Bel Air Mall has a new future..... (Mobile, Daphne: rent, tax)

[nature's message]

Originally Posted by PortCity

Where is the other? Because Springdale is a strip mall. And the city could support another we have in the past.

Are we just going to blatantly forget about the history and demise of Springdale Mall?



Springdale failed to compete with Bel Air and Eastern Shores and ultimately had to be converted into a strip mall to survive. Consider also that Bel Air is struggling to compete with the newer, more "upscale" Eastern Shores Center, thus proving my point that there isn't enough commercial demand in the Mobile area to support another regional shopping mall, much less the city itself.

[raj kapoor]

Originally Posted by nature's message

Are we just going to blatantly forget about the history and demise of Springdale Mall?



Springdale failed to compete with Bel Air and Eastern Shores and ultimately had to be converted into a strip mall to survive. Consider also that Bel Air is struggling to compete with the newer, more "upscale" Eastern Shores Center, thus proving my point that there isn't enough commercial demand in the Mobile area to support another regional shopping mall, much less the city itself.

Of course I have no idea of your location but you reveal that you know little about retail in Mobile.

Springdale is not a strip mall......it has been reconfigured into a big box center and is doing a good job in that role. The mall went through what many across the USA have; it endured severe recession and also the merger of department stores, or demise of same. Since there are only so many stores to go around the two malls had to refocus on a new mission statement. Both have done that well so far. Mobile's MSA was divided into two counties but all of those six hundred thousand people are still there and with the new jobs coming on line from the European companies most likely the counties will be officially rejoined. It is laughable that you should think Mobile cannot support two malls, and even more that you think somehow that Eastern Shore is more upscale. (that proves you know nothing about the retail here.)

So, I would say you seem to have nothing to offer, but instead I will just suggest if you insist then go back read the title and stay on topic.

Thanks for your interest in the Metropolitan Mobile retail environment.

raj

[Strangejelly]

Originally Posted by raj kapoor

Of course I have no idea of your location but you reveal that you know little about retail in Mobile.

Springdale is not a strip mall......it has been reconfigured into a big box center and is doing a good job in that role. The mall went through what many across the USA have; it endured severe recession and also the merger of department stores, or demise of same. Since there are only so many stores to go around the two malls had to refocus on a new mission statement. Both have done that well so far. Mobile's MSA was divided into two counties but all of those six hundred thousand people are still there and with the new jobs coming on line from the European companies most likely the counties will be officially rejoined. It is laughable that you should think Mobile cannot support two malls, and even more that you think somehow that Eastern Shore is more upscale. (that proves you know nothing about the retail here.)

So, I would say you seem to have nothing to offer, but instead I will just suggest if you insist then go back read the title and stay on topic.

Thanks for your interest in the Metropolitan Mobile retail environment.

raj

I've lived in Mobile over 20 years and the other poster you are responding too is right on point about Springdale. Yes, Springdale used to be a regular indoor mall and had to convert in order to stay afloat. You admit that it had to to with the decline in malls across America. So why do you think we should build ANOTHER indoor mall when we could not support 2 to begin with?

At most we need to expand Bel-Air, and Easter Shore, but adding an entirely new complex with many of the same stores, some of which hardly survive where they are is not a good idea. Maybe when Mobile actually sees population growth from this Airbus deal will it be able to support duplicate stores.

[nature's message]

Originally Posted by raj kapoor

Of course I have no idea of your location but you reveal that you know little about retail in Mobile.

Springdale is not a strip mall......it has been reconfigured into a big box center and is doing a good job in that role.

I'm sure Springdale is performing well in its new "retail park" format, but it failed while it was an indoor shopping mall. I like how you seem to want to ignore that little revelation.

The mall went through what many across the USA have; it endured severe recession and also the merger of department stores, or demise of same.

What utter delusion.

Springdale was already languishing prior to the recession.

[PortCity]

To be honest Easternshore is struggling to keep tenants Not Bel Air .Bel Air is 98% leased the E - shore is about 60% The E shore looks better and more modern but it can't compete with Bel Air . And I think its safe to say that management is the fault of Springdale's decline and the E- shore's issues evolve around lease rates which is a management issue.

[Strangejelly]

Originally Posted by PortCity

To be honest Easternshore is struggling to keep tenants Not Bel Air .Bel Air is 98% leased the E - shore is about 60% The E shore looks better and more modern but it can't compete with Bel Air . And I think its safe to say that management is the fault of Springdale's decline and the E- shore's issues evolve around lease rates which is a management issue.

Abercrombie and Fitch left Bel-Air.

[PortCity]

Originally Posted by Strangejelly

Abercrombie and Fitch left Bel-Air.

Yeah they are the 2 % that left lol.

[raj kapoor]

Originally Posted by Strangejelly

Abercrombie and Fitch left Bel-Air.

They left a lot of centers. You don't get out much?

raj

[raj kapoor]

Originally Posted by nature's message

I'm sure Springdale is performing well in its new "retail park" format, but it failed while it was an indoor shopping mall. I like how you seem to want to ignore that little revelation.

Nature's, why does that bother you. I ignore many revelations............

Nature's.

Since you post a South Carolina address and you post in all the cities you can in Alabama and other states, I have no way of knowing why you think you have a clue about what has gone on at Airport Blvd. for the past twenty years. Your response reveals you do not have a clear grasp on the time lines and that Springdale being the weaker of two large malls was more affected by all that happened. Springdale did not , in and of its own existence fail anymore than the many many others throughout the USA did. (many in the Carolinas in fact) And at least it did successfully re-invent itself into something productive. That is an intensely saturated commercial area after all.

raj



What utter delusion.

Springdale was already languishing prior to the recession.

Nature's

All that I have written above should re-direct your 'delusional comment' right back to you. Are you trolling or do you have some connection to Mobile other than attempting to write as if you do.

To be fair I will assume that the style of your posts throughout CITY-DATA just happen to be aggressive and inflammatory to the locals without that intention.

I will point out once more that I created the thread and therefore it is incumbent upon me to write those things that were my motivations. I however don't really understand your passion to debate about a mall that I might have been in once in my life . My focus on this thread is Bel Air. People can take that wherever they want but it would be nice to be less combative and argumentative.

Best to you,
raj

[raj kapoor]

Originally Posted by Strangejelly

I've lived in Mobile over 20 years and the other poster you are responding too is right on point about Springdale. Yes, Springdale used to be a regular indoor mall and had to convert in order to stay afloat. You admit that it had to to with the decline in malls across America. So why do you think we should build ANOTHER indoor mall when we could not support 2 to begin with?

At most we need to expand Bel-Air, and Easter Shore, but adding an entirely new complex with many of the same stores, some of which hardly survive where they are is not a good idea. Maybe when Mobile actually sees population growth from this Airbus deal will it be able to support duplicate stores.

Thanks for your response. You may be misreading me. I never suggested building a new mall in Mobile. My threads title is directly about Bel Air and its potential to be even more than it was in the past. It has location and size and room to grow and the beginnings of a new economic era here.

I am simply pointing out to what appear to be trolls that this metro can easily support two regional malls and a lifestyle type center. Most cities with over a half million people do just that.

I do agree with a previous poster that the next regional center should be an outdoor style as having the diversity good and especially in the coastal area of the country where people who come to visit are prepared to spend more time out of doors.

I hope I clarified my intent for you.

Best to you,
raj