Four Seasons Town Centre

[winston's finest]

i worked at four seasons this summer and it appeared that friednly has really hurt the tenant mix at the mall. several of the stores have left and gone to friendly. the mall itself has a poor tenant mix and many empty storefronts, plus the outside of the mall looks so run-down.

Coming from Winston-Salem, I really appreciated Hanes Mall. I just truly didn't care for that mall.

[cityboi]

i worked at four seasons this summer and it appeared that friednly has really hurt the tenant mix at the mall. several of the stores have left and gone to friendly. the mall itself has a poor tenant mix and many empty storefronts, plus the outside of the mall looks so run-down.

Coming from Winston-Salem, I really appreciated Hanes Mall. I just truly didn't care for that mall.

The mall doesnt look run down because they did remodel several years ago but I think with The Shops at Friendly opening and all the crime thats happened at Four Seasons, I think the mall is hurting. People will always want to shop in an indoor mall and since its the only one in Greensboro I dont see it closing down like Carolina Circle Mall did. But if a new and larger indoor mall opens elsewhere in the city, it could spell trouble for Four Seasons.

[StevenRocks]

The mall doesnt look run down because they did remodel several years ago but I think with The Shops at Friendly opening and all the crime thats happened at Four Seasons, I think the mall is hurting. People will always want to shop in an indoor mall and since its the only one in Greensboro I dont see it closing down like Carolina Circle Mall did. But if a new and larger indoor mall opens elsewhere in the city, it could spell trouble for Four Seasons.

The likelihood of a new indoor mall in Greensboro is slim to none for the next few years, so that particular piece of distinction should be safe for a while. As for the tenant mix and crime, perceived or otherwise, it's pretty much cyclical and not unique to Four Seasons. The average mall these days has a bunch of urbanwear stores and "used to be better and safer" perceptions. What will save Four Seasons is the convention traffic and the relative strength of its department stores. Belk, Dillard's and JCPenney keep that place going, and nothing short of an multi-anchor pullout will shake the place enough to make the small retail move in earnest.

[cityboi]

The likelihood of a new indoor mall in Greensboro is slim to none for the next few years, so that particular piece of distinction should be safe for a while. As for the tenant mix and crime, perceived or otherwise, it's pretty much cyclical and not unique to Four Seasons. The average mall these days has a bunch of urbanwear stores and "used to be better and safer" perceptions. What will save Four Seasons is the convention traffic and the relative strength of its department stores. Belk, Dillard's and JCPenney keep that place going, and nothing short of an multi-anchor pullout will shake the place enough to make the small retail move in earnest.

the mall would have died along time ago if it werent for the convention center and coliseum traffic.

[blburton]

Hopefully revitalizing the HP Rd. corridor will help. The neighborhoods around Four Season's aren't the worst in the city, but aren't the greatest either. I wish there were a drive to fill in the area around the mall with more housing because of it's location at I-40 (soon to be Bus I-40). Because of it's size and aesthetics, Four Seasons reminds me of malls found in affluent areas of much larger metropolitan areas. As mentioned earlier, it really is a nice mall inside strategically located in the city and I'd hate to see it die.

the mall would have died along time ago if it werent for the convention center and coliseum traffic.

[cityboi]

The revitalization of High Point Road is a nice start. The planned retail village and movie theater next door to the mall also sounds encouraging.

[nowensone]

^ But still, HP road's problems, as well as Four Seasons, are partially due to an over-saturation of retail in the area (I believe GSO as a whole has a whopping 40% vacancy rate), adding more isn't going to solve this until the HP road corridor in particular adds some apartments and condos to it's immediate area. And then couple this with better security at Four Seasons before it goes the way of Carolina Circle.

[cityboi]

^ But still, HP road's problems, as well as Four Seasons, are partially due to an over-saturation of retail in the area (I believe GSO as a whole has a whopping 40% vacancy rate), adding more isn't going to solve this until the HP road corridor in particular adds some apartments and condos to it's immediate area. And then couple this with better security at Four Seasons before it goes the way of Carolina Circle.

there is a crime perception among neighborhoods bordering High Point Road so it might be difficult to attract condos to the area at this time. Its a nice place to shop but you wouldnt want to live there. The Greensboro Police department should beef up patroling these areas and then the city should focus on a streetscape plan. I wish there were a way to remove all the signage clutter. There are too many and some are too tall. The city could vote for a new sign ordinance but it wouldnt do any good for businesses already there because they would be "grandfathered" in.

I do have a question. Anyone know why the NASCAR Cafe at the mall closed down?

[nowensone]

IIRC, when I was in high school there were at least two police substations along HP road bewteen Sedgefield and I-40 (Four Seasons), I know our 'cruising' was significantly hampered by their efforts, have these been shut down? I was at Four Seasons a couple of weeks ago, and while I would not characterize it as dangerous it certainly was not as safe as it was in years past.

[cityboi]

im not aware of substations being shut down but I will say im worried enough about my saftey enough to not shop at Four Seasons. I refuse to go there and I will shop at Friendly Center or West Wendover before I go there. There have been too many robberies and murders in the mall parking lot. Things seem to be going down hill when Koury Corp sold the mall.

