Dillards Downtown Closing (San Antonio, Anton: condos, buyers, live)

[smitty12]

Historic Joske's building purchased by Rivercenter Mall owners - San Antonio Business Journal:

The new owners of the Joske's Building are planning to return it to it's former Art Deco glory, and add high-end retail and restaurants.

Apparently the current Dillards only uses a small portion of the building anyway. This should be good news....

[Bowie]

I saw that, too. I'm not convinced that the Rivercenter Mall is a good location for "high-end retail." I just don't see how there could be a high-end customer base clamoring to shop downtown. Maybe it will make more sense once the high-rise condo projects come online, but not yet.

If I lived in those condos, I'd be more interested in having a place where I could buy groceries nearby than a place where I could buy tschotchkes and jewelry.

[jules07]

Well, there's already Hippo's and Delivery Market that are acutally IN downtown already. And Central Market is a quick 7-10 minute drive up Broadway. Alot of the buyers of the high end condos are "empty nesters" who would appreciate (and have the money for!!) some nice shopping.

[ShaneSA]

I worked in Dillard's for a few months. I got to see all the building. The basement and upper floors are not used by Dillard's but all the Joske flavor is still there under the covers. I hope they redo the store to use it to it's fullest potential.
The shopper's in Dillard's are the tourists who have money to spend....and they do spend. It adds a bit of class to the mall. I like it. But I don't live very far away and think it's nice that it is there for the downtown folks. The tourists like it also.