Future of Houston-area shopping malls discussion (San Antonio, Austin: maintenance, live, airport)

[ipuck]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I've heard anecdotally that the large local Asian population is too value-oriented for mall shopping, despite having high incomes. It seems counterintuitive because upscale malls continue to proliferate in Asia itself.

Asians in general (at least in this city and especially Sugar Land) have a higher family income and more disposable income than any other race. One of the reason is because the household tend to be bigger. So I don't agree with your comment they are not spending it. I just think they are not spending it in First Colony, just like the rest of the upper income population that have abandoned the mall.

If you go across the street where that strip center encompassing Nordstrom rack and off saks. It is packed with people. I would bet that center probably does more business than the whole First Colony mall. That is where all the Asian and upper income clientele went.

Also there have been a steady flow of chinese visitors coming over to visit friends and family. All they want to do is buy stuff. You see them all the time in the outlet center and in Galleria. You don't see them in First Colony though.

[gwarnecke]

I'll echo the previous comments about First Colony Mall - the outlot and open-air portions of Town Center seem to be booming - it can take <gasp> a whole two minutes to find a parking spot. The mall itself seems a bit quiet by comparison - not dead, but a bit tired.

[SouthernBoy205]

Originally Posted by texas7

Yeah I've never been so not sure what some peoples dislike is about.

I'm not sure why either. It's a nice mall with a good stores.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by ipuck

Asians in general (at least in this city and especially Sugar Land) have a higher family income and more disposable income than any other race. One of the reason is because the household tend to be bigger. So I don't agree with your comment they are not spending it. I just think they are not spending it in First Colony, just like the rest of the upper income population that have abandoned the mall.

If you go across the street where that strip center encompassing Nordstrom rack and off saks. It is packed with people. I would bet that center probably does more business than the whole First Colony mall. That is where all the Asian and upper income clientele went.

Also there have been a steady flow of chinese visitors coming over to visit friends and family. All they want to do is buy stuff. You see them all the time in the outlet center and in Galleria. You don't see them in First Colony though.

Well, this would be a little ironic then, given that the strip centers with the stores you name are typically considered more value-oriented, whereas mall stores are considered more full-priced for merchandise - so it seems odd that the consumers with more disposable income would go to the value-oriented places while more moderate income shoppers go to the mall. If that's true, then it's not good for the mall over the long term, unless it can make it up in sheer volume. But the corollary question would be, why would higher income shoppers quit the mall? Is it just the changing consumer preference for the outdoor walkable environment that's been evolving (note that Baybrook, a hugely successful mall, has added an outdoor walkable section also, as did The Woodlands years ago)?

[TexasTony]

A big city like Houston, does not have a decent sized outlet mall. If you go to other large cities like Houston, they all seem to have premium outlets. The ones in Houston lack some of the major stores that you could easily find in other markets. Its about time we get a decent sized outlet mall.

[ipuck]

Originally Posted by TexasTony

A big city like Houston, does not have a decent sized outlet mall. If you go to other large cities like Houston, they all seem to have premium outlets. The ones in Houston lack some of the major stores that you could easily find in other markets. Its about time we get a decent sized outlet mall.

Houston Premium Outlet is not bad. Definitely one of the better ones and I been to quite a few.

[Htown2013]

Originally Posted by ipuck

I think the numbers inside the mall indicate it is not doing well. Planner probably have the numbers showing sales are in decline.

If you go in there, it is not doing well. There is not that many traffic. The anchors, Macys and JCP are definitely not part of their "A" store. "A" stores means they put in better selection and generally better run because they are lot more profitable. I know the other 4 centers Planner mentioned earlier all are Macy's "A" and so is Willowbrook. First Colony is not one of them.

I think what is going to save First Colony is their hybrid model. That outside area attract all the upper income white clientele that have abandoned the mall. All the higher end shops are setup there and I believe are doing quite well. Wouldn't surprise me if they continue to expand on that area.

"Upper income white"?? Seriously? Agree with the upper income, but there are loads of non white successful professionals, Asian, Hispanic, Black, or otherwise in the Sugar Land and surrounding area.

Mall seems fine to me. I shop at that Macys when they have good sales, but hate paying full price for anything. Macy's seems good enough and that's the only store in Sugar Land that has an Origins. Whole family gets their hair cut at that mall and we sometimes go to the other stores. We go to the outdoor part a lot. The food court sucks.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by TexasTony

A big city like Houston, does not have a decent sized outlet mall. If you go to other large cities like Houston, they all seem to have premium outlets. The ones in Houston lack some of the major stores that you could easily find in other markets. Its about time we get a decent sized outlet mall.

Houston has two outlet malls by Tanger ("Premium Outlets") about which I've heard nothing but good things. Plus there's Katy Mills, which for whatever reason doesn't pack the same punch that Mills properties elsewhere do (Grapevine Mills near DFW airport for example).

The biggest outlet malls tend to capitalize not only on local resident demand but also leisure visitor traffic, which may be why in Texas the largest facilities are in DFW and the Austin / San Antonio areas, which have much higher leisure visitation than Houston. In any case, the Texas City Premium Outlets are positioned to capture leisure traffic to Galveston and the Bay Area.

Outlet malls are little different animal so I was trying to focus this discussion on standard malls.

[TexasTony]

Originally Posted by ipuck

Houston Premium Outlet is not bad. Definitely one of the better ones and I been to quite a few.

Its not bad at all & I love shopping there. Just lacking few options for me personally due to which I have to drive 2 hrs every once in a while.

[honeyinhouston]

Originally Posted by TexasTony

A big city like Houston, does not have a decent sized outlet mall. If you go to other large cities like Houston, they all seem to have premium outlets. The ones in Houston lack some of the major stores that you could easily find in other markets. Its about time we get a decent sized outlet mall.

Tanger Outlets in League City is nice.