Virginia Beach Stores, Retail, and Restaurants

[vdogg]

The day they were forced out of the Pacific Ave location was the end of Jewish Mother. That place had an atmosphere that you simply can't duplicate. That's one of the only things I didn't like about the project that replaced it.

[urbanvb]

It's finally official.

 

Apple store at Lynnhaven Mall opening next week

 

That store (and MacArthur also) will be mobbed with the release of the new Iphone 6 - which is due to come out the same date as this store opening. 

Edited September 13, 2014 by urbanvb

[757Duke]

The Facebook page for Town Center has released the schedule for retail/restaurant openings for the near future. Things are looking promising!

 

2014:
lululemon athletica Town Center of Virginia Beach (October 3rd)
Twist Martini
Mrs. Bones
Anthropologie
Free People

2015:
Francesca's
Paper Source
West Elm

Tupelo Honey Cafe

 

[urbanvb]

How about some cool men's shops? All of these seemingly cater to women.

[Helium3]

There's Brook's Brothers and Dick's Sporting Goods I guess?

[757Duke]

The Men's Wearhouse is still on the ground floor of the Armada Hoffler Tower, Johnston and Murphy sells menswear, and Lululemon sells men's athletic wear as well.

Edited September 24, 2014 by 757Duke

[CrazyPy]

Still wondering what is going in next to Dick's.

[757Duke]

It's allegedly going to be office space. Some company offered to pay more than a retailer so they won out. All the more reason to build more retail space.

[urbanvb]

Lynnhaven Mall is undergoing renovation. The old Lord and Taylor is being demolished to make way for a new main entrance for the mall. Inside renovations are continuing as well. 

 

 

 

[baobabs727]

Please tell me that your sources are saying that this demolition will give way to more than just a simple entrance?! I would hope that there would be additional lifestyle retailing opportunities and new-to-the-market restaurants, like Maggiano's. So far I am terribly underwhelmed by the entire GGP renovation. Walling-in an entire second floor and thousands upon thousands of square feet? Reducing all remnants of functional verticality? Crazy.

[urbanvb]

I was told by someone that works at the mall this area would become a new main entrance to the mall. Hopefully they will include this area within the mall for new tenants in the mall but I am not sure. I will ask the next time I speak with them. Some new restaurants added within would surely be a plus.  

[urbanvb]

So I spoke with someone that works at the mall and was told new stores were coming but no mention of what they may be. Also a new restaurant(s?) is coming as well.

[metalman]

I was there tonight for the first time since the initial destruction/construction was complete. It looks very modern and simple. Nice and new but maybe a bit plain in design. It's interesting I see how they re-envisioned the place. I was actually the most happy to see a Pho restaurant will still be in the mall it is a stand alone kiosk-type place headin toward Regis and Game Stop. It'll be called Pholicious. That's pretty clever. Though, today I missed having a CD store to peruse through. Barnes and Nobel's extremely limited selection doesn't count.

Edited November 23, 2014 by metalman

[urbanvb]

I agree it is rather plain with muted colors but still modern. The kiosk type eating places are kind of neat. And they have a lot more seating through out the mall including the long table with power outlets to charge electronics. That's a pretty neat addition. I didn't notice if the mall had wifi which would be nice.

Edited November 23, 2014 by urbanvb

[baobabs727]

Thanks for that bit of information. I was fairly certain that they weren't going to tear down that 120k sq ft structure and leave a gaping hole in the front of the mall just for the sake of creating a "new entrance."

I visited the mall today, as I had not been there in several months. While extremely bland and a little cheap looking, I appreciate the floor, paint and lighting changes. I do have serious concerns about the rest, however. First of all, and with all respect, no one in their right mind would either build or re-create by way of renovation, a one story, enclosed mall in the 21st-century. It is unheard of. It is not sexy. It is not cool. It is not done. But that is, in fact, what they have done.

Second, despite that meager addition in the back, they are reducing by thousands upon thousands of sq ft the leasable floor space in the mall. This includes the entire second floor shops and restaurants and all the space behind the restaurants & offices...plus the old United Artist 5 movie theaters (which are still back there preserved like a crypt!!). I mean, who has ever heard of reducing footprint in a prime, high dollar/sq ft--the market leader at over $500 per sq ft as far as I know--producing shopping center? Are other leading regional malls like Richmond's Short Pump reducing footprint? Is Lenox Sq in Atlanta? Of course the answer to both of those questions, and questions regarding many high-performing malls and lifestyle centers around the country at present, is a firm, "no." In fact, many, including those aforementioned two centers, are expanding footprint whilst renovating.

Now couple the rather odd strategy of sq ft attrition with the apparent elimination of all dynamic verticality (removal or elimination of access to all second floor space), and what you're left with, in my opinion, is a most confusing outcome, and certainly not one geared toward attaining the highest and best use of the property.

