What's happening to NorthEast Mall? (Dallas, Fort Worth: middle-class, sales, leases)

[fwjeff]

Just in the past few days stores that have closed include:

• Abercrombie and Fitch
• Eddie Bauer
• Aveda
• Kirkland's
• Sam Goody

Most of these stores seem to still be open at Hulen and The Parks I hope Nordstrom doesn't close!

[loves2read]

Demographics--
most of the people who come to this Mall have changed over the past 10 yrs and certainly the past 5
we have lived in this area for more than 25 yrs and NE Mall is certainly not the star that it was--mainly because the demographics of the area are changing
more lower income-minority residents who don't necessarily shop at those stores--
they are hitting the sales at Sears or Macy's or Penny's

we have seen the change over the years--more expensive houses are being built in Colleyville, Southlake, NRHills, Keller--vs Hurst--
people with more money move to those places--
Hurst is spending money on its infrastructure--brought in the WalMart--has two new city center type bldgs--one off Pipeline and one catty corner from Abuelo's but those are business facilities--not housing developments
unless Hurst can bring in new homes that start at 350 or 400K demographics won't start to improve any time soon--and unless they bulldoze the older, smaller homes/apts south of say Bedford Euless or Pipeline and build new developments there is no place to put them...

people with good jobs (young professionals) and young families are moving to Keller or Haslet area vs coming here
lots of people who live around here are driving to Southlake (where there have been store closings also) or Frisco/Plano even because of the demographics
the strip mall development behind the Mall has siphoned off some traffic I guess

Sam Goody is a casualty of Pandora and Ipod/Apple as much as anything and frankly Kirklands was hurt by the economy generally probably--and if you have ever been inside a Kirklands--how much of that can you buy in a month--every month?
likely to be more stores closing
when you walk the mall Northeast has started to look a lot like Irving Mall 10 yrs ago
lots of teens w/o adults--loud, acting out--many more minority than Anglos walking around
not a good vibe a lot of times--although I have never had anything stolen from my car or been threatened in any way by someone at the mall--
but not middle-class shoppers either...

[fwjeff]

Looks like Abercrombie and Fitch closed 110 stores naionwide and you are right about the demise of the "record store" in America. I just read that Stonebriar Centre has been around for ten years now (hard to believe) and that as leases have come up for renewal they are losing 30 stores (ouch!). It doesn't look like the empty storefronts will remain so for long at NorthEast Mall... from their webite:

Look for Papaya, Teavana, Francesca's Collections, Charming Charlie and Shu Yue Natural Therapy to open later this spring.

Most of these stores also have locations in Southlake Town Square, University Park Village, Watters Creek etc.

Having worked at both NorthEast and Irving Malls while in college I don't think you can make a comparison other than they are both owned by Simon. Irving Mall may have a small Macy*s as an anchor but their other anchors are a Dillard's Clearance Center, Sears and Burlington Coat Factory

[Squirl]

[quote=loves2read;176Demographics--
when you walk the mall Northeast has started to look a lot like Irving Mall 10 yrs ago
lots of teens w/o adults--loud, acting out--many more minority than Anglos walking around
not a good vibe a lot of times--although I have never had anything stolen from my car or been threatened in any way by someone at the mall--
but not middle-class shoppers either...[/QUOTE]

Too bad! I won't go INTO Irving mall; I will occasionally drive up to Macys* and directly go into that store, same with Borders.

Grapevine Mills is starting to look like Irving mall, too.

I remember when 6 Flags mall went downhill, as well as Prestonwood Mall. I guess they have a 15-20 year shelf life. Northpark is a major exception.

[hypocore]

Retail business is an ever changing scene and always has been.

Eddie Bauer filed for bankruptcy last year, so they are still in the midst of reorganization.

Abercrombie was scheduled to close 110 stores in 2010/2011.

Kirkland and Sam Goody have been steadily closing stores since 2007.

It's just the way malls are, and always have been.

It appears that in the last decade or so that free standing stores are once again becoming desirable while the malls are becoming less so. Time will tell.

[loves2read]

check out the area that feeds NorthPark--strong demographics still

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

I think online sales have hurt a lot of bricks-and-mortar stores. I, for one, shop almost exclusively online. All major chain stores have web sites that are easy to use. And with an aging demographic in the country and gas prices, it is easier and cheaper to use the internet.

[fwjeff]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

I think online sales have hurt a lot of bricks-and-mortar stores. I, for one, shop almost exclusively online. All major chain stores have web sites that are easy to use. And with an aging demographic in the country and gas prices, it is easier and cheaper to use the internet.

That is true but in this area it seems places like University Park Village and Southlake Town Square are becoming more favorable over tradtional malls as these are open air centers...

[kenvbtx]

Originally Posted by fwjeff

Just in the past few days stores that have closed include:

• Abercrombie and Fitch
• Eddie Bauer
• Aveda
• Kirkland's
• Sam Goody

Most of these stores seem to still be open at Hulen and The Parks I hope Nordstrom doesn't close!

I don't shop in any of those stores. Maybe it's marketing? We have so many shopping centers throughout Fort Worth wouldn't you agree. If we go towards Dallas, there is even plenty more.

[loves2read]

I don't shop at AF because of what they sell (too youth oriented for even my kids anymore) and I hate their marketing which is borderline porno and frankly demeans the young girls they use (who are too stupid to understand)