[blburton]

While I will agree that one murder is too many, I don't consider Four Seasons to be nearly as dangerous as people are making it out to be. The murders that occured were between people who knew each other or were drug related, etc - there were extentuating circumstances leading up to their deaths and they just so happened to occur at the mall. I don't see why it couldn't have happened at Wendover or at Friendly. As far as robberies go, I haven't heard about a major rash of them. With respect to the clientele, I'm not bothered by what people wear as it gives me no clue as to who they are as a PERSON. 17 and 18 year old "thugs" (wannabes) and body pierced goths are CHILDREN. They're a) trying to fit in, b) putting on a front to impress friends, the opposite sex, and/or c) 95% likely that they're hanging out for social purposes with no intention on stealing your wallet or shoes.

im not aware of substations being shut down but I will say im worried enough about my saftey enough to not shop at Four Seasons. I refuse to go there and I will shop at Friendly Center or West Wendover before I go there. There have been too many robberies and murders in the mall parking lot. Things seem to be going down hill when Koury Corp sold the mall.

[StevenRocks]

I think that the crime element at Four Seasons is blown out of proportion. For one thing, it's one of the most heavily monitored malls in the Southeast. Another thing is that unlike a lot of crime ridden malls, the majority of the mischief is being done by a very small percentage of the patrons. Better monitoring using existing resources more effectively and possibly a weekend curfew for un-escorted teens would help things considerably.

PS: could one of the mods change the spelling on the thread title? It's Four Seasons Town Centre

[Roadgeek]

im not aware of substations being shut down but I will say im worried enough about my saftey enough to not shop at Four Seasons. I refuse to go there and I will shop at Friendly Center or West Wendover before I go there. There have been too many robberies and murders in the mall parking lot. Things seem to be going down hill when Koury Corp sold the mall.

I definitely agree with you there.

PS: could one of the mods change the spelling on the thread title? It's Four Seasons Town Centre

Heh, I guess I wasn't the only one who noticed that misspell.

So anyway, on topic, Four Seasons isn't a bad mall, but I'd personally prefer a trip to Hanes Mall or Friendly Center for shopping.

[JerseyBoy]

I've never had a problem while shopping at Four Seasons, though the last time I shopped there was about five years ago. Much like all of you, I have personally watched the decline of the High Point Road area over the last decade. This doesn't help things at all, but I think cityboi was right when he said that the coliseum/convention center kept the mall from getting an even worse reputation.

[cityboi]

I've never had a problem while shopping at Four Seasons, though the last time I shopped there was about five years ago. Much like all of you, I have personally watched the decline of the High Point Road area over the last decade. This doesn't help things at all, but I think cityboi was right when he said that the coliseum/convention center kept the mall from getting an even worse reputation.

They can start off by having a great police presense in the area. Im really surprised security hasnt been beefed up in the parking lot off Four Seasons.

[coastalmindset]

While the mall has suffered some set backs, mainly due to shops leaving for Friendly, I think people blow the crime thing way out of proportion. While High Point Road in general needs a redevelopment and there are some sketchy areas like The Coliseum Motel, I think people get too hyped up by what they see on the news. As was mentioned by StevenRocks most of the major incidents at Four Seasons have been drug related and committed by people who knew each other. The one in the parking lot that was mentioned happened at like 2 or 3 in the morning not during business hours. People just hear or read the headline and don't bother too see what the rest of the story is all about.

From my experience around Four Seasons in the evenings it's just a bunch of kids with nothing better to do and no parental supervision. They are for the most part harmless but a curfew would probably help out a lot with people's perception of the mall. I see the same element around Friendly Center especially during the summer, just kids hanging out. I think the continued growth around the mall shows that it is still a decent area with a perception problem from a lot of close minded people. Businesses like Bonefish Grill, Carrabbas, Guitar Center, the outdoors/hunting store, a new theater, and other new shops would not be there if it were as bad as some locals make it out to be. I guess if people aren't shopping there because of the tenant mix that is understandable but if you haven't shopped there in years because of what you've read in the paper then you should give it another try. Last time I was around there on a weekend they had at least 4 Greensboro Police officers walking around along with their usual security. Seemed pretty safe to me but I guess I'm used to bigger cities with real crime problems.

[cityboi]

perception means everything, thats one of the reason the mall has rules about youth walking in the mall together in large groups.

[StevenRocks]

Aldo is coming!

[JerseyBoy]

I drove by Four Seasons tonight while I was in Greensboro, and honestly it's not that bad. I believe it will continue to prosper as long as proper measures are taken.

[blburton]

Very exciting!

Aldo is coming!

[StevenRocks]

I drove by Four Seasons tonight while I was in Greensboro, and honestly it's not that bad. I believe it will continue to prosper as long as proper measures are taken.

I was there last night, and it's doing well. Dying malls don't attract Aldo and keep Williams-Sonoma.

Anybody going to the 1:00 AM opening of the mall on Black Friday?

[JerseyBoy]

I thought it would be a good event to photograph, so I'm highly considering it.

[StevenRocks]

Here's some shots from last year...

My only complaint was that more stores weren't open, but other than that, it was great!

[cityboi]

I think the new multiplex theater is opening tonight. (The Grand) not to be confused with "The Grande" at Friendly. I briefly heard it on the news

[StevenRocks]

Williams-Sonoma is opening a new store in Shops at Friendly Center next to the new Apple store by the end of the year. I have a feeling they will be leaving Four Seasons at the same time, but I have no confirmation of this.