In order to achieve that attrition, they are actually walling-in much of the second floor instead of tearing it off as originally promised. I speak of the mezzanine @grand central court area and the 2nd level retail area across from the Sleep Number store at the main entrance. I don't know which is more strange here? Sq ft attrition by tearing off or by walling-in? I suppose that walling-in is truly odd, but both methods are questionable at best if one is actually trying to improve the mall, to create excitement and buzz, and to attract new retailers and new customers.

And to think that this mall is reported to be the highest grossing dollar per sq ft mall in the region. Just last decade, Lynnhaven sold for almost $270 million for goodness sake! If this is how the GGP renovates a market leader, what would they do with a lesser property?!

Clearly, the most lavish and perhaps most successful way to go about it would've been to somehow create a new connection to the existing second floor from the Lord and Taylor space, opening up the Lord and Taylor space into a two-story indoor-outdoor lifestyle center whilst connecting it to a repurposed mezzanine. They could also have repurposed some of the old space not previously recaptured by the last major renovation behind the food court vendors and including the the old movie theaters.

Sadly, the more I see of this renovation, the more I am convinced that it is being carried out on a shoestring budget, and that major decisions have been made largely based on the availability of (limited) funds rather than on a comprehensive strategy to gradually upscale the mall to utilize it to its best and highest purpose. Lynnhaven's impressive, market-leading per sq sales figures certainly gave GGP the foundation upon which to build such improvements. They simply chose not to do so.

Edited November 26, 2014 by baobabs727

[urbanvb]

Pembroke Mall is hoping to land some new tenants including a Fresh Market, REI store, and an indoor bowling alley. I'm wondering if the Market may be built in an outparcel.

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/12/new-year-could-bring-new-stores-pembroke-mall

Edited December 24, 2014 by urbanvb

[baobabs727]

...And possibly a Nordstrom Rack. Placement of a Nordstrom Rack @Pembroke would, along with anthropologie, lululemon, free people & west elm having located across the street, definitely signal that the movers and shakers in modern retail are not all that impressed by Lynnhaven.

Edited December 29, 2014 by baobabs727

[urbanvb]

I've always hoped for upscale retail in the Pembroke area. It looks like momentum is building which is good.

Edited December 29, 2014 by urbanvb

[CrazyPy]

Francesca's opened this past Friday in Town Center, and Paper Source is opening this coming Friday. Both are on Main St on either side of Zushi.

[757Duke]

REI is scheduled to open spring 2016 and will be building a 27,400 square foot store on the corner of Virginia Beach Blvd and Independence Blvd. From the looks of their stores elsewhere, this could be good for expanding the feel of Town Center across the street.

 

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/02/rei-coming-virginia-beachs-pembroke-mall

[757Duke]

We may  be witnessing the demise of Sears at Pembroke Mall. It's been announced that Nordstrom Rack and DSW will take over portions of their building, and REI will locate on the site of their Automotive building.

 

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/02/sears-downsizing-nordstrom-rack-and-dsw-open-pembroke-mall

[VBIllini13]

We may  be witnessing the demise of Sears at Pembroke Mall. It's been announced that Nordstrom Rack and DSW will take over portions of their building, and REI will locate on the site of their Automotive building.

 

http://hamptonroads.com/2015/02/sears-downsizing-nordstrom-rack-and-dsw-open-pembroke-mall

 

Nordstrom Rack is coming?! To Hell with Sears, I'll take Nordstrom Rack any day of the week!

[urbanvb]

I kind of have mixed feelings about this Sears. For many years I have purchased appliances from this store and they have one of the biggest selections in the city. I was just there actually last weekend to pick up a microwave and pricing some tires in the tire center. That said, Sears in general has been declining for years and seems to be teetering on extinction. I am hoping they can somehow stick around and make a go of it. That said, I am excited to hear of high end retail coming to fruition to the Pembroke area. Just a few years ago I couldn't imagine the possibility of Fresh Market setting up shop here. I'm hoping they will come.

Edited February 12, 2015 by urbanvb

[HRVT]

Nordstrom Rack is coming?! To Hell with Sears, I'll take Nordstrom Rack any day of the week!

 

Wonder if that's going to affect Nordstrom in MacArthur? Or if this is a sign of anything to come with it? Long overdue for a renovation, long known to be poorly performing, and now with a discount version of their store just up the road... could Nordstrom be pulling out of Hampton Roads?

[BFG]

Wonder if that's going to affect Nordstrom in MacArthur? Or if this is a sign of anything to come with it? Long overdue for a renovation, long known to be poorly performing, and now with a discount version of their store just up the road... could Nordstrom be pulling out of Hampton Roads?

Furthermore...does that open the door for Macy's to leave Military Circle? No one really goes to MC anymore, esp. since Sears and JCPenney both remain vacant.