The Bronx got it first indoor mall (Yonkers, New Rochelle: neighborhoods, income)
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Talking about time travel? Impossible! Even (decades old) southern malls are trying to look less like malls, by incorporating an outdoor atmosphere. Which is a throwback to the old downtown feeling and spirit. These days, the new quickly become the old. I wish good luck to the Bronx area this mall will be built and hope the unintended consequences don't overwhelm.
What I cannot fathom is how Diaz thinks that this mall will attract Westchester shoppers en masse, not with The Westchester in White Plains, which has more of the higher-end stores concentrated in it. Michael Kors is one store, but the anchors do not compete with that demographic, and even Vernon Hills and the Ridge Hill developments will tend to keep Westchester shoppers in Lower to mid-Westchester, not traversing the maze of roads to get to/from Bay Plaza on a daily basis. Given the traffic and such, it would likely take as long to get to Ridge Hill from Pelham Manor as it does to Bay Plaza, so by virtue of it being indoors, that would not do much to attract a shopper, not when a few extra minutes in relatively easy traffic would bring one to The Westchester.
Aside from the misguided marketing projections of Diaz, the mall is a positive benefit for eastern Bronx shoppers who no longer have to travel to get to many stores in the borough, either going to Manhattan or to Westchester. It's a benefit for the area, but not a large economic draw that will tend to cannibalize on the higher-end retailers who are established in Westchester. Even between malls in Westchester, the Vernon Hills Lord and Taylor is a Tier 1 store, whereas the Ridge Hill store carries a different product mix in an edited format. Most people I know in the immediate proximity, Pelham Manor, tend to avoid Bay Plaza at all costs, because getting in and out is never easy, due to poor road design in the immediate area.
The mall will do well, but focused on Bronx shoppers, not destination shoppers from neighboring jurisdictions, unless there is a specific need at a specific store, which is just fine because The Bronx has had limited shopping resources in recent years, so I do hope that the concept succeeds.
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restrooms on the first floor? since I may not be able to deal with the 2nd or 3rd floors due to issues with heights, I don't want to have to go up there if i have to use the bathrooms. i had an awful experience in Manhattan Plaza Mall 2 years ago where I froze up and had to be escorted while waiting for the elevator down (the glass elevator shafts give you a view of the drop while youre waiting)
BTW, bmwguy do you think Eastern Bronx residents who use Bay Plz and the new mall would come check out the new Kingsbridge Shops off B'way (at 230th and 237th) when they open? do you think they would make regular trips there or maybe not since the stores are not that unusual
However, public shopping centers are in huge decline nationwide due to the huge increase in online shopping as well as due to revitalized main streets; so hopefully this mall can sustain itself overtime.
However, public shopping centers are in huge decline nationwide due to the huge increase in online shopping as well as due to revitalized main streets; so hopefully this mall can sustain itself overtime.
Its not over yet. The Whitestone movie theater closed down last year and the area is being made way for a shopping center that will draw residents from Castle Hill, Country Club and Throgsneck sections of the Bronx. These areas do not having shopping centers and most will have to shop either in Parkchester, Throgsneck folks usually shop as far as Long Island or Queens which is a hop over the Throgs Neck Bridge. Shopping centers nationwide are on the decline due to the decline of millennial young people not preferring to live in the suburbs but living in legacy cities such as NYC or DC or Boston. Also the economic recession has hurt purchasing power of many individuals and not buying luxury goods. The Indoor mall in Coop City just seems to me as another extention of Bay Plaza shopping center!
why so negative? This is good not only for the Bronx but for the entire city. And for the record, the Bronx has lots to be proud of and its contributions to the city.
Harlem like the Bronx suffered from a negative image for many years. People in glass houses....
What I cannot fathom is how Diaz thinks that this mall will attract Westchester shoppers en masse, not with The Westchester in White Plains, which has more of the higher-end stores concentrated in it. Michael Kors is one store, but the anchors do not compete with that demographic, and even Vernon Hills and the Ridge Hill developments will tend to keep Westchester shoppers in Lower to mid-Westchester, not traversing the maze of roads to get to/from Bay Plaza on a daily basis. Given the traffic and such, it would likely take as long to get to Ridge Hill from Pelham Manor as it does to Bay Plaza, so by virtue of it being indoors, that would not do much to attract a shopper, not when a few extra minutes in relatively easy traffic would bring one to The Westchester.
