Seattle is one of my favorite cities and the foot traffic there is enough to make most other cities jealous.  I was there back in 1998 and street retail scene was hopping.

You know what ... I don't really think Towerplace wants to turn the retail scene around. I know it sounds weird, but I just have this feeling.

 

As far as guessing what their motive might be, I'm not sure ... but, I think it's obvious they do not want retail there.

 

 

So, who runs Towerplace?

 

... this guy does:

 

Jay Lask

Mr. Lask is a Managing Director, responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and closing property acquisitions in the Northeastern and Central regions of the United States. Prior to joining Madison Marquette, Mr. Lask was a Senior Vice President at First Washington Realty, where he oversaw all aspects of the firm’s national shopping center acquisition program, including deal selection and structuring, investment underwriting, pricing, contract negotiation, due diligence, and closing.

 

Mr. Lask also spent 16 years with Lend Lease Real Estate Investments in progressively responsible positions, most recently as Chief Retail Acquisition Officer. He brings 21 years of experience in real estate investment and has completed real estate transactions with an aggregate value of $1.5 billion. Mr. Lask holds a Masters of Business Administration from Emory University and a Bachelors degree in Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

 

[email protected]

202-741-3847

Madison Marquette

You know what ... I don't really think Towerplace wants to turn the retail scene around. I know it sounds weird, but I just have this feeling.

 

As far as guessing what their motive might be, I'm not sure ... but, I think it's obvious they do not want retail there.

 

You might just be right.  In my opinion, one of the signs of a poorly run/managed mall is one in which the businesses are allowed to set their own hours without being required to be open during the core mall operating hours.  Walk through Tower Place on a Sunday and half (or more) of the stores aren't even open.  Who would bother to visit a mall if you don't know for sure what's going to be open or closed? 

The stores in Tower Place are all stale. They offer nothing for young people and I don't really remember it ever being different. Even Gap is a pretty conservative brand and that was one of the best things they had going. There is (or was) Express Men, but it was shoved way back in a corner where there was no traffic. You always see the same trend in aging malls... the last thing standing is a discount clothing store like TJ Maxx, a footlocker, and some idiot sitting on his computer making bootleg silk screen t shirts. I'm just waiting for a BMV branch to open up in there. Seriously.

Talbots and Ann Taylor, bookend retail anchors for downtown Cincinnati’s Tower Place and nearby Carew Tower, will close stores in the urban shopping mall before the end of this month.

 

Both women’s clothiers, Talbots is expected to close by Jan. 27, according to a sign in the store, while Ann Taylor will close sometime during the week of Jan. 21, a store official said.

 

The loss of the two stores is the latest blow to Tower Place and the retail portion of Carew Tower.

 

Two years ago a Gap store closed at the mall and that space has remained vacant. In recent years, it has lost high-profile shops such as Banana Republic, The Nature Company and more than a dozen other retailers.

 

Fifteen years after Tower Place opened, the mall continues to struggle to keep its tenants in light of fewer shoppers downtown and a changing focus for the mall from clothing and accessories to food and drink.

 

David Ginsburg, president and chief executive of Downtown Cincinnati Inc., a downtown advocacy agency, said he was not surprised by the pending closures.

 

He said several trends are driving the changes across the United States at downtown centers like the Carew Tower and Tower Place: National chains consolidating to suburban settings, new and more restaurants in former retail space downtown and a need for more locally owned stores that target conventioneers.

 

Those are trends that are likely to accelerate in 2007.

 

“We will continue to see space occupied. How it is configured may change. There is a lot of merit to retail space that is externally facing the street instead of internally facing the mall,” Ginsburg said.

 

Store personnel would not comment on the closures and referred questions to national representatives, who did not return telephone calls.

 

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070102/BIZ01/301020022/-1/rss

Turn Tower Place Mall into a small university or college.

No, seriously. It's been done. d:]

Columbus turned part of City Center into a charter school.  Trust me, it isn't helping City Center or downtown.

I don't care what they do with the shell of the mall...but I do hope that they land some retailers along the street.  Should they retain even a fraction of these retailers that have closed in Tower Place, but get them to relocate to street level retail....then that is a win in my book.

