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If the store is connected to the mall proper, I wonder if they'll move Belk or JCP to the "back" and put IKEA in the "front" of the mall near Dave&Busters?
It's interesting to see what you think of the back and the front. I've always thought that the Walnut side (between Belk & Dillards) is the front.
In in fact the store goes to CTC proper, it will be interesting to see where the store goes and how they deal with egress and parking. IKEAs have a tendency to draw large crowds on weekends and dealing with transportation issues is paramount. If the store is connected to the mall proper, I wonder if they'll move Belk or JCP to the "back" and put IKEA in the "front" of the mall near Dave&Busters? An IKEA/D&B colocation synergy makes sense to me. I also wouldn't be surprised to see them build a parking structure on the property to deal with increased traffic, though the two times I went to IKEA in Charlotte the parking lot was nowhere near full. So, who knows?
I'm just going by the area shown on the rezoning conference request submitted by CTC's owner which shows the area I overlaid with the Charlotte store. The parcels did include the parking lots around the two empty anchors and going all the way back to the aquatics center so a deck could certainly be in the works, but given the traffic to the mall now and the size of the surrounding lots they don't need one (and decks cost $25k per space give or take), though all the people will not be able to park directly in front of the IKEA. If I'm trying to bring people into the mall to drive traffic to other stores and then be able to make more money off higher rents , having them park all around and Walk though is a plus, IMO.
I wonder if the aquatic center is involved in any of the discussion (I would assume they are). While it isn't frequent, on weekends when they have large meets, they rely heavily on the mall parking lot around the old Sears and up to JCP on that side. I could see that being and issue when combined with Ikea traffic, depending on wherre the Ikea entrance and loading area end up being.
It's interesting to see what you think of the back and the front. I've always thought that the Walnut side (between Belk & Dillards) is the front.
I used "front" in quotes because I know that Ikea will be interested in funneling their traffic from 40 to Cary Towne Blvd and that the JCP side would likely be the "front" in their world view.
IF CTC isn't willing to wipe out a significant part of the smaller mall stores to enlarge the footprint needed for an Ikea, the store will either push into the parking lot toward the aquatic center and/or toward the adjacent SFH neighborhood (which I suspect will be very vocal and highly resistant). I haven't been to CTC in a long time; what happened to the former Sears space or is it sitting empty? What about Macy's old space?
Just so everyone's clear on the area CTC wants to rezone:
Sears is currently occupied by Cary Towne Furniture, which opened last May and is currently in the final throes of going out of business. Macy's is empty as far as I know...it's been a while since I was over there.
If I'm trying to bring people into the mall to drive traffic to other stores and then be able to make more money off higher rents , having them park all around and Walk though is a plus, IMO.
IKEA would not be okay with making customers walk through the mall to get to and from their cars. They want their customers to have easy access because they're usually carrying large heavy bags and boxes. They WANT their customers carrying heavy bags and boxes. They want to provide easy access.
IKEA would not be okay with making customers walk through the mall to get to and from their cars. They want their customers to have easy access because they're usually carrying large heavy bags and boxes. They WANT their customers carrying heavy bags and boxes. They want to provide easy access.
They would have both in the scenario.
There is plenty of exterior frontage on the existing buildings, and no reason to not provide easy access to parking and pick up.
And, the access from the mall is just a plus, a win-win for Ikea and CTC.
Just as I enter Belk's or Penney's from multiple directions, interior or exterior.
They would have both in the scenario.
There is plenty of exterior frontage on the existing buildings, and no reason to not provide easy access to parking and pick up.
And, the access from the mall is just a plus, a win-win for Ikea and CTC.
Just as I enter Belk's or Penney's from multiple directions, interior or exterior.
I've never seen an IKEA with multiple entrances. The store is laid out as one big circle you have to walk all the way around with the food/checkouts/entrances on one side of the store. I'd be surprised if there was access from the mall.
I've never seen an IKEA with multiple entrances. The store is laid out as one big circle you have to walk all the way around with the food/checkouts/entrances on one side of the store. I'd be surprised if there was access from the mall.
Hmmm.. OK. I haven't been in an Ikea for many years.
Looks like a big project when considering a significant setback from the residential on Ivy Lane.
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