Thoughts about Miller Hill Mall (Victoria: rent, work, bars)

[aluminumpork]

Originally Posted by duluthian2008

Why cant Rosedale be a model for Miller Hill Mall?

Everybody in the Duluth community knows we could support all of the most popular chains and development styles. It's just that this area has a certain stigma attached to it. Duluth could be flourishing right now if businesses would take a chance and realize that this area has huge potential. Businesses and well, the community at large, need to get rid of the "oh well, it's Duluth, what do you expect" mindset. You can't go anywhere with that mindset!

[CrystalIce]

I love the Rosedale mall and wish that we could get the same stores. I agree with aluminumpork also with the mind set of "oh well, it's just Duluth". I wish that big name stores would look at it that way, but the reason they don't and the reason the Rosedale Mall has such great stores and that is one thing - $$$$. People just don't spend money here like they do or have in the Cities. Also, Duluth seems to be about 3 years behind in designs and trends. What is "hot" in the Cities right now will be "hot" here in about 2 to 3 years. PS - Duluthian I am trying to find out your questions on Hollister entrances. I haven't heard anything on Bristows. They have a store at Crossroads, but I don't know if they plan on making it look the same or something different.

[duluthian2008]

Thanks Crystal Ice! Well I just have to say when looking at Rosedales tenants and their mall I am amazed. They have possibly the best tenants of any mall in the cities. And tenants are flocking there. I agree with you both on the attitude Duluth has about attracting tenants and about people here. But really if retailers would just take a chance in Duluth they would find a huge payoff. Has any national chain in Duluth closed in the past eight years? No. Quiznos took a chance and figured that they did so well up here they needed to open up three other locations and a fourth on its way. Did Cold Stone Creamery open up in Duluth and find out that it was a big decision they flopped? No, they too opened a second location due to the overwhelming success of their first, which also was one of the top Cold Stones in the country for a fear years straight. I just dont get why retailers act the way they do with Duluth. Its like Duluth has given up on its self on trying to grow and be a flourishing city. How do they expect college students to find jobs? What about Duluths own citizens? You need retailers to support the college kids and with those retailers you attract larger companys. By the way Crystalice did you find anything out of the food court retailer? And one more thing, did you say the mall was spending only $500,000 on renovations?

[sunkist901]

I'll have to ask my old boss if she heard any new gossip about the new stores coming in or going out. Last I knew Eddie Bauer wasn't going out and had renewed their lease but I've heard rumors of them going out for years. I never heard the buckle was moving though. I would sure be nice to get all those spots filled and get some new stores opened!

[duluthian2008]

Sunkist901 that would be great if you could talk to your old boss about that! Hey Crystalice do you know if the mall is going to do anything with the ceiling? I mean its leaking in a lot of places and there are at different places about 5 different types of recess lighting. Another question is, do you know if the mall plans to do anything with their fountain. I think the fountain adds a nice touch to the mall but its not working in a lot of places and the tile is very dated. It would be very nice if they got a new one that was different from the old. Also I feel like something needs to be done with the post separating stores. I feel like they should be covered in stone with a light for two reasons. One for them to stand out and look nice, and two because a light on each post or every other would add a lot of brightness to the mall. Just a thought.

[sunkist901]

Ive thought the mall should completely retile ever since the barnes/old navy wing reopened. The tile down there and now the new stuff next to Coldwater Creek look so nice but the rest just looks old and mismatched. I dont think the green tile on the walls goes with the pink floors but maybe thats just me? I also love the lights down by the new entrance next to coldwater creek.

[duluthian2008]

I completely agree with you sunkist901. I cant wait for the entire mall to be retiled like Coldwater Creeks entrance and the Barnes and Noble wing. And I mean if they mall keeps using those lights then I would think they have intentions on doing it all over the mall. I think it would be the best if the entire ceiling was totally redone. So instead of ceiling tiles it was sheet rock and the ceilings had many sky lights and recess lights but they matched the Coldwater Creek and Barnes and Noble wings perfectly. If that was done our mall would be amazingly nice.

[sunkist901]

The entire mall ceiling really needs to be redone. The leaks are mostly from the air conditioning units on the room, when the snow melts it leaks back in through them. There must be a way to prevent that. I couldn't even count the number of times I would come into work and there was at least one puddle of water. Also if you look up in the hallways you will see buckets in the ceiling where the leaks are, and bundles of dirty, dusty cord just bunched into balls. I know a lot of that has to be available to the phone company or the electric company but there must be a way to have it look more presentable. It seems like the new mall manager gets stuff done though so I'm hoping he sticks around for awhile.

[duluthian2008]

Is the new mall manager Ben?

[sunkist901]

Yup. Although I heard his job was sort of interim but I'm not 100% sure.