I wish the remaining stores with fill storefronts on the street and Hilton would convert the remaining part of tower place into hotel rooms.  The mall is done, now lets put it out of its misery.

Madison-Marquette manages Tower Place and also developed the McAlpin on 4th Street. Maybe some retailers will relocate there.

MrsAweeks:

I'm not super familiar with Tower Place, but haven't some of those stores from Kenwood already had locations at Tower Place?  If TP is like former downtown retail centers that are built fundamentally as suburban malls (Tower City, City Center, etc.) this is probably the case.  My other question would be how old is the Seattle shopping center?  Give it the 15-20 years that the aforementioned "destinations" were given and we will see how vibrant the shopping will be.  Perhaps Nordstrom's being from Seattle helps that center.  Also, Seattle's downtown population obviously helps (and I would love to see this happen in any of OH's 3C's).  My opinion would be that the next step in the evolution of "malls" would be the development of "lifestyle" centers in the heart of downtowns (with retail, office space, and housing located in the same complex = you know the way it used to be and should have always been).  The sooner living downtown becomes cool the sooner destination retail will move downtown.

Pacific Place opened in 1997. So it has been around for almost 10 years already. Mall can succeed in downtown, but they must be done right. A good example is Charleston Town Center in WV. It was constructed in 1983 and still is thriving today.

Does Tower Mall do well before and after games of the Reds and Bengals?  With large crowds as an addition to downtown population should be able to support it.

I think because both stadiums are cut off from downtown a bit, that most people don't really go exploring around after games.  Also, most Reds games are at night when the mall is closed and Bengals games are on Sundays when the mall closes early, so I don't think they impact mall business much except for maybe the out of town visitors the games bring in that stay downtown.

2 Stores Leaving Downtown Cincinnati

Last Update: 1/3/2007 8:38:33 AM

 

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There will soon be fewer places to shop in Downtown Cincinnati.

Ann Taylor and Talbot's are moving out. Ann Taylor is leaving Tower Place... and Talbot's is vacating it's space in the Carew Tower.

 

The Business Courier reports they'll close the doors at the end of the month. The stores are the latest retailers to leave downtown.

 

Restaurants are filling in some of the gaps -- including the Havana Martini Club.

 

this might be a repeat of something posted earlier but i just read it on channel 12's website. Theres always a sinking feeling when a local news headline reads "Two Downtown Businesses Leaving"

Does Tower Mall do well before and after games of the Reds and Bengals?  With large crowds as an addition to downtown population should be able to support it.

 

Yeah this is one thing that is puzzeling to me...businesses downtown are not willing to adjust their hours of operation to accomodate potential business from major events (festivals, sporting events, etc).  Often times I am walking to a Reds game and walk past a closed skyline, and here other Reds fans commenting on how they wish Skyline was open so that they could grab a bite to eat instead of being ripped off at the game.  It seems that no business downtown has been willing to take that first leap for all of the businesses to see what the risk actually is...I guess everyone is satisfied with the status quo and don't want to chance it  :|

While I love urban life and exploring my city, I don't spend much time at Tower Place.  While I originally thought that the Fountain Square project was a waste of resources when we were all focusing on the Banks project, I now am happy to see this underway to offset these losses and maybe stimulate the surrounding area to open up shops on the streets of Cincinnati.  We are going through a painful transition in our city, from nightlife to retail, Cincinnati feels like a sports team dumping their veterans and going through a rebuilding season.  In return, hopefully the city will be stronger than the previous decade.  Nightlife seems to be moving in the West 4th/5th Street area from Over-the-Rhine which is maturing into more of an art/residential district which will also provide the perception of safety that many locals need while partying at the local clubs & bars. Retail is showing signs of leaving the suburban natured roots of Tower Place as the city reinvents its urban retail experience.  The downside is that we will lose some stores permanently but hopefully the city experience will be stronger.

