Retail coming to Philadelphia (King of Prussia, Franklin: malls, buses, rail)

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by Debbie1125

Old enough to know that it will be a very long time before the Gallery becomes an attractive places for quality retailers.

Well, that was a joke. But I do remember when the Gallery had respectable retailers. It was a slow slide to where it is now.
It doesn't seem inconceivable that the trend could reverse given the same time period (~25-30 years).
But you see, if you were like 60-70 years old I could understand why one might not expect to live 30 more years..

[rotodome]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

Annnd that's why you don't work in Real Estate. You have to see potential. Do you think Blatstein didn't see potential in NoLibs when he was investing in the area? Edmund Bacon in Society Hill? Penn in UCity? Eric Blumenfeld in North Broad.

To be fair, Ed Bacon (a planner, not a developer) was the brains behind the Gallery as well as Society Hill. And Independence Mall too. A mixed track record to be sure (not all his fault of course).

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by Debbie1125

That design is hideous.

I hope you're not an architect. Beautiful design.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by rotodome

To be fair, Ed Bacon (a planner, not a developer) was the brains behind the Gallery as well as Society Hill. And Independence Mall too. A mixed track record to be sure (not all his fault of course).

Edmund Bacon, Bart Blatstein, Eric Blumenfeld and UPenn all have done similar things in the redevelopment of Philadelphia, which is why I used them as examples. UPenn is not a developer either.

Edmund Bacon redeveloped Market East, Society Hill, Penn Center, Penn's Landing, Independence Mall and several other areas. Penn singlehandedly redeveloped University City and surrounding areas, and Blatