Interesting fact about Regency Mall... (Savannah, Grovetown: apartment complexes, crime, hotel)

[Albania67]

I was reading an article about why it closed and one reason stated: 'too small of a market to support 2 shopping malls'

[Albania67]

Interesting considering savannah has 2 malls and Augusta's metro suppose to be bigger. Or is 'metro thinking' overrated?

[therealpattman]

The Regency Mall failed for a number of reason, one of which was its poor choice of location. The mall should have been built either near the Windsor Spring/I-520 exit are further out near the Tobacco Rd/Windsor Spring Rd intersection. Another thing was a sharp rise in crime in the area. Here's an article that can help explain the reasons.

DeadMalls.com: Regency Mall, Augusta, GA

[Albania67]

But when it comes to location: Savannah's malls are both on the SAME side of town with NO interstate access whatsoever

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Albania67

But when it comes to location: Savannah's malls are both on the SAME side of town with NO interstate access whatsoever

They are also smaller compared to the likes of the Augusta Mall and Regency Mall. Honestly its debatable as to why malls in some cities strive better than malls in others. I believe the Regency Mall would probably still be alive today had it been constructed more out from the old city limits. If the mall had been constructed near Tobacco Rd and Windsor Spring the mall would have pulled from a different crowd. It's also far enough south that it would have had a minimal effect on the Augusta Mall. This is only my opinion. Who knows what Augusta would have been like if the mall was still open. All we can do now is redevelop the property and if another mall is in the future, plan its location smarter.

[Albania67]

Regency would definitly revitalize south august! I was in S.Augusta exactly 2 weeks ago from today and 'WHOA'

[therealpattman]

Yeah it is. Its interesting that a massive plot of land sits empty on Windsor Spring Rd near the Tobacco Rd intersection. It's as if that area was destined, waiting patiently for a large development to occur. With the widening of Windsor Spring Rd in progress I would take that area and turn it into a town center. That would do wonders to South Augusta and Hephzibah. It brings thousands of jobs and entertainment options as well has more hospitality related business and that area is in desperate need of more hotel rooms. It would also help South Augusta attract familes moving to the area as a result of the ARCYBER that would other wise settle in Grovetown.

[lem1985]

I know down in Mobile,AL they had 2 malls right across from each other up until the late 90s. They both was the same size and had close to the same type of stores. They closed 1 down and turned it into a best buy and belks and added a Sam's Club with some few other stores. They are begging for more places to shop down there than that 1 mall or the outlet mall in Foley,AL which is close to the beach but 35-40 mins away from Mobile,AL

[TravelingMat]

The biggest factor in Regency's closing was crime or the perception of crime. Not specifically on the mall property itself but in the surround neighborhoods specifically the multiple apartment complexes around the area which carried either the name of the Regency or Southgate. There were several murders in these complexes during this time many became drug infested. As crimes were reported by the local news agencies as drugbust in Regency Apartments or murder in Southgate apartments the perception of these centers deteriorated once the crimes started to spill from these neighborhoods and onto the shoppingmalls property itself it became the final death blow to the mall. The JB White Co. which was locally owned and had it's flagship store at The Regency pulled out of the mall and moved across town as part of the Augusta malls expansion which doubled the size of that mall. Belk closed following Jb white and the mall slowly withered away. Augusta supported both malls easily until these issues at Regency surfaced and shoppers decided to go elsewhere. Crime and becoming a weekend hangout for teens are what really killed Regency.

[nortonguy]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

Yeah it is. Its interesting that a massive plot of land sits empty on Windsor Spring Rd near the Tobacco Rd intersection. It's as if that area was destined, waiting patiently for a large development to occur. With the widening of Windsor Spring Rd in progress I would take that area and turn it into a town center. That would do wonders to South Augusta and Hephzibah

The Walmart Market shopping center(Market at Windsor Springs) begins construction next year. The land won't be a empty plot anymore in 2016.. I would rather the Peach Orchard/I-520/Windsor Spring corridor become the first town center development in South Augusta. This is the area that's getting the most attention from national retailers like Target.

http://www.fletcherbright.com/sites/...re-8-20-14.pdf

Originally Posted by Albania67

Regency would definitly revitalize south august! I was in S.Augusta exactly 2 weeks ago from today and 'WHOA'

You were probably in the older part of the area like where Regency Mall is located.. There's areas of South Augusta that don't need any revitalization.. Next time visit places like Diamond Lakes or the Willis Foreman area full of homes over $200,000.