Lord and Taylor Closing Department Store at Landmark Center (Arlington: sales, rent)

[cdmurphy]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I could have VERY easily just stayed on Route 28 south and then taken 267 East to Reston, but after having a guest over last night who told me a horror story about there not being ANYONE to collect tolls when he went through (forcing him to just drive on through since he didn't have exact change), I didn't want to chance a similar experience and get a nasty fine in the mail. LOL! What's up with that, anyways? Why no toll booth attendants at certain times? Is it done intentionally to slam wayward newbies who don't keep an ample supply of loose change around?

Get a SmarTag/EZ-Pass. You won't regret it.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Weekend Traveler

I read in the Washington Post that the once busy Landmark Shopping Center is continuing to suffer with the closing of the Lord and Taylor Department Store. I expect Sears and Macy's to follow. The article said that changing demographics had destroyed business at the Mall.

Landmark Mall loses Lord & Taylor - Washington Business Journal:

If you combine the demise of Springfield Mall and Landmark Center you can see how an ever increasing number of economically disadvantaged people in Fairfax County and Alexandria are destroying what was once a great area. What is the next mall to fail?

The Landmark area aint exactly "economically disadvantaged" for the most part. We have a large population of professionals who cant quite afford Old Town but still make some serious cake.

Landmark's demise has less to do with the population and more to do with the city's dragging of the feet to address it and the dying industry of indoor malls.

[Flamingo13]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

The Landmark area aint exactly "economically disadvantaged" for the most part. We have a large population of professionals who cant quite afford Old Town but still make some serious cake.

Landmark's demise has less to do with the population and more to do with the city's dragging of the feet to address it and the dying industry of indoor malls.

That's what I've been saying, it's not the demographic - it's the crappy stores in the mall (other than Macy's).

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

That's what I've been saying, it's not the demographic - it's the crappy stores in the mall (other than Macy's).

The lack of decent dining options dont help much either. When i first got here (in 04) there was a Subway and Burger King inside (now i have to go to Kingstowne for BK ). They left, then the chinese place there stopped serving chicken and broccoli (the only chinese food i eat), now its Chick-fli-a and everyone else's garbage.

I will say one positive thing about Landmark. The only place i've gotten my haircut the last 4 years is their barbershop.

[Flamingo13]

I miss the Ruby Tuesday that used to be there.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

The Landmark area aint exactly "economically disadvantaged" for the most part. We have a large population of professionals who cant quite afford Old Town but still make some serious cake.

Landmark's demise has less to do with the population and more to do with the city's dragging of the feet to address it and the dying industry of indoor malls.

+1

Also there's quite a few professionals here that can afford Old Town but don't think it's worth it to pay such high rents/mortgages just to say they live near some nice restaurants.

You also have the families with kids that could afford Old Town but want the greater space of townhouses like the ones in Cameron Station.

I really think they should try the "entertainment center" route at Landmark. Put in a Dave and Buster's, movie theater, bunch of chain restaurants. Make it into a Kingstowne-type place, only with more focus on the activities than the shopping.

[athousandlogins]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

and the dying industry of indoor malls.

Yup - it's happening all over the country, it's not just Landmark.

There was a great indoor mall near where I grew up, which is now almost totally dead. But the Sears does keep going. Somehow they do have a knack for hanging on where no other anchor store dares to tread anymore

[Alicia Bradley]

This news is sad, but I was surprised that an L&T was there in the first place.

[normie]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

The Landmark area aint exactly "economically disadvantaged" for the most part. We have a large population of professionals who cant quite afford Old Town but still make some serious cake.

Landmark's demise has less to do with the population and more to do with the city's dragging of the feet to address it and the dying industry of indoor malls.

Good points. Stores and businesses come and go, and have been from the beginning of time because society is always changing. People buy things over the internet now, so IMO, malls need to realize times have changed and stop focusing so much on shopping. Indoor mall spaces need to morph into entertainment/athletic areas. As I said in the other thread on this subject, I can see the Lord & Taylor being converted into an incredible skateboard park.

[Weekend Traveler]

One thing I notice when I go to the Landmark Mall is how quiet it is and how most customers are Hispanic or Asian. I think the demographics of West Alexandria have changed to mostly immigrants. Many could have money and are quite accomplished and educated, but I do not think they are interested in the old people's clothes found at Lord and Taylor.