MrsAweeks:

I'm not super familiar with Tower Place, but haven't some of those stores from Kenwood already had locations at Tower Place?  If TP is like former downtown retail centers that are built fundamentally as suburban malls (Tower City, City Center, etc.) this is probably the case.  My other question would be how old is the Seattle shopping center?  Give it the 15-20 years that the aforementioned "destinations" were given and we will see how vibrant the shopping will be.  Perhaps Nordstrom's being from Seattle helps that center.  Also, Seattle's downtown population obviously helps (and I would love to see this happen in any of OH's 3C's).  My opinion would be that the next step in the evolution of "malls" would be the development of "lifestyle" centers in the heart of downtowns (with retail, office space, and housing located in the same complex = you know the way it used to be and should have always been).  The sooner living downtown becomes cool the sooner destination retail will move downtown.

Pacific Place opened in 1997. So it has been around for almost 10 years already. Mall can succeed in downtown, but they must be done right. A good example is Charleston Town Center in WV. It was constructed in 1983 and still is thriving today.

 

Problem is, Charleston Town Center is *the* mall for West Virgnia, let alone Charleston.  Kanawha Valley Mall downriver is nothing more than the former Crestview Hills thing with Dillards.

You know what ... I don't really think Towerplace wants to turn the retail scene around. I know it sounds weird, but I just have this feeling.

 

As far as guessing what their motive might be, I'm not sure ... but, I think it's obvious they do not want retail there.

 

 

So, who runs Towerplace?

 

... this guy does:

 

Jay Lask

Mr. Lask is a Managing Director, responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and closing property acquisitions in the Northeastern and Central regions of the United States. Prior to joining Madison Marquette, Mr. Lask was a Senior Vice President at First Washington Realty, where he oversaw all aspects of the firm’s national shopping center acquisition program, including deal selection and structuring, investment underwriting, pricing, contract negotiation, due diligence, and closing.

 

Mr. Lask also spent 16 years with Lend Lease Real Estate Investments in progressively responsible positions, most recently as Chief Retail Acquisition Officer. He brings 21 years of experience in real estate investment and has completed real estate transactions with an aggregate value of $1.5 billion. Mr. Lask holds a Masters of Business Administration from Emory University and a Bachelors degree in Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

 

[email protected]

202-741-3847

Madison Marquette

It's not Jay Lask's fault. The city neglected to be proactive in following trends in the retail/commercial industry when at one time they were ahead of the game. Jay Lask's company manages the property but they don't own it so I don't think it would be in his control.

Often times I am walking to a Reds game and walk past a closed skyline, and here other Reds fans commenting on how they wish Skyline was open so that they could grab a bite to eat instead of being ripped off at the game.  It seems that no business downtown has been willing to take that first leap for all of the businesses to see what the risk actually is...I guess everyone is satisfied with the status quo and don't want to chance it  :|

 

At least for the past year, the Skyline on Fourth and Sycamore seems to have been adjusting their hour on nights and weeekends for Reds games.

At least for the past year, the Skyline on Fourth and Sycamore seems to have been adjusting their hour on nights and weeekends for Reds games.

 

The same Skyline was open after the Labor Day fireworks as well.

You know what ... I don't really think Towerplace wants to turn the retail scene around. I know it sounds weird, but I just have this feeling.

 

As far as guessing what their motive might be, I'm not sure ... but, I think it's obvious they do not want retail there.

 

 

So, who runs Towerplace?

 

... this guy does:

 

Jay Lask

Mr. Lask is a Managing Director, responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and closing property acquisitions in the Northeastern and Central regions of the United States. Prior to joining Madison Marquette, Mr. Lask was a Senior Vice President at First Washington Realty, where he oversaw all aspects of the firm?s national shopping center acquisition program, including deal selection and structuring, investment underwriting, pricing, contract negotiation, due diligence, and closing.

 

Mr. Lask also spent 16 years with Lend Lease Real Estate Investments in progressively responsible positions, most recently as Chief Retail Acquisition Officer. He brings 21 years of experience in real estate investment and has completed real estate transactions with an aggregate value of $1.5 billion. Mr. Lask holds a Masters of Business Administration from Emory University and a Bachelors degree in Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

 

[email protected]

202-741-3847

Madison Marquette

It's not Jay Lask's fault. The city neglected to be proactive in following trends in the retail/commercial industry when at one time they were ahead of the game. Jay Lask's company manages the property but they don't own it so I don't think it would be in his control.

