Retail coming to Philadelphia (King of Prussia, Ardmore: maternity, highway, greatest)

[asiandudeyo]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I hope for a Topshop/ Topman and a bigger Zara too.

I don't mind lol, I am an engineer, I work for a big consulting firm in NYC in their global construction practice, specialize in disputes and advisory services.

Well let's hope for the best!
Rumor says there will be couple brands that Philly had not seen before at FOP.

Ah! Ok! Me too.
In my previous life I was an electrical engineer. Now I am back in school for MBA full time, but I keep my part time personal shopper gig.

[cpomp]

Tadashi Shoji, another interesting/ high fashion retailer (womens eveningwear) plans to open KoP.


Octavia Spencer wore a TS gown when she won an Academy Award for The Help.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Tadashi Shoji, another interesting/ high fashion retailer (womens eveningwear) plans to open KoP.


Octavia Spencer wore a TS gown when she won an Academy Award for The Help.

Which means they have practically already released the entirety of the old "Upscale" section after a lot of the high end stores moved to the new section. Tadashi Shoji looks to be going in the old Burberry spot. That leaves the Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Tiffany & Co. spots left to lease. Can we get a Chanel please? First Chanel store in PA?

I think they should combine the old Cartier and Tiffany spots and put a two story Zara in there. Seems like a no brainer to me.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by RightonWalnut

Which means they have practically already released the entirety of the old "Upscale" section after a lot of the high end stores moved to the new section. Tadashi Shoji looks to be going in the old Burberry spot. That leaves the Gucci, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Tiffany & Co. spots left to lease. Can we get a Chanel please? First Chanel store in PA?

I think they should combine the old Cartier and Tiffany spots and put a two story Zara in there. Seems like a no brainer to me.

The lack of either a Chanel Dior and Zara at this point surprises me. Cherry Hill landed a Zara.


If brands/ designers like Oliver Peoples and Tadashi Shoji, COS, etc. are there (for the most fashion oriented people) you would think stalwarts brands like Chanel, Dior and now Zara would be eager to locate there.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by cpomp

The lack of either a Chanel Dior and Zara at this point surprises me. Cherry Hill landed a Zara.


If brands/ designers like Oliver Peoples and Tadashi Shoji, COS, etc. are there (for the most fashion oriented people) you would think stalwarts brands like Chanel, Dior and now Zara would be eager to locate there.

A 2-story Zara could easily go in a combined Cartier and Tiffany Co. spots on the corner across from Lord & Taylor.

Chanel and Dior would be perfect fits in the new expansion section. There are two spots open... one in between Fendi and Cartier, and one in between Hermes and David Yurman. Seems like perfect spots for a Chanel and Dior to me.

[RightonWalnut]

Nothing says success like a King of Prussia spot

When foreign retailers want to make a good first impression in America, they often choose one place: King of Prussia Mall.

KOP has become the go-to place for retailers, domestic and international, that gives them a sense of arrival since demand for space at the mall is high.

And with the mall’s constant reinvention, local demographics, regional accessibility, and uniqueness of its brands, the retail base at KOP is unlike any other.

KOP now boasts more than 450 stores and restaurants and keeps adding on despite a challenging retail environment in which chains are closing stores because of lost traffic to the internet.

Six more retailers — five of which will be opening their first store in Pennsylvania — are debuting at KOP: Denmark-based Ecco shoes early this month and French cookware maker Le Creuset on Thursday; Marc Cain women's apparel from Germany, in early May; and Tutti Spa & Nails later this year. Rome-based jeweler Bulgari will mark its Pennsylvania debut at the mall on Friday, and L.A.-based Joie opened Thursday.

They continue a trend. In 2016, 31 retailers chose KOP to open their first U.S., East Coast, or Pennsylvania location, the most in a single year in the mall’s 54-year history.

More than $1 billion in construction is rising around KOP as well in the form of office towers and residential buildings to accommodate thousands of new workers and their families.

Lauren Gilchrist, director of research for JLL’s Philadelphia office, said KOP has a lot going for it. It sits in the heart of the Northeast Corridor, within a day’s drive of 40 percent of the U.S. population; near major interstates, including I-76, I-276, and I-476; with more than 59,000 people working nearby; and an average household income of $120,000 within three miles.

Skin-care specialist Kneipp of Germany made its North American debut last year on the upper level across from J.C. Penney; another high-end beauty retailer, Paris-based Clarins, opened only its second store in the world (besides Hong Kong) this year.

Bulgari will open its first store in Pennsylvania on April 7. “With the King of Prussia Mall’s recent expansion project and continued focus on the high-end luxury retailer, we feel the timing is right for Bulgari to enter the region,” said Daniel Paltridge, president of Bulgari North America.

Green Street Advisors L.L.C. estimates that KOP generates $975 in sales per square foot, among the highest in the country. By comparison, Mall of America in Minnesota — the nation's largest based on the number of stores — generates $700 in sales per square foot.

The $250 million expansion completed last year that linked the Court with the Plaza for the first time added 155,000-square feet of retail space, including Savor King of Prussia, a new dining pavilion with seven fast-casual restaurants.

But KOP is not completely immune to retail’s struggles. It was reported in recent weeks that Penneys and Bebe stores are closing at KOP. Simon Property Group has seen its stock tumble nearly 10 percent in the last month as retail closures have made investors nervous.

Still, the mall’s vacancy rate remains at less than 2 percent, said Smith, while the vacancy rate is 11.5 percent on average for malls nationally, according to Statista.com.

Read more here:
Nothing says success like a King of Prussia spot

[AJNEOA]

Originally Posted by RightonWalnut

Nothing says success like a King of Prussia spot



Read more here:
Nothing says success like a King of Prussia spot

Nothing says "fun" like a f***ing mall. To be fair, I've never been, but I don't plan to go until transit and some walkability is connected.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by RightonWalnut

Nothing says success like a King of Prussia spot

Read more here:
Nothing says success like a King of Prussia spot

Quite amazing actually. The recent growth of unique and international retailers has separated KoP from other high-end suburban shopping destinations, and finally some new restaurants that aren't typical suburban chains are filtering in too. Retailers are certainly eyeing the Philadelphia area (via Bulgari's statement) they just skip Philadelphia.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

Nothing says "fun" like a f***ing mall. To be fair, I've never been, but I don't plan to go until transit and some walkability is connected.

It really is a place you should visit. It's not your typical mall at all. It's a completely different world. They have even started building a nice walkable area of King of Prussia right across the highway from the Mall. I do agree that we need transit connections between Center City and KOP though.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

Nothing says "fun" like a f***ing mall. To be fair, I've never been, but I don't plan to go until transit and some walkability is connected.

Honestly, the only negative of KoP is that its a mall, but its very clean, well maintained with high end finishes, not something from a 1980s movie, and the shopping is unbeatable (if that is your thing). I spend 15 minutes shopping in CC because its a 4 block stretch, KoP you can spend an entire day, and the collections are generally much more extensive (similar to NYC) because its a different clientele than in Philadelphia.


The regional rail is the missing link.