Bel Air Mall Renovation (Birmingham, Montgomery: cheap, party, America)

[Southsky]

The Alabama jurisdiction laws applied to most of the affected homeowners vis-a-vis city services before the Sam Jones era annexations.

As for people living outside the city, it truly is rich to hear those that complain about the city doing this or not doing that, when they made a conscious decision to not live in the city and live next to the city. Talk about having your cake and eating it too! Fortunately, those people are in the minority.

[bon_regis]

Dressbarn is in the process of shuttering its space near Dillard’s; they’ve been in that location for the last five years or so.

[P_Mac]

Originally Posted by bon_regis

Dressbarn is in the process of shuttering its space near Dillard’s; they’ve been in that location for the last five years or so.

Never shopped there, but always thought that was a terrible name for a women's clothing store.

[bon_regis]

Dressbarn hasn't been profitable in a while, and the parent company (Ascena) has been trimming locations as it tightens up its portfolio of brands. For now, the only remaining Dressbarn will be at Tanger Outlets Foley.

[edtv411]

Originally Posted by bon_regis

Dressbarn hasn't been profitable in a while, and the parent company (Ascena) has been trimming locations as it tightens up its portfolio of brands. For now, the only remaining Dressbarn will be at Tanger Outlets Foley.

I wouldn't be surprised to see sister store Lane Bryant shift down into this location, much like they took over the former Maurice's store (another Ascena store).

Bel Air is not the only mall they've been doing this at...they have been consolidating this way for the past several years now to take advantage of existing leases and profitable stores and trimming when sales don't meet expectations and leases are up.

I just hope there's some more action on the leasing end. The mall has drifted a long way from it's earlier predictions and the retail apocalypse has not been kind as of late. Will we ever see the Cheesecake Factory that was rumored to replace Forever21 or was it just a way for them to slip out with little notice?

[Mobile City Guy]

I was in Tallahassee on business this week. I noticed their Trader Joe’s was in an older shopping strip mall style shopping center next to an older TMaxx. Tallahassee is much smaller than Mobile. The old Belk wing would be perfect for a Nordstrom Rack, Neiman Marcus Last Call outlet, and a Trader Joe and a renovated trim downed Target.

Each time I go the Summit in Birmingham, I count about 35-40 stores that would easily be successful in Mobile. They now have a West Elm. Banana Republic would thrive in Mobile.

Bel Air is dead with its current tenant lineup. Other than PF Chang, Dillard’s, and Belk, there is nothing for me.

[kokoroanime]

Originally Posted by Mobile City Guy

I was in Tallahassee on business this week. I noticed their Trader Joe’s was in an older shopping strip mall style shopping center next to an older TMaxx. Tallahassee is much smaller than Mobile. The old Belk wing would be perfect for a Nordstrom Rack, Neiman Marcus Last Call outlet, and a Trader Joe and a renovated trim downed Target.

Each time I go the Summit in Birmingham, I count about 35-40 stores that would easily be successful in Mobile. They now have a West Elm. Banana Republic would thrive in Mobile.

Bel Air is dead with its current tenant lineup. Other than PF Chang, Dillard’s, and Belk, there is nothing for me.

Nah, I would like Dave and Buster's or Round 1 USA to be in the old Belk space because Bel Air Mall must have a funplex entertainment.

The fun in Mobile has never been the same since Player's arcade (not nail salon has its space) next to McDonald's (Rue 21) was closed down during the recent renovation a few years ago. Player's Arcade was one of the places that made Bel Air Mall a fun mall to hang around at. They need to focus on bringing Dave and Buster's and Round 1 USA to bring the joy to the kids and families. I would support either one of them.

Oh and Little Cottontail has moved to the same shopping center Rouse Market at on Old Shell Road also. There are about 20 vacant spaces so far and Payless will be next very soon. It's almost entry by the current Belk wing.

[bon_regis]

Banana Republic isn’t in expansion mode and actually closed most of their existing Alabama locations. I highly doubt they would open a new store in south Alabama. West Elm could work on Bel Air’s streetscape.

[beachmouse]

Originally Posted by edtv411

I just hope there's some more action on the leasing end. The mall has drifted a long way from it's earlier predictions and the retail apocalypse has not been kind as of late. Will we ever see the Cheesecake Factory that was rumored to replace Forever21 or was it just a way for them to slip out with little notice?

Cheesecake Factory likes significantly bigger metro areas and seems to want a million person metro area before they even think of an outpost there. So Birmingham makes the cut but Mobile won't.

[PortCity]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

Cheesecake Factory likes significantly bigger metro areas and seems to want a million person metro area before they even think of an outpost there. So Birmingham makes the cut but Mobile won't.

They have them in markets that are less than 1 million such as Knoxville ,Little Rock ,Des Moines and etc.Those 1 Million metro guidlines are slowly fading away.