 

No one here is blaming Jay Lask. True, he is the regional real estate director of this area and parts of the Northeast for Madison Marquette, but I am not saying it is his fault. I was throwing that out there, because if there is anyone that is wanting to find our what TP's masterplan is ... he is the go-to guy.

"It's not Jay Lask's fault. The city neglected to be proactive in following trends in the retail/commercial industry when at one time they were ahead of the game. Jay Lask's company manages the property but they don't own it so I don't think it would be in his control."

 

I don't think it is the City's fault; why are they responsible for keeping tenants and following retail trends in a privately owned mall?

You know what ... I don't really think Towerplace wants to turn the retail scene around. I know it sounds weird, but I just have this feeling.

 

As far as guessing what their motive might be, I'm not sure ... but, I think it's obvious they do not want retail there.

 

 

So, who runs Towerplace?

 

... this guy does:

 

Jay Lask

Mr. Lask is a Managing Director, responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and closing property acquisitions in the Northeastern and Central regions of the United States. Prior to joining Madison Marquette, Mr. Lask was a Senior Vice President at First Washington Realty, where he oversaw all aspects of the firm?s national shopping center acquisition program, including deal selection and structuring, investment underwriting, pricing, contract negotiation, due diligence, and closing.

 

Mr. Lask also spent 16 years with Lend Lease Real Estate Investments in progressively responsible positions, most recently as Chief Retail Acquisition Officer. He brings 21 years of experience in real estate investment and has completed real estate transactions with an aggregate value of $1.5 billion. Mr. Lask holds a Masters of Business Administration from Emory University and a Bachelors degree in Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

 

[email protected]

202-741-3847

Madison Marquette

It's not Jay Lask's fault. The city neglected to be proactive in following trends in the retail/commercial industry when at one time they were ahead of the game. Jay Lask's company manages the property but they don't own it so I don't think it would be in his control.

 

No one here is blaming Jay Lask. True, he is the regional real estate director of this area and parts of the Northeast for Madison Marquette, but I am not saying it is his fault. I was throwing that out there, because if there is anyone that is wanting to find our what TP's masterplan is ... he is the go-to guy.

 

I got that impression from you making his UC planning degree in italics and underlined in the post where you say they don't want to turn the retail scene around.. Like he should have known how to sustain a mall better or something. I emailed him because i was interested in his perspective, especially since he was in the same program I am... TP is about to be sold and he doesn't know what the new ownership intends to do with it. He said they've tried getting good retailers to move in but it's very hard to even get their attention and high calibre stores are costly, they demand top notch properties that are proven to be successful (much like banks not wanting to finance anything outside of our suburban norms because they see that suburban development has proven successful--atleast for now) and unfortunately local retailers have a hard time staying, have credit issues, etc.

"It's not Jay Lask's fault. The city neglected to be proactive in following trends in the retail/commercial industry when at one time they were ahead of the game. Jay Lask's company manages the property but they don't own it so I don't think it would be in his control."

 

I don't think it is the City's fault; why are they responsible for keeping tenants and following retail trends in a privately owned mall?

Why are we responsible for Convergys? Saks?

You know what ... I don't really think Towerplace wants to turn the retail scene around. I know it sounds weird, but I just have this feeling.

 

As far as guessing what their motive might be, I'm not sure ... but, I think it's obvious they do not want retail there.

 

 

So, who runs Towerplace?

 

... this guy does:

 

Jay Lask

Mr. Lask is a Managing Director, responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and closing property acquisitions in the Northeastern and Central regions of the United States. Prior to joining Madison Marquette, Mr. Lask was a Senior Vice President at First Washington Realty, where he oversaw all aspects of the firm?s national shopping center acquisition program, including deal selection and structuring, investment underwriting, pricing, contract negotiation, due diligence, and closing.

