save face. This doesn't send a good signal to other national players and before you know it, not only is the anchor space not filled, but the mall itself continues to sink into dispair. As Ms. Fulton said 2007 was a pivotal year for Columbia Place by resolving in my opinion 2 of 5 of issues that could have created more issues. The empty JCPenney space sent a message of decline to all stores that depended on the traffic of a value tenant that at times opened at 8am with doorbusters. Problem solved with Steve & Barry's and Burlington Coat Factory On the mall campus spaces were vacant from the former Toys R Us, Sticky Fingers and Phoenix Theatres and this was partially solved by the not only reopening of the theatre but transition to Stadium Seating. The last of the work begins with the tenant mix that was placed on hold while a JCPenney replacement was sought. 2008 will be a better year as the mall studys numerous leases to determine what fits at Columbia Place and what should have left years ago. With a new anchor will also bring renewed interest from national tenants about coming to the mall. I was in The Briar Patch yesterday and they were saying Christmas had been good, but they were exiting Columbia Place because there company is moving focus away from mall stores. Here's the part that will only make us hopeful. The Briar Patch's lease isn't up, but Columbia Place is allowing them to exit because someone already wants their space. We both know that a national tenant would not lose favor to a local store. Happy Holidays to everyone

Biggest thing that isn't good for Eastland is the fact that Glimcher has sold off all of it's "non-core" assets except Eastland. It was about a year or so ago when they announced they were selling these assets. There's good news and theres bad. GOOD NEWS: Malls like Eastland exist all over the nation despite we know it only means the prospect of death is near annually at year end it atleast presents an alternative place to shop. RALEIGH SPRINGS MALL - Tennessee CENTURY PLAZA - Alabama SOUTH DEKALB MALL - Georgia WESTLAND MALL - Ohio BAD NEWS Simon Property Group and Richard E Jacobs Group had malls that they tried to sell that would eventually die before a transaction could take place. These properties could have been saved, but the lack of interest and the written off red headed stepchild approach only delayed good redevelopment. LAKEHURST MALL - Richard E. Jacobs Group CHARLES TOWNE SQUARE MALL - Charleston, SC <---Simon still owns this property. LAST NOTE I didn't know that Eastland Mall Cinemas was a III screen. Also can someone update the Wikipedia article on Eastland.

ARMED MAN ROBS SOUTHPARK STORE On Monday 4 Nordstrom employees were robbed at gunpoint by an asailant who was able (in front of cameras) to steal 9 necklaces before pulling the gun. When asked about security, a SouthPark Mall spokesperson would not go into details. Molly Parish said they do not believe that it is in the best interest of the public to discuss what measures have been or are being taken or how they are responding specifically to the subject of securing Simon malls.

NEW FIRST RUN STADIUM SEATING THEATRE COMING TO COLUMBIA PLACE. I SAID IT FIRST.

I don't expect Buckle to do well in Columbia. Buckle has struggled for an audience throughout the Carolinas. Buckle isn't meeting expectations in Hanes Mall, Charlotte or Greenville. My thinking is that this was a leveraged deal. They had to open in Columbiana Centre to get another big mall.

Rashaad's Columbia Place Forecast This is not definite, but just a forecast based on what is speculated by myself. This does not include temporary tenants or holiday tenants. FALL 2007 One New Store to Open (ENTERTAINMENT

I am serious on Steve & Barry's. Final negociations are underway. Dutch Square will only be a mirror of it's former self.

Steve & Barry's will anchor the new complex.

Steve & Barry's Opens Friday, July 27, 2007 Unlike the traditional Steve & Barry's, this location will have a larger focus on lifestyle apparel that has made stores like Old Navy, American Eagle and Aeropostale popular. Unlike the traditional flooring, this store will have cherry wood and have a feel of what the future of Steve & Barry's will hold. The store opens at 10am on the 25th. Steve & Barry

Limited Brands leases in Columbia are in good condition. Any stores that would have closed have already done so. Express - Midtown at Forest Acres The Limited - Haywood Mall

Moving on to closely what Columbia Place is working with When complete at the end of the year Columbia Place will feature Dillard's, Macy's, Old Navy, Sears and over 100 stores and restaurants with Burlington Coat Factory and Steve and Barry's opening this year. I think the anchor mix will be excellent in putting a lot back into Columbia Place. Burlington Coat Factory and Steve and Barry's won't help brand the mall, but the discounters pull in shoppers of all income levels. Sears has remade itself with a newer concept, closer to Kohl's. Dillard's adds fashion. Macy's adds fashion along with being exclusive within 100 miles Old Navy's Columbia Place store is the largest in South Carolina

Many could have said Columbia Place was taking the same route as Eastland Mall in Charlotte, but Limited Brands leases were also up at Columbia Place December 31, 2006. Unlike Eastland they all were renewed. That includes The Limited, Express, Express Men, Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret. Just because a shopper is of brown skin doesn't mean the mall is unsafe or unfit or less than a grade A mall. We all know that Columbiana is dominant and VAS is new, but Columbia Place has held on for 30 years coming this August. Many malls of that age have either been demolished, mix used, or on their last leg. It says alot that big players are still considering Columbia Place as a home and realizing that VAS is another market from Columbia Place. It's a positive thing knowing that we're growing and getting to the point that there's more than one retail mecca. It's also good to know that we're advancing to the point that one area doesn't have to completely die for another to thrive. Columbia Place will open Steve & Barrys and Burlington Coat Factory this year, not as anchor replacements, but as large specialty stores. Dillard's, Old Navy, Macy's and Sears have no plans to leave or join another mall. The highest grossing Charlotte Russe in the state is located on the upper level at center court. Lubi will open an additional store to their Columbiana Centre store somewhere in the Northeast this year. Sunglass Hut opened a new store in Macys. Sunglasses Unlimited will open a store at Columbia Place soon. These are all signs of a healthy market.

