Thoughts about Miller Hill Mall (Minneapolis, Crystal: 2009, how much, moving)

[CrystalIce]

You don't like Birch Street Gifts? I can't say I've shopped there much, but she does seem to have neat stuff. I did just find out that Bristow's will be putting in a store where Hot Topic is now once Hot Topic moves over to their new location.

[duluthian2008]

No I do like their store its just that space keeps going through tenants like water and nothing is being done to the physical space. Do you think Bristows will remodel Hot Topics old space? Also do you think Hot Topics new space will be the HT Prototype? Also I have a few other questions for you CrystalIce. The first being, do you know what is happening to the old Burger King space? Also will Build A Bear be going where Hallmark is and Hallmark going where the old Foot Locker was? And lastely have you heard any news on Crocs opening a full inline store? They were talking about it a few months ago and they said it would open in July.

[CrystalIce]

Hopefully Birch Street will be able to make this a good looking space. They usually look nice, but I agree about giving the space a total overhaul. I heard that they will be doing the HT Prototype, but couldn't get anything confirmed. Yes, Bristows will be doing a total remodel of the Hot Topic space. The Burger King spot has two potential things going in - the most likely will be a chicken place. It is not Chick-Fil-A, but will be just like one or if this does not go through there is a Japenese place that is interested. There's no definites on Build A Bear going into Hallmark, but it is known that they are interested. If Build A Bear goes into Hallmark then Hallmark would go into where Lady Footlocker was. As for Crocs they want an inline store, but they want one in a specific location and that location is not available at this time. I don't know if they will look for another one or stay in the food court where they are.

[duluthian2008]

Yes I agree that space needs something to be done with it. I am very excited for the new HT Prototype its so nice! When you so total remodel of the space does that mean it will need to be walled off? Will the Chicken place be a chain or local, what about the Japenese place, is that local also? Well I just heard from a person who works at Hallmark that said Build a Bear was taking their space, but I didnt know. Do you know the specific location Crocs is looking at? Also do you know anything about the redevelopment area, if anything is going to be going in? Also do you know anything about the mall renovation? Thank you so much for all your help CrystalIce!!!!

[CrystalIce]

My friend told me that a total remodel usually requires it to be walled off. Mainly because it is unsitely and dirty when they do it. If it is just cosmetic work they may not need to and most stores do cosmetic work at night so they can still be open during the day. The Chicken place is neither local or a chain, but my friend couldn't give me a name, same thing with the Japenese place. I was not given a specific location for Crocs. Unfortunately there are certain things even a really good friend can't tell you. As for the redevelopment area they told me that their leasing people are pretty tight-lipped about it so hopefully this means there are good things coming. As soon as I hear anything I will definitely pass it on though.

[duluthian2008]

Thank you so much! Your help has been so much help to me! I do hope that the mall is thinking about Sephora for the redevelopment along with some of the tenants I mentioned earlier. I would really like to see a Urban Outfitters or a H&M store also. Have you heard anything about Great American leaving?

[CrystalIce]

Sephora is another one that I don't think would come up here. I heard JCPenney now carries it, but I don't know for sure. I have heard the rumor about Great American leaving, but I think that mainly comes from it always being slow in there. I have heard some people like to go there just because they know it will be quiet. I think their big problem is service, they don't exactly have the best wait staff and even when there are only a couple of people in there it still seems to take at least a half hour to get your lunch.

[duluthian2008]

Yeah I dont know I just heard about Sephora from the person who works at Hallmark and they said they were trying to find a space in the mall. And I have seen were JCPenny carries Sephora but in order from them to do that they must have a "Sephora Store" inside their store. Our doesnt and I dont know if it will, but it could have one coming. And then about the Great American the only reason I ask that is because of I had emailed them and they said their space in the mall was way to large for them and that also their business was not doing too well. I just think if we could get a great restaurant in there that would do something to the front of the building that would make it look like its part of the Streetscape, that would do wonders for our mall. Their service is bad, I have ate there a few times and plan on being there for a couple hours. Have you heard anything about the Miller Hill Mall doing their renovation work yet?

[duluthian2008]

Has anyone heard if Build A Bear is still planning a location at Miller Hill Mall? I am wondering because I just looked on their website and they use to have Miller Hill Mall coming soon but now it is gone. I didnt know if the deal may have feel through?

[CrystalIce]

It doesn't look like the renovation work will get done this year. It sounds like they plan on doing one or two entrance's next year and then start on replacing tile throughout the year after that. It's a big expense and with the economy where it is it seems like a lot of the big projects are on a holding pattern. As far as I have heard Build a Bear is still interested and looking to come in.