 

Mr. Lask also spent 16 years with Lend Lease Real Estate Investments in progressively responsible positions, most recently as Chief Retail Acquisition Officer. He brings 21 years of experience in real estate investment and has completed real estate transactions with an aggregate value of $1.5 billion. Mr. Lask holds a Masters of Business Administration from Emory University and a Bachelors degree in Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

 

[email protected]

202-741-3847

Madison Marquette

It's not Jay Lask's fault. The city neglected to be proactive in following trends in the retail/commercial industry when at one time they were ahead of the game. Jay Lask's company manages the property but they don't own it so I don't think it would be in his control.

 

No one here is blaming Jay Lask. True, he is the regional real estate director of this area and parts of the Northeast for Madison Marquette, but I am not saying it is his fault. I was throwing that out there, because if there is anyone that is wanting to find our what TP's masterplan is ... he is the go-to guy.

 

I got that impression from you making his UC planning degree in italics and underlined in the post where you say they don't want to turn the retail scene around.. Like he should have known how to sustain a mall better or something. I emailed him because i was interested in his perspective, especially since he was in the same program I am... TP is about to be sold and he doesn't know what the new ownership intends to do with it. He said they've tried getting good retailers to move in but it's very hard to even get their attention and high calibre stores are costly, they demand top notch properties that are proven to be successful (much like banks not wanting to finance anything outside of our suburban norms because they see that suburban development has proven successful--atleast for now) and unfortunately local retailers have a hard time staying, have credit issues, etc.

 

Talk about mis-understanding ... lol

 

 

I made that particular sentence underlined because of pride. This dude is rolin' with a sweet job and over a lot of territory and where did he get his urban planning degree? UC, of course. I believe I read somewhere that he is in DC.

So, no ... I was boasting about the UC education.

My bad :[

LOL, Cincy-Rise I knew what you meant. :)

Problem is, Charleston Town Center is *the* mall for West Virgnia, let alone Charleston.  Kanawha Valley Mall downriver is nothing more than the former Crestview Hills thing with Dillards.

 

Charleston Town Center was the largest urban mall in the United States when constructed in 1983. It's still a viable shopping center, although the development along Corridor G south of the city has sort of hurt retail a bit in the mall. It has one missing anchor, and has for a few years, that really needs to be filled.

 

It also needs renovations on the inside. The brick floor and the decorations need refreshing.

Agreed.

I guess to add to my post, while it is suffering somewhat, it does feature a strong lineup of tenants and anchors. It's certainly not dying and is boosted by the on-site hotel and the convention/conference center adjacent to the mall.

 

IMO, if it were to be built now, it would be best as a mixed-use development. Malls are sooooo outdated.

Jeweler leaving Carew Tower arcade

BY JOHN ECKBERG | [email protected]

January 12, 2007

 

Rogers Jewelers in the first floor arcade area of the Carew Tower will close on Jan. 27. 

 

Lower level retail has or will be replaced with night clubs and restaurants.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070112/BIZ01/301120017

It would be nice to see some city government intervention to help the struggling mall to do whats necessary in attracting quality stores... I think it does have potential as a mall... The food court is mad busy around lunch time. If those people had shops worth going to, they'd buy something else besides food. TowerPlace has a huge advantage in being directly connected to The Hilton and Westin hotels; even if to the detriment of nearby retailers.

While I hate to see stores leave Tower Place, I can understand why a chain jewelry store may not do well downtown.  I certainly do not patron them because I have better options downtown for jewelry.  Family owned stores tend to have better quality products along with better prices.  Why go to Rogers if you could go to Richter & Phillips or Cook's?

^Here's the whole problem...government shouldn't be in the business of building malls or have nearly the role in redevelopment that it has grown to have.  In the past shopping arcades, train stations, even roads themselves were all built and maintained by private companies.  The government got highly involved in the appeasement of the automobile (taking over road building and mass transit from private companies), mass media culture did much of the rest. 

 

I don't have any specific advice for this mall, I don't shop and I don't understand the shopping mindset. If people want "unique retail" so bad, start your own store, start making your own clothes and see how it goes.  It's clear to me as an adult that many people get some sort of emotional kickback from going to malls and buying things they may or may not need, in fact it was identified by some writers soon after malls appeared that they are like Disneyland designed as utopic islands in a chaotic world which put people in an altered state of mind where retailers can speak their own language to receptive brains.   

