[CTartist]

Originally Posted by mike fecke

Just in case anyone is interested. Here are the stores that have been confirmed so far (more to come). Do you think this will have any impact on the surrounding retail locations - What are everyone's thoughts?





SONO COLLECTION


Department Stores
Bloomingdale's
Nordstrom's


Clothing
H&M
Hollister
Abercrombie
Abercrombie Kids
Talbots
Chico's
J. Jill
WHBM
Zara
Altar'd State
Victoria's Secret
SOMA


Beauty
Lush
Bath and Body Works
Sephora
L'Occitaine
Tutti Nails


Footwear
Journey's


Jewerly
Kay Jewelers
Pandora


Tech/Electronics
Apple


Furniture
EQ3


Entertainment
Pinstripes
CAMP


Food
Yard House
Made in China
Yong Kang Street
Bazille (In Nordstrom's)


.

Except for the two department stores it kind of looks like the stores in my Trumbull Mall.

The aquarium Seaquest opened at the Trumbull Mall. It takes up a large part of the mall in the area between Target and JC Penny on the bottom floor. That knocks out a lot of the store space. Should be interesting to see what happens when the Norwalk Mall opens. I wonder if the Trumbull Mall will continue to put non mall like stores in the Trumbull Mall. I sure wish they would put a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's there.

[1000fc]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

Interesting roster of stores for sure. I too, thought mostly upscale would've been the go-to's here.

Abercrombie & Fitch, Talbots, Chico's, White House Black Market, and several of the others are struggling retailers. As we all know, e-commerce has destroyed brick and mortar retail, sadly, and continues to do so.

This entire mall concept for Norwalk seems very late to the party and dated, in general. I think the Bloomingdale's will succeed and the restaurants/bars. However, the infill/mall stores may struggle and eventually leave vacant spots throughout this center.

This is happening in all cities/towns in developments "newer" and "older" across the US, thanks to most cities habit of over-building of box stores, and consumers' growing habits of shopping from the couch.

Abercrombie isn't struggling, they've currently on an upswing.
Talbots is owned by Sycamore Partners and has been doing just fine as well, not struggling. They are part of a heavy retail focuses portfolio including the department store Belk.
Chico's and White House Black market are owned by the same company, Chicos FAS, and they have been expanding their retail space because its been doing so well.

I'm curious, where did you see that they were struggling? imo, its easy to think they are struggling when walking past them, but these stores are open long hours, they don't need to look busy to be doing well.



People are really down on this mall, but I think its exactly as predicted, regardless of how it may have been sold or marketed to us. They were NEVER going to get the high end brands from the westchester, greenwich and westport to open up more locations to only cannibalize their sales.

[robr2]

Chico's FAS is closing at least 60 stores Chico's, WH/BM, Soma) this year and up to 300 of their 1500 stores by 2021. Their plan is to have more of a digital presence and have a marketing agreement with QVC to offer the Soma line of intimates. They may open a few stores but their plan is to scale back locations.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by 1000fc

Abercrombie isn't struggling, they've currently on an upswing.
Talbots is owned by Sycamore Partners and has been doing just fine as well, not struggling. They are part of a heavy retail focuses portfolio including the department store Belk.
Chico's and White House Black market are owned by the same company, Chicos FAS, and they have been expanding their retail space because its been doing so well.

I'm curious, where did you see that they were struggling? imo, its easy to think they are struggling when walking past them, but these stores are open long hours, they don't need to look busy to be doing well.



People are really down on this mall, but I think its exactly as predicted, regardless of how it may have been sold or marketed to us. They were NEVER going to get the high end brands from the westchester, greenwich and westport to open up more locations to only cannibalize their sales.

A few links here...

Abercrombie & Fitch:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andriac.../#1b9f58951504

In general links about brick & mortar closings:
https://moneywise.com/a/big-chains-closing-most-stores

https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/f...stores-closing

https://www.retaildive.com/news/12-r...n-2019/550963/

Retail is not doing well--at all--in general. There are a few exceptions (Dollar Tree, Ross Dress for Less, Five Below, etc), but the old mall concept like this one in Norwalk just seems out of sync with reality of retail.

