Lord and Taylor Closing Department Store at Landmark Center (Alexandria: real estate, 2009)

[Weekend Traveler]

I read in the Washington Post that the once busy Landmark Shopping Center is continuing to suffer with the closing of the Lord and Taylor Department Store. I expect Sears and Macy's to follow. The article said that changing demographics had destroyed business at the Mall.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washingto...5/daily88.html

If you combine the demise of Springfield Mall and Landmark Center you can see how an ever increasing number of economically disadvantaged people in Fairfax County and Alexandria are destroying what was once a great area. What is the next mall to fail?

[JEB77]

Originally Posted by Weekend Traveler

I read in the Washington Post that the once busy Landmark Shopping Center is continuing to suffer with the closing of the Lord and Taylor Department Store. I expect Sears and Macy's to follow. The article said that changing demographics had destroyed business at the Mall.

Landmark Mall loses Lord & Taylor - Washington Business Journal:

If you combine the demise of Springfield Mall and Landmark Center you can see how an ever increasing number of economically disadvantaged people in Fairfax County and Alexandria are destroying what was once a great area. What is the next mall to fail?

So it's the "fault" of the economically disadvantaged in Fairfax County and Alexandria, rather than the "fault" of the real estate developers who built, say, Dulles Town Center and/or the residents who decided to move to Ashburn Village or South Riding? The region can only sustain so many high-end shopping centers....

It sounds like you feel very isolated these days, but this is just scapegoating.

[normie]

Originally Posted by JEB77

It sounds like you feel very isolated these days, but this is just scapegoating.

Nah, this is just a game. This particular poster likes to wander around the forums seeing if he can get a rise out of people. He used to hang out in the Politics/Controversies forum, but people caught on to his routine so I guess he's now looking for a new forum to haunt. BTW, he doesn't even live in Virginia.

[Weekend Traveler]

"The demographics of the trade area have changed. . . . It is no longer upscale," Leisch said. "The mall has deteriorated terribly going back before General Growth owned it."

From the Washington Post article on the store closing

washingtonpost.com

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by normie

Nah, this is just a game. This particular poster likes to wander around the forums seeing if he can get a rise out of people. He used to hang out in the Politics/Controversies forum, but people caught on to his routine so I guess he's now looking for a new forum to haunt. BTW, he doesn't even live in Virginia.

Sssshhh!!! As I said, let him have his fun so that people will stop hating ME so much! LOL!

[ScranBarre]

For what it's worth I live in Reston and walked this morning to do some shopping at the stores in Reston Town Center, and then I hopped in my car and drove out to Dulles Town Center to do more shopping there (I found an AMAZING store called Kirkland's that has all sorts of cheap and cheesy art work and accent furniture---right up my alley!) I also got a great deal on some eye-catching shirts at H&M. It's by far one of my favorite malls I've been to in recent memory (just trailing King of Prussia Mall back in Pennsylvania).

The only thing that made me angry was that there was nearby construction that took me on a wild ride of a detour through parts unknown! When pulling out of the town center I followed the sign that said "To Route 7," and then I was forced to turn right due to the construction and pop a u-turn to come back out and continue on that same road, which AUTOMATICALLY dumped me off onto Route 28 South! I didn't feel like taking the toll road again, so I got off at the exit for "Sterling Boulevard," thinking that would hook me back up to Route 7. WRONG! I ended up going through some very ugly industrial neighborhood (I recall seeing McCarthy Tire, which was refreshing since that's based out of my hometown), and EVENTUALLY I found my way back onto Route 28 North and to Route 7 East again! Wow! For future reference though to construction workers, PLEASE put up a sign when you're closing a road to tell people how to reach their destination.

[pcity]

I already posted this in the Landmark Mall thread. Honestly, it's not going to matter because I'm sure the mall will be demolished as soon as the economy picks up.

It's funny you mention Sears though. Of all the stores in Landmark, that one actually seems to be doing the best, and there aren't many other Sears in the area. It will probably stick around even after the mall is demolished. Macy's I'm not sure about, since there are already locations in Springfield and Pentagon City.

[normie]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

The only thing that made me angry was that there was nearby construction that took me on a wild ride of a detour through parts unknown!

LOL, oh man I know exactly what happened to you--you get my sympathy. Looks like you picked the wrong morning to do that, but no way to have known that. I think they only planned to have that intersection blocked today, what a bummer you happened to hit it at the worst possible moment.

For those of you who are driving out that way, in case you haven't heard they're putting the finishing touches on the ramps leading to the big new interchange at Nokes. BTW, that's the interchange you will be taking to get to the minor league stadium. When all this roadwork is done, it will relieve a lot of the pressure on the Rt. 28/Rt. 7 intersection. But until then--mass confusion!

Driving around DTC takes a little getting used to, because there are two rings of roads. But once you get the knack of it you can cut right across it pretty easily. The only thing I don't really like is the stop sign system. But gotta admit it keeps traffic moving, which was the point (even if I do think it's odd).

BTW, Scran--what are you doing driving around malls on a Monday morning? When do you start your new job--or is that part of the job?

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Troll Alert.

The O.P. is a troll and a "hit and run" poster who goes from forum to forum posting often disparaging, racist remarks to elicit a response. He has been on the board several times in the past under the names of Dingler, Goodtype, Question2, the_critic, and a few others. He usually, eventually gets banned.

He likes to makes up stories about himself. Sometimes he'll post as a woman, other times as a man and he'll have a different career and background every time he reincarnates.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by normie

BTW, Scran--what are you doing driving around malls on a Monday morning? When do you start your new job--or is that part of the job?

I don't report to work until promptly at 8 AM next Monday, after which point I won't be gracing you all with my "presence" very often. (Rolls eyes at the thunderous applause and cheering emanating from living rooms and home offices all over NovA!) LOL! I went for another run today as well to take advantage of the nice weather, and I am planning to scope out a run at Lake Fairfax tomorrow after receiving positive reviews of it today by an associate at Potomac River Running at RTC.

I could have VERY easily just stayed on Route 28 south and then taken 267 East to Reston, but after having a guest over last night who told me a horror story about there not being ANYONE to collect tolls when he went through (forcing him to just drive on through since he didn't have exact change), I didn't want to chance a similar experience and get a nasty fine in the mail. LOL! What's up with that, anyways? Why no toll booth attendants at certain times? Is it done intentionally to slam wayward newbies who don't keep an ample supply of loose change around?