Downtown's residential population is growing fast, everything will catch up in time.

I don't have any specific advice for this mall, I don't shop and I don't understand the shopping mindset.[

huh...you don't shop ehh??

 

It's clear to me as an adult that many people get some sort of emotional kickback from going to malls and buying things they may or may not need...

Thx for clearing it up for everyone that you are an adult...and clearly those that are younger are mislead/uninformed.

 

I agree that the city should not step in to save a struggling mall, but I do think that the city needs to put some programs in place that make downtown (especially street level) more attractive to retailers.  Whether you like or go shopping is not relevant.  Retail is a MAJOR part of any economy, and all economies need to be diversified in order to succeed.  The city needs entertainment, retail, office, arts, and housing all together as one cohesive package.  You cannot expect to have a truly vibrant downtown and a '24 hour' city unless you have all of these.

Circle Centre Mall in Indianapolis has about 12 million annual visitors.  To support that type of traffic would require a vastly greater population than presently exists downtown.  I'd expect the same is true of Cincinnati.  Even if the population of downtown tripled, it probably wouldn't make a dent in Tower Place's problems.  In Indy, the Mall benefits from being directly attached to the convention center and only conventioneers and other special events attendees are keeping it afloat.  I expect reports of the same types of troubles there in the not too distant future as the mall's operator - Simon company - also owns the Fashion Mall and has elected to steer destination retailers like Tiffany's and Saks there instead of downtown.  Circle Centre has a very uninspired retail mix and if the convention business suffered at all, the mall would be in trouble.  With Nordstrom opening a northside store this year, I'd consider the future of that company's Circle Center store in doubt.

 

I wouldn't be planning on new residents to bail out Tower Place or downtown retail generally any time soon.  Chain restaurants like McCormick and Schmick will no doubt thrive however, just as they have in Indy and elsewhere.

 

>huh...you don't shop ehh??

 

No, I typically only set foot in a mall once or twice a year, have definitely gone over a year without going to one, and probably spend under 10 hours shopping per year.  I also never see movies (unless I'm forced to, for example by a female or by a friend of mine who worked at a theater) or watch TV.  I've definitely gone over a year without watching TV or going to a movie theater.  When you're away from the pop spectacle for extended periods, it's definitely a shock to the system. 

>huh...you don't shop ehh??

 

No, I typically only set foot in a mall once or twice a year, have definitely gone over a year without going to one, and probably spend under 10 hours shopping per year.  I also never see movies (unless I'm forced to, for example by a female or by a friend of mine who worked at a theater) or watch TV.  I've definitely gone over a year without watching TV or going to a movie theater.  When you're away from the pop spectacle for extended periods, it's definitely a shock to the system.

 

Just out of curiosity..what do you do for fun???  Just hang out at bars, bowling alleys, and the likes.  I can see not watching TV, but not going to a movie or shopping seems extreme for me at least.  More power to you though!

No, I typically only set foot in a mall once or twice a year, have definitely gone over a year without going to one, and probably spend under 10 hours shopping per year. 

Sounds like me, I just ordered my socks for 2007, online.

It seems like the people that defy mass culture are the lonliest people... You may think that celebrities, movies, retail, etc are ridiculous but they're excuses to connect or bond with each other. Look at how easy it is for two people that barely know each other to talk about celebrities, or a popular tv show or sports. Look at how people on the forum will go on endlessly about Ikea furniture or Burrito Joe's. It's not a bad thing. 

I feel much the way jmeck does (perhaps not as extreme) and I'm far from lonely.

 

I think celebrity worship/99.99% of tv/most pop culture/etc. are absolutely ridiculous.

Yeah, just go to a bar and make friends. 

I feel much the way jmeck does (perhaps not as extreme) and I'm far from lonely.

 

I think celebrity worship/99.99% of tv/most pop culture/etc. are absolutely ridiculous.

 

I don't watch a whole lot of television myself.  We have more computers in the house than TVs (I know, we're geeks).  I see a movie in a movie theater maybe once a year now.  I am far from bored, and I am not lonely.