I think this mall will drive Stamford Town Center mostly out of business. The US is over-retailed in general, and big box stores and large mall concepts are not the future.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

A few links here...

Abercrombie & Fitch:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andriac.../#1b9f58951504

In general links about brick & mortar closings:
https://moneywise.com/a/big-chains-closing-most-stores

https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/f...stores-closing

https://www.retaildive.com/news/12-r...n-2019/550963/

Retail is not doing well--at all--in general. There are a few exceptions (Dollar Tree, Ross Dress for Less, Five Below, etc), but the old mall concept like this one in Norwalk just seems out of sync with reality of retail.

I think this mall will drive Stamford Town Center mostly out of business. The US is over-retailed in general, and big box stores and large mall concepts are not the future.

In general Connecticut did not see the over building of shopping malls like was seen in other parts of the country. That is why we do not have the overly vacant or abandoned malls in other states. I am not sure I would call this a typical mall but even if it is, it does not necessarily mean the demise of Stamford or Trumbull. A lot will depend on how or if these malls respond to the new competition. Will see. Jay

[JayCT]

Interestingly, Chicco’s Is closing it’s Stamford Town Center store while announcing they will be a tenant at SoNo Collection. Coincidence? I doubt it. Jay

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/bus...l-14102301.php

[robr2]

I'm surprised the developer went with a mall there. AFAIK, the area of SONO is safe and vibrant as well as close to transportation. IMHO, a mixed use development would have been a better investment long term. They could have built something like Ink Block in Boston - start with a Whole Foods and then the apartments.

[1000fc]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

A few links here...

Abercrombie & Fitch:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andriac.../#1b9f58951504

In general links about brick & mortar closings:
https://moneywise.com/a/big-chains-closing-most-stores

https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/f...stores-closing

https://www.retaildive.com/news/12-r...n-2019/550963/

Retail is not doing well--at all--in general. There are a few exceptions (Dollar Tree, Ross Dress for Less, Five Below, etc), but the old mall concept like this one in Norwalk just seems out of sync with reality of retail.

I think this mall will drive Stamford Town Center mostly out of business. The US is over-retailed in general, and big box stores and large mall concepts are not the future.

Stores struggling doesn't' equal companies struggling.

You're article on abercombie talks about closing FLAGSHIP stores. not the their stores in cheaper locations... it specifically mentions that...


"Abercrombie’s flagship closings reflect a familiar industry pattern as retailers wake up to a sobering reality: Mega-flagships in expensive and high-traffic neighborhoods don’t translate to sales, let alone profits. For instance, Gap, Ralph Lauren and Lord & Taylor have all shut their Fifth Avenue flagships in New York even as better-performing brands including Nike, Vans and discount store Five Below have moved in.

Instead, Abercrombie, like many other retailers, is going small, local and “more intimate” with stores that combine integrated web services such as in-store pickup for online orders.'

The stamford mall will be interesting, I dont see the shoppers from stamford coming to norwalk to do their shopping, so they will still want a location in stamford, but I cant see it surviving as it currently stands.

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by 1000fc

The stamford mall will be interesting, I dont see the shoppers from stamford coming to norwalk to do their shopping, so they will still want a location in stamford, but I cant see it surviving as it currently stands.

I am originally from Stamford so I still have a lot of relatives and friends there. I thought I saw something on Facebook that the Stamford Mall might become housing for the UCONN branch there in the future (maybe if the mall does not do well?). I might be mistaken though. Has anyone else heard something similar.

I just looked and found this. I probably saw it in a few articles posted by friends and family.
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/bus...s-13620551.php

"Rumors have percolated on social media about possible interest in the site from the University of Connecticut. UConn opened its first residence hall in the city in 2017, and it is further increasing its student housing..........Taubman and UConn officials denied the speculation. Both parties told Hearst Connecticut Media that the university has no plans to lease or buy any of the mall property."

[JayCT]

It’s coming. Nordstrom at the SoNo Collection is hiring 280 people. Good news. Jay

https://www.thehour.com/business/art...e-14301345.php