Friendly Center & The Shops at Friendly

[Creasy336]

Maybe they'll convert it into a Sears Grand?

Maybe "The Great Indoors"

[rooster8]

Last I heard The Great Indoors wasn't doing that well. I think I read that in a retail mag, but I can't remember when. I think the original plan at SouthPark in Charlotte was to convert that Sears to a Great Indoors. It was later demoed, but I think that would have been cool.

[ILoveCallingNCHome]

My hope is that Sears remains in the Friendly location for years. It has been a staple there for years and IMO fits nicely with the surrounding businesses. I dont see it moving or changing anytime soon. I really dont understand how people feel it is so sub par that it doesnt belong there (anymore)

[StevenRocks]

My hope is that Sears remains in the Friendly location for years. It has been a staple there for years and IMO fits nicely with the surrounding businesses. I dont see it moving or changing anytime soon. I really dont understand how people feel it is so sub par that it doesnt belong there (anymore)

I don't understand it either. Sears has seen better days, to be sure, but the Friendly Center store still does well and it's a landmark of sorts. I for one would miss it. It's the Sears I shop at most.

[Roadgeek]

My hope is that Sears remains in the Friendly location for years. It has been a staple there for years and IMO fits nicely with the surrounding businesses. I dont see it moving or changing anytime soon. I really dont understand how people feel it is so sub par that it doesnt belong there (anymore)

I see what you mean. I've always loved that Sears especially at Christmas time.

[cityboi]

I see what you mean. I've always loved that Sears especially at Christmas time.

If Sears doesnt move they need to at least remodel the exterior.

[DigitalSky]

If Sears doesnt move they need to at least remodel the exterior.

Blasphemy!

[cityboi]

Blasphemy!

lol

[cityboi]

would you rather it look like the Macy's on West Wendover? LOL

[JerseyBoy]

would you rather it look like the Macy's on West Wendover? LOL

Hopefully they would consider a renovation such as this:

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp...Sears_store.jpg

[cityboi]

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp...Sears_store.jpg

Now thats what I call a Sears. It fits more with the design of the Shops at Friendly Center and doesnt look outdated.

[DigitalSky]

Hopefully they would consider a renovation such as this:

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp...Sears_store.jpg

The problem with that store design is that it looks like every other Sears store in the country. It'll use any uniqueness if it goes for that design. The current white brick look is in the vein of Sears SouthPark which is since gone.

http://image12.webshots.com/13/2/82/84/152...84PRbhOW_ph.jpg

Now.. if we were to update/remodel the Sears Store at Friendly Center.. instead of going for that prototype look which is a little bland and similar to Southpoint's store.. I like this better

It's more unique and it keeps in line with the 70s theme (but it's just me personally). I love the clean sleek lines and the modern glass at this Sears in Wichita

Edited September 3, 2007 by DigitalSky

[cityboi]

I would love to see a Sears made of brick using different colored brick and texutres.

Edited September 3, 2007 by cityboi

[StevenRocks]

Tf they change it, it needs to go back to the red panels and signs that gave Sears its character.

[cityboi]

Tf they change it, it needs to go back to the red panels and signs that gave Sears its character.

Oh god I remember the orange panels

[cityboi]

last week they had alot of the Smart4two cars over at the Shops at Friendly Center available for test drive. Those are those small two seat cars about the size of golf carts.

It was kinda cute watching those cars drive by ever so often

Edited September 10, 2007 by cityboi

[blburton]

CBL Properties may purchase the Friendly Center.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...RSTAFF/71004036

[coastalmindset]

I believe the official announcement is slated for Nov. 30. or at least at the end of the month of November.

[DigitalSky]

Talk about a monopoly almost in the Triad mall scene... except for Four Seasons, CBL will own all the major malls.

[JerseyBoy]

I hope CBL would keep Friendly Center up like it has been by Starmount. It's been my experience that they do well at first and then sort of forget about properties later on, Hanes Mall for example. I wish Starmount would've kept this in their portfolio, but I think I read somewhere that they were going to start unloading properties in order to build new ones.

[StevenRocks]

CBL Properties may purchase the Friendly Center.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...RSTAFF/71004036

It's probably a done deal, but I wish they wouldn't. CBL doesn't do a a great job with their malls from a design or management standpoint. Although Alamance Crossing is an okay mall, Oak Hollow Mall is going to pot, Hanes Mall is already looking quite dated five years after its desecration, um, renovation, and my local Valley View Mall is stagnant even with a lifestyle addition.

[cityboi]

I think they will. I do wonder why they never purchased Four Seasons when Koury Corp was selling that.

[JerseyBoy]

I think I remember CBL owned Four Seasons at one time, judging from some radio ads I heard about three years ago.

[kmurphy19662003]

I think I remember CBL owned Four Seasons at one time, judging from some radio ads I heard about three years ago.

CBL never owned Four Seasons. Koury sold it directly to General Growth properties. CBL sucks! Look how crapty Hanes and Oak Hollow look. This is not a good thing for greensboro.

[JerseyBoy]

CBL never owned Four Seasons. Koury sold it directly to General Growth properties. CBL sucks! Look how crapty Hanes and Oak Hollow look. This is not a good thing for greensboro.

Yeah, I wasn't sure whether they did or not. I just remember an ad around 2003 or 2004 that advertised Hanes, Oak Hollow, Randleman, and Four Seasons together. I'm surprised Starmount didn't sell Friendly Center to a company like Simon or Taubman. CBL doesn't have any experience (that I'm aware of) in dealing with upscale centers and they treat their properties like crap.