I'm really out of touch when it comes to TV/movie culture, and am losing touch with popular music now, too. 

 

People in the office talk about TV shows called Lost and The Great Race(?).  Lost sounds creepy and the Great Race stupid.  I am not interested.             

 

 

>Sounds like me, I just ordered my socks for 2007, online.

 

My kind of guy. 

 

I bike and hike a lot, I have a lot of clothes from REI and backpacking stores that I wear most of the time left over from when I didn't have a car and biked and walked around in the winter.  Although Mr. Rando you will be delighted to hear that I in fact spent about $300 on clothes this month since I got a PT job in an office and didn't think head-to-toe gore-tex was going to cut it there.

 

But getting back on topic, the problem with local governments getting involved to the extent where they build shopping malls is hugely problematic since the retail climate changes so quickly.  The government is incredibly slow to adapt to changing demographics (social security, etc.) and can't be expected to keep up with, let alone anticipate the whims of the American consumer.  The way in which malls are built tends to go out of style within 7 or 8 years, they need to be renovated quite often or else the look hilariously out-of-date, and obviously full renovation of structures as large as shopping malls are incredibly expensive.  And if they're government-owned, they're stuck paying union wages to boot. 

 

What does the future hold for Easton, for example?  I have no idea, for whatever reason most cities seem to have their one suburban mall which is rock solid such as Kenwood in Cincinnati or Green Hills in Nashville.  Others coast like Tri-County, others fail almost immediately.  And btw I've never been in Kenwood Mall, to add another notch to my parsiminous resume. 

I bike and hike a lot, I have a lot of clothes from REI and backpacking stores that I wear most of the time left over from when I didn't have a car and biked and walked around in the winter.  Although Mr. Rando you will be delighted to hear that I in fact spent about $300 on clothes this month since I got a PT job in an office and didn't think head-to-toe gore-tex was going to cut it there.

 

I wear a lot of outdoors-oriented clothes to work. I do a lot of hiking and outdoor activities, and they feel damn comfortable, so why not? But then again, I like wearing collared shirts, button-downs, polo shirts, and blue jeans (no khakis) - casual office dress - to work and class. So I'm weird like that, I like both styles. And after working in offices for several years, my wardrobe is comprised of outdoors and office clothes.

 

What does the future hold for Easton, for example?  I have no idea, for whatever reason most cities seem to have their one suburban mall which is rock solid such as Kenwood in Cincinnati or Green Hills in Nashville.  Others coast like Tri-County, others fail almost immediately.  And btw I've never been in Kenwood Mall, to add another notch to my parsiminous resume. 

 

Where is Tri-County?

 

This reminds me of Cedar Knoll Galleria, failing almost immediately. It's on life support still, although it is showing some promise.

 

http://www.abandonedonline.com/index.php?catid=8&photos=0

People on this forum bitch and complain about stores closing and suburbanites being affraid to go downtown, but by the sound of it, not many people on here are doing much to help downtown either (residents aside).  People complain about lack of retail, but many of you "don't shop", people want a movie theater downtown but many of you don't see movies either.  What can downtown possibly do to attract people if, even the supposed most avid supporters of downtown have nothing that would appeal to them?

 

People say that local businesses need to be supported and people should be walking down the street to the mom and pop stores to buy, say...socks, yet on here people brag and are applauded for buying socks from, presumably, an out of town or even international company on-line. That doesn't make much sense to me.

 

>

  And btw I've never been in Kenwood Mall, to add another notch to my parsiminous resume. 

 

thank you for not taking up a parking spot that I can use.

^ While I don't go to movie theaters, I do enjoy live shows and entertainment.  I also enjoy going out to eat a meal, dessert, or just for a drink.  These are great things downtown.  I also like going to art galleries and museums. 

 

As for shopping, I do prefer shopping in a store instead of going online.  However, I have purchased things online when I couldn't find what I need at a store.

I took this photo in Paducah, KY in 2002, however I thought it was appropriate for this thread...the way the message is only on the right side of the marquis shows how this was a one-way street, that this message is really only for passing cars.