Aside from the misguided marketing projections of Diaz, the mall is a positive benefit for eastern Bronx shoppers who no longer have to travel to get to many stores in the borough, either going to Manhattan or to Westchester. It's a benefit for the area, but not a large economic draw that will tend to cannibalize on the higher-end retailers who are established in Westchester. Even between malls in Westchester, the Vernon Hills Lord and Taylor is a Tier 1 store, whereas the Ridge Hill store carries a different product mix in an edited format. Most people I know in the immediate proximity, Pelham Manor, tend to avoid Bay Plaza at all costs, because getting in and out is never easy, due to poor road design in the immediate area.
The mall will do well, but focused on Bronx shoppers, not destination shoppers from neighboring jurisdictions, unless there is a specific need at a specific store, which is just fine because The Bronx has had limited shopping resources in recent years, so I do hope that the concept succeeds.
The mall stuff is not over yet. The Bronx East Bronx is going to get another shopping mall soon between the Throgsneck/Castle Hill Corridor. The shopping center is going to benefit those who live in Castle Hill, THrogs Neck, Schuylerville and Lower Country Club section of the East Bronx. These shopping center in the Bronx are just designed to keep money and incentives only in the Bronx instead of Bronxites shopping outside of their borough like back in the day. But I have to agree that Westchester County residents will not shop in the Bronx new indoor mall due to the fact that the mall is out of the way. If their was a Metro North stop near by which is planned for Coop City in the future maybe the mall might see some foot traffic from Westchester.
What I also note about these shopping centers is that none of them are night high end and just mid range shopping centers. Mott Haven/Concourse has the Gateway, Sounview has a shopping Center, but also Parkchester has store fronts which benefits both areas. Whitestone Multiplex is being converted into a mall which will benefit Throgsneck, Castle Hill and some Country Club residents. The shopping center by West 225th street off of Broadway benefits Kingsbridge, Riverdale and Bedford Park sections. East Morrisania has a small shopping center. Me personally I don't think the Bronx needs any more shopping centers. Also these shopping centers dray away longtime costumers of mom and pop shops. I remember before the Gateway Mall was built, 3rd avenue business feared Gateway Mall because it will hurt small business in the area. Like Fordham Road, I mainly see plenty of hoodrats keeping these places well alive.
The mall stuff is not over yet. The Bronx East Bronx is going to get another shopping mall soon between the Throgsneck/Castle Hill Corridor. The shopping center is going to benefit those who live in Castle Hill, THrogs Neck, Schuylerville and Lower Country Club section of the East Bronx. These shopping center in the Bronx are just designed to keep money and incentives only in the Bronx instead of Bronxites shopping outside of their borough like back in the day. But I have to agree that Westchester County residents will not shop in the Bronx new indoor mall due to the fact that the mall is out of the way. If their was a Metro North stop near by which is planned for Coop City in the future maybe the mall might see some foot traffic from Westchester.
What I also note about these shopping centers is that none of them are night high end and just mid range shopping centers. Mott Haven/Concourse has the Gateway, Sounview has a shopping Center, but also Parkchester has store fronts which benefits both areas. Whitestone Multiplex is being converted into a mall which will benefit Throgsneck, Castle Hill and some Country Club residents. The shopping center by West 225th street off of Broadway benefits Kingsbridge, Riverdale and Bedford Park sections. East Morrisania has a small shopping center. Me personally I don't think the Bronx needs any more shopping centers. Also these shopping centers dray away longtime costumers of mom and pop shops. I remember before the Gateway Mall was built, 3rd avenue business feared Gateway Mall because it will hurt small business in the area. Like Fordham Road, I mainly see plenty of hoodrats keeping these places well alive.
I'm saying tho, you cant put high-end retail in the Bronx yet. Gotta cater to the community.
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The Mall At Bay Plaza is beautiful with high end shops like Michael Kors and Swarovski. When I was at the Gap, I kept thinking that I was in White Plains rather than the Bronx.
Although the Bronx had a lot of retail stores, it rarely had quality nor substance to them. They were mostly cheap and 99 cent stores.
The new mall brought in Aldo, Victoria's Secret, H&M, Forever 21, Express, Swarovski and Michael Kors all in the Bronx for the very first time.
Everyone is flocking to the mall. The stores especially H&M and Aldo are extremely crowded.
I have been going to the mall for the fourth consecutive days since it's opening.
BTW, I don't live in Co-op City, but the South Bronx.
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