What's to become of the CoolSprings Sears? (Franklin, Green Hill: income, living)

[MetropolitanTN]

Isn't Armani Exchange on the level of Coach? In fact, I think it's below it.

[ariesjow]

^ Correct. They're about the same level. Considering that we already have more than a handful of national retailers that are higher end and have more cachet than Armani Exchange, I'd say that the Nashville metro is well past ready for one. We're not talking about an Emporio Armani here. A|X stores are neither particularly exclusive nor expensive. It's just an option I threw out there that may work if CBL wanted to make Cools Springs more upscale. But it sounds like expectations should be tempered.

[calilovin]

Armani Exchange is more exclusive. Coach isn't so much anymore.

Nashville's small amount of national high end chains aren't enough to lure a store such as Armani Exchange.

[tnforlife]

The phrase "high end" in the article sure does have a lot of y'all mislead. We aren't Atlanta... hell we aren't even Richmond or Charlotte..

[ariesjow]

Originally Posted by ariesjow

Crate and Barrel might be a possibility, but I think they would like to go to Green Hills before Cool Springs. Large retailers of that caliber tend to cluster with similar retailers. This means C&B would probably rather be near another store like West Elm in a proven submarket like Green Hills so that they are conveniently cross-shopped.

Looks like there's a strong chance I was on the mark regarding Crate & Barrel. They're testing a holiday pop-up store at the Mall at Green Hills. I had been hearing that they want into Green Hills for over a year now.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20...nclick_check=1

[bspray]

I was speaking to someone senior at the Cool Springs Sears store and they were told it would be early next year before they would be relocating. He said Sears in Cool Springs does too much business and they are looking for a stand alone location in the area. They wanted to stay in the mall but they were significantly outbid by whoever is coming in when they were renegotiating the lease. So Sears isn't leaving the Cool Springs area, just leaving the mall.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by bspray

I was speaking to someone senior at the Cool Springs Sears store and they were told it would be early next year before they would be relocating. He said Sears in Cool Springs does too much business and they are looking for a stand alone location in the area. They wanted to stay in the mall but they were significantly outbid by whoever is coming in when they were renegotiating the lease. So Sears isn't leaving the Cool Springs area, just leaving the mall.

That is very interesting. It sure seems to indicate that whoever is replacing Sears is someone with deep pockets. I'm still crossing my fingers for Von Maur. It'll also be interesting to see where Sears ends up building its new store.

[septimus]

Originally Posted by bspray

I was speaking to someone senior at the Cool Springs Sears store and they were told it would be early next year before they would be relocating. He said Sears in Cool Springs does too much business and they are looking for a stand alone location in the area. They wanted to stay in the mall but they were significantly outbid by whoever is coming in when they were renegotiating the lease. So Sears isn't leaving the Cool Springs area, just leaving the mall.

that is good because the only reason I go to Cool Springs Galleria most of the time is for the Lands End section of Sears

[septimus]

Originally Posted by JMT

That is very interesting. It sure seems to indicate that whoever is replacing Sears is someone with deep pockets. I'm still crossing my fingers for Von Maur. It'll also be interesting to see where Sears ends up building its new store.

I think the only space that might be remotely large enough would be over in the old Wild Oats although if HG GRegg's was smart their lease would prohibit another electronic/appliance retailer from leasing in the same strip mall.

[Hey_Hey]

Originally Posted by bspray

I was speaking to someone senior at the Cool Springs Sears store and they were told it would be early next year before they would be relocating. He said Sears in Cool Springs does too much business and they are looking for a stand alone location in the area. They wanted to stay in the mall but they were significantly outbid by whoever is coming in when they were renegotiating the lease. So Sears isn't leaving the Cool Springs area, just leaving the mall.

That seems to be contradictory to what is going on nationally. Sears is closing stores right and left (roughly 100 this year alone). I just don't see them building new stores at this point until they can stop the hemorrhage that is going on. They are losing billions of dollars a year. They seem to have lost their luster.