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I just did some major research on Eastland Mall and here are my findings. Eastland Mall was updated around 1997-2000 time period with a updated food court and some things done here and there. Despite many saying the mall started dying in the late 90s, it was still healthy and gaining new stores. On the list for stores opening that I could find between 1997-2001 I found Childrens Place, Kay Jewelers, Whitehall Jewelers, Lids, Journeys, Charley's Steakery, and a few other national chains. Final negociations were in the midst for Gap Kids, Old Navy 12 screen cinema and The Disney Store. When JCPenney became the outlet store the mall's traffic picked up and Gloria Jeans coffee made a bid for the mall. The mall started a downward spiral in 2003. It was when Belk announced it was thinking of leaving that everything kinda got put on hold. Glimcher spent the rest of the time working with them to see if they would stay. This is what hurt the mall - Belk's negative perception of the mall and annoucement of closing in the future - THe media's coverage of a dying mall - Bankrupt chains closing in 2003 including Friedman's, Gadzooks and KB Toys - A transit center Then without anything being said, Glimcher annoucing they were selling the mall. I think this has put a lot of things on hold as of right now. I want to know how the few remaining national tenants are doing in the mall. Kay Jewelers, Childrens Place and Journeys type of stores.

I REPEAT Eastland Mall is not going anywhere. Dillard's could pull out tomorrow. That mall isn't going anywhere. Despite the loss of Belk as an anchor. The mall can redevelop. Despite what symptoms the mall shows of aging or ailing. Eastland has done one thing right. They could have continued to market it to lifestyle apparel stores and yes they'd die, but because they're smart they are filling these spaces with stores that cater to their market. I've made a list of stores that would be on my wish list for Eastland Mall. WATCHES UNLIMITED SHIRIN JEWELERS ANNA'S LINENS I don't think it'll be long before the Belk space is leased. I think what's really holding up the mall is the sale of it. I also think part of the problem is that the SENIOR LEASING TEAM is located in Ohio. Who in Ohio can feel the touch of what a mall is doing in Charlotte, North Carolina. I'm pretty sure if the leasing rep was in Charlotte he'd know day by day what he could do to save the specialty stores because it appears Belk made their decision to leave years ago when they stopped caring.

Mall guy couldn't have said it better. I've been to Eastland since Limited Brands have departed and I know that Belk is departing. What I'm saying is a sign of a truely dying mall is no leases are being renewed and stores are leaving in dozens. Eastland still has time to turn things around. There are enough stores in the US to fill every vacancy in that mall. When doing this, the foot traffic will increase and so will the rents when the stores are surviving. Eastland is morphing into a mall that will better serve it's surroundings. It may not be on the map of Glimcher, but someone will find love in what they can do to Eastland. I've seen worst deaths in my lifetime involving malls and I truely think Eastland can live and if done right survive for 10 more years. We're not talking about former Northland Mall in Ohio, South Square Mall in Durham, or even Westland Mall in Ohio.

Eastland may be in a state of decline based on anchor stores, but there's one thing for sure. Eastland Mall is owned by a some what acredited REIT. I've looked over their portfolio and have seen some malls that fit the same level that Eastland fits. The economy calls anything urban dying or mom and pop shop. Eastland actually has more chain stores that are healthy than the media suggests. New York & Company, a national retailer, was a part of Limited Brands at one point. Despite the spinoff the new owners only took over the existing lease. With this being said any brands signed at 1997 that were a part of Limited Brands leases came due for renewal at 2007. If the mall was sooooooooo unhealthy New York and Company should have also closed being on the same lease time table. Man Alive, a national retailer, opens this year and is a division of Finish Line. I'm pretty sure we have great things to expect if Finish Line a national retailer has negociated a lease on Man Alive. And just as we look for things that would cause us to raise an eyebrow, I'm pretty sure they have seen Dillard's and Belk in the state they were in and must know what is to come beyond that before they signed.

2006 was a good year for Columbia Place with the renewal of Limited Brands leases and now officially JCPenney will be replaced with Burlington Coat Factory and Steve and Barry's University Sportswear. Burlington Coat Factory will occupy the lower level while Steve and Barry's the upper level. These stores will open in 2007. This is positive news for the Dentsville corridor.

SGH (Sunglass Hut) closed inside Columbia Place this past week, but will reopen inside Macy's on March 23rd

Steve & Barry's University Sportswear a national clothing chain targeted towards the sale of college apparel and lifestyle clothing will open in 2007.

Phoenix Theatres shutters Columbia Place Cinema. At this point the mall is offering leasing opportunities "Build to suit" for the space