Talbots kids and Men, Young Chef, Pump It Up Germantown, Gap..all closed (Memphis: to buy, schools)

[pjsmom]

what does this mean for Germantown and surrounding areas? With all the building of new strip malls, etc. what is the plan to fill up those empty buildings???

What are some new child friendly businesses that are opening? Little Gym is hardly well maintained and it is frustrating trying to map out activities for children in this area.

Opinions please?

[Pearlbob]

What Gap closed? The one in Saddle Creek?? I wouldn't call Gap and Talbots an "activity" for kids though. I imagine the need for children's clothing stores is pretty low everywhere, esp in Germantown. I have always thought of Germantown as having older families, not "new, young" families that would have really young kids. Complete generalization, but you know - not too many families start out young and rich

Regardless...little kids stores has no part of my life, so I don't have much of an opinion other than, "Oh." I'm sure they'll find stores to fill up the empty ones though. Germantown has some good shopping.

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

I have always thought of Germantown as having older families, not "new, young" families that would have really young kids. Complete generalization, but you know - not too many families start out young and rich

.

I don't know about that. I'd think all those kids who go to the schools in Germantown have to buy clothes somewhere or they're all going to school naked.

[Pearlbob]

Everyone buys their kids clothes at Gap?

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Everyone buys their kids clothes at Gap?

Oh my, you really aren't around many East Shelby County families with young kids. It's a veritable Gap world out here.

[fittoac]

A new kids store opened up in Saddle Creek just a couple stores down from American Cafe. I can't remember the name exactly, but it's 2 words and the first word is Mango. It looks really adorable. It's a mixture of clothes and toys.

[pjsmom]

Ummmm Pearlbob my post was twofold...one clothing stores are closing..but also businesses that provide activities for children are closing---for example Young Chef was in Cordova not Gtown.

Gap is a standard for most parents--along with Old Navy, Talbots, Children's Place and Gymboree.

Germantown is SEEN as older, but it really is attracting families with younger children ---like us. Primarily because of the safety, etc.---not so schools for us because we do private, but for resale the schools are good enough.

Dare I say ---the PERCEPTION is that maybe there is more disposable income than there really is in this area OR that people do not use their disposable income in a way that would support these stores and kid focused businesses. I know that some moms just don't have the extra to spend on a cooking class each month...but they live in a zipcode where one would think they would have that kind of discretionary disposable income.

[chuck1229]

Originally Posted by pjsmom

Ummmm Pearlbob my post was twofold...one clothing stores are closing..but also businesses that provide activities for children are closing---for example Young Chef was in Cordova not Gtown.

Gap is a standard for most parents--along with Old Navy, Talbots, Children's Place and Gymboree.

Germantown is SEEN as older, but it really is attracting families with younger children ---like us. Primarily because of the safety, etc.---not so schools for us because we do private, but for resale the schools are good enough.

Dare I say ---the PERCEPTION is that maybe there is more disposable income than there really is in this area OR that people do not use their disposable income in a way that would support these stores and kid focused businesses. I know that some moms just don't have the extra to spend on a cooking class each month...but they live in a zipcode where one would think they would have that kind of discretionary disposable income.

The demographics in GT are changing, more older people, and of course less kids with them. The lower cost areas in GT are attracting people with less disposable money that may not shop GAP but Walmart. The business execs and professionals that live in GT don't do GAP, they shop at Josephs in Laurenwood or some other high income stores. I never thought so many women would go into a retail store for a weekly hair and face makeover just to look great for a normal Friday night evening.

[Kabluey]

I'm sure many of y'all are familiar with this development, but G'town has passed a long-term development plan to institute a more pedestrian-friendly, urbanistic planning style for their central business district, and the redevelopment does include Saddle Creek. It's a long-term plan, so I'm sure it will take 10-20 years to come to fruition, but it should make G'town less sprawling, and more desirable of a place to live. It should also provide an alternative to the cookie-cutter suburbs that infect the entire south, if not the entire country, with few exceptions.

With G'town and Riverbend, and hopefully more urbanistic suburbs, metro Memphis will be able to provide more diversified lifestyle options and improve in its competitiveness with other cities around the country.

[pjsmom]

Originally Posted by chuck1229

The business execs and professionals that live in GT don't do GAP, they shop at Josephs in Laurenwood or some other high income stores. I never thought so many women would go into a retail store for a weekly hair and face makeover just to look great for a normal Friday night evening.

Hmmmm....that is interesting...I don't do LAURELWOOD.....been in to Josephs never because I don't believe in GIVING away my money for overpriced rent...just me....I actually think the people who support Laurelwood are East Memphis, old money types...not Gtown.....

I agree the new plan should be good for the city...