Is Bridge St the Shopping Destination of AL? (Birmingham: apartment, condo)

[DavidH74]

Without question, The Birmingham Summit is the shopping destination of Alabama.

[| Bravo |]

The Riverchase Galleria in Birmingham is still "the" shopping destination of Alabama. Yes it needs a facelift and plays second fiddle to the high $$$ Summit but it did entertain over 15 million shoppers in 2008 making it Alabama's number tourist attraction.


BTW... there is a Pottery Barn at The Summit.

[DavidH74]

Originally Posted by | Bravo |

The Riverchase Galleria in Birmingham is still "the" shopping destination of Alabama. Yes it needs a facelift and plays second fiddle to the high $$$ Summit but it did entertain over 15 million shoppers in 2008 making it Alabama's number tourist attraction.


BTW... there is a Pottery Barn at The Summit.

I won't argue with this. But, The Summit is the "premier" mall in Alabama. With Nordstrom pulling out of The Galleria, and higher-end stores like Brooks Brothers leaving for The Summit, its chances of holding its title are getting harder.

There's a Pottery Barn at Parkway Place in Huntsville, too.

[GretelB]

Personally, I do my shopping in Nashville - I like Greenhills mall. I have the shopping in Birmingham to be disappointing. The idea of the Summit is great - but with all that traffic - ugh! and, for an "outdoor mall" it really isn't pedestrian friendly.

As far as bridge street, they need to open more than clothing stores there. How about a Crate and Barrel? Or a Williams Sonoma? Brookstone or some gadgety type store?

[gsp4ever]

Originally Posted by DavidH74

Without question, The Birmingham Summit is the shopping destination of Alabama.

I'm afraid you are right (for a single mall area) and Birmingham would be the shopping destination of AL in general. There are so many stores that have only one site in Alabama and those are almost always in the Birmingham area:

Pottery Barn Kids
Restoration Hardware
Whole Foods Market
Macy's
SAKS (or Off 5th)
Cheesecake Factory

These are just a few from the top of my head (that I like) and most are midscale businesses found in relatively major metro areas. I guess I am fortunate that Huntsville is within an easy drive of Birmingham and Nashville (and to a lesser degree Huntsville and Memphis) where I can make a quick stop as needed.

[DavidH74]

Originally Posted by GretelB

Personally, I do my shopping in Nashville - I like Greenhills mall. I have the shopping in Birmingham to be disappointing. The idea of the Summit is great - but with all that traffic - ugh! and, for an "outdoor mall" it really isn't pedestrian friendly.

As far as bridge street, they need to open more than clothing stores there. How about a Crate and Barrel? Or a Williams Sonoma? Brookstone or some gadgety type store?

I like the mix at Green Hills best, too. I wish that mall were more updated though. To me, The Summit, and all of Mountainbrook, is extremely beautiful. Whereas, Green Hills Mall and the Green Hills area, isn't as aesthetically graced. But, I love Green Hills and LOVE Nashville, so...se la vie.

Plus, they have begun work on the expansion project (new parking deck) at Green Hills, so their Nordstrom "letter of intent" must be contractual now, which is GREAT -- would have hated for them to pull out again (since they were prepared to enter the city at a mall that never got built in 2000). Anyway, the new Nordstrom and Nordstrom wing and outparcels that Davis Land Co (mall owner) continues to buy up is sure to make Green Hills the undisputed winner of malls in our reach.

[| Bravo |]

Originally Posted by DavidH74

I won't argue with this. But, The Summit is the "premier" mall in Alabama. With Nordstrom pulling out of The Galleria, and higher-end stores like Brooks Brothers leaving for The Summit, its chances of holding its title are getting harder.

There's a Pottery Barn at Parkway Place in Huntsville, too.

I would place my bets that the Galleria will have a MAJOR facelift in the next five years - the Riverchase/West Hoover area is still a highly desirable zip code. ie... Patton Creek, The Grove, Ross Bridge all built in the last 5 years.

They have a the state's only Lego Store... I'm sold.

[gsp4ever]

Originally Posted by | Bravo |

They have a the state's only Lego Store... I'm sold.

What more do you need

[vanllabean81]

Originally Posted by jkratze1

No.

Put a Cheesecake Factory and a Nordstrom in Bridge Street and I would then say yes.

I was going to ask if there was a Cheesecake Factory around, I haven't seen one... My family and I love that place! The food is great, and my son loves the fun atmosphere. Is there one around anywhere?

[DavidH74]

Green Hills in Nashville and The Summit in B'ham are the closest CF locations.