The Augusta Exchange (Gordon, Damascus: buy, bankruptcy, new construction)

[HephBlythe]

The Augusta Exchange was always a major regional center since it was build. That now all appears to be changing. With the new part of the Augusta Mall and the new Bass Pro Shop mall on River Watch, Mullings Crossing, and the Gateway on Lewiston Road with areas 7th Wal Mart, it looks as if The Augusta Exchange will go the way of Augusta West and the Regency Mall. It is a shame to see the Wheeler Rd. and Walton Way Extention decline so rapidly. I guess thats called progress. It is only a matter of time before the restaurants start closing and trust me when one relocates, the others will follow. Prime example is the Gordon Hwy. Deans Bridge Rd. area and the Wrightsboro Rd. Damascus Rd. Area. With Circuit City, Comp USA, Ashely Furniture, Goodys, and Freedmans closing, I donot see the shopping center recovering from that. The Augusta Mall even when it was struggling only lost one anchor which was Macys when Richs and Macys merged. The other four major stores keep the mall afloat until the transformation and addition of the Prominade in 2007. The Augusta Exchange has already lost 5 major stores already. Which will close next? What caused this once vibrant power center to begin dying out so quickly?

[lilmusket]

Augusta Exchange doesn't seem to be the least bit in trouble. I do not see a lot of vacancies..the place is always packed.

[AugustaREGroup]

I could not even find a parking spot at Best Buy on Saturday. The new construction around the Augusta Exchange will give it new life. Only problem I see is sprawl, as before mentioned. One of the charms of Augusta was being able to get anywhere in 15-20 minutes. Now if I really wanted to "shop" everywhere it would take all day long.

But if these multi-million dollar companies' market studies are saying go ahead... Then good for Augusta. It generally means Augusta has the population and spending power to support several shopping centers.

Look at Starbucks. HUGE market study program.. and they closed stores all over the nation, but none in Augusta. When I was in school in Augusta the only Starbucks in Augusta was in the Radission and it was only open at strange hours. Now how many are there, 6-8?

[The Magician]

Lol..The Exchange has the highest concentration of restaurants in Augusta. It ain't goin' anywhere. It'll never go the way of South Gate shopping plaza. Ha Ha Ha... We all know that the stores that were going to be at the VAR are probably going to relocate there.

[CaptainAwesome]

I really don't like the exchange that much. It has plenty of stuff and traffic is too congested. I'd much rather have saved the food lion across from the masters.

[PJA]

It's not going anywhere anytime soon. Yeah there were some closings but that was due to the companies filing bankruptcy. I think the locations in Augusta were still doing good for example when Goody's and Circuit City did their first round of closings of their underperforming stores, they kept the Augusta locations opened which means they were among the best performing stores. It's just unfortunate that the downsizing for both companies came too late which cost the rest of the stores to have to close.