Birmingham retail wish list (Hoover, Trussville: eyeglasses, fence, basement)

[Tourian]

Ha ha. It is indeed across the tracks both figuratively and literally from the more comfortable, trendy side of Avondale no doubt and that is North Avondale. But there's other businesses and light industry around there that are active so I don't think it is too out of place.

[TimCity2000]

Good to hear. Especially with Woodlawn gaining traction, I feel like First Ave North could become an important street like I imagine it used to be.

[Tourian]

Yeah it deserves to be. Sloss kind of brackets one end of it as a hub for events and picturesque qualities. And when I say "end" I realize it goes all the way through the city, but when it gets into downtown I consider that part to be taken care of so to speak. The part that needs work is when it goes through Wahouma, East Lake and Woodlawn and even then most of it is decent.

[jero23]

I'm friends with someone that used to work for Closets by Design and this is a major thing for Birmingham. This means the city and metro area has some major disposable income and substantial number of upper income households per capita to support an interior design business like this. I just wish they didn't list the location as "Closets by Design Central Alabama" instead "Closets by Design Birmingham".

[jero23]

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

Good to hear. Especially with Woodlawn gaining traction, I feel like First Ave North could become an important street like I imagine it used to be.

Woodlawn will likely become the benchmark of non-City Center neighborhoods for their revitalization, but particularly its neighborhood commercial district. The Woodlawn commercial business district is essentially what the other inner-city urban commercial districts should emulate upon its full revitalization citywide. Eastlake won't be too far behind them afterwards.

[Tourian]

Macy's is going to close a hundred stores. With the only 2 in the state here in town, it could make for a very prized location opening up for a new player to move in if one (or both) are on the list.

Macy's closing 100 stores | AL.com

[TimCity2000]

gotta think at least one here gets the axe

[preguntas]

It would be the Galleria if so, but it is a busy store so I doubt that transpires.




From previous closings, it appears they are going into expansion stores that should never have opened, and established stores that are in areas where demographics have switched radically. Neither of the stores here fit that profile.

[bhamguy]

I am not sure about Macy's at the Galleria closing, but I am a little concerned about the status of the mall, as a shopping destination for everyone. I was there today, and while some more upscale stores remain, I noticed that Coach has closed. Other upscale stores have closed in recent years, and I wonder if the mall is becoming more of a lower end destination, or if there is a negative perception of the center. I would think that a mall like the Galleria could support Coach, The Limited, California Pizza Kitchen, Earthfare, Swarovski, Brighton, White House Black Market, Helzberg Jewelers, etc. I understand that many other retailers J.Jill, Chicos, Michael Kors, J. Alexander, Bonefish, Von Maur, etc., still exist. The Summit has become the center of choice for upscale/high end stores, but I am sure that Birmingham can continue to support these type stores, but maybe not in Hoover.

[preguntas]

Your concerns are almost without exception without connection to the Galleria. Most of the stores you mentioned were shrinking their coverage as is the case with almost all retail in America now. (NO one has said any Macy's in Birmingham is closing, btw.


The Coach left the Summit long before leaving Galleria. It opened a larger store at Grand River which it always intended to do. The limited has and does have a huge footprint and has remodeled. There are three major commercial Jewelry stores. (I believe Helzberg is affiliate with Zales, and kay remodeled. Birmingham has strong local Jewelry stores and that is where the serious acquisition occurs.
Some of the businesses you mention were awful. We should not support businesses that are poorly run. I have no doubt that the strength of the Galleria has grown in the past five years along with the incredible redo.
That does not make it perfect. Unfortunately, major mainstream malls in America are catering to a group that does not have good public conduct, and yes, this will drive away some other types of customers. How this is going to work is yet to be seen.


It is up to mall management to enforce the posted rules and regulations or the mall will die out in the high end first and then overall. All of the foot stores are aimed at people wearing out those same shoes just killing time at the mall. It is a generational change as well. The Galleria is pretty much what it should be at this point; if none of what it brings in new is higher end then yes that will spell trouble. Most of their stores have been an upgrade in their replacements.


BTW; CPK can be replaced by many better restaurants or other businesses. Let's wait and see.


I am puzzled at your comment referring to Hoover. The demographics at the next exit after the Galleria is very high, much of it on par with Greystone, so I am not sure why you would think the support is not there. In fact the support that is there is so upscale that it may be going to the Summit by choice.


Did you ever go into that Earthfare and try to find a specific item. The worst grocery I have ever been in. Stopped in the first six months, obviously with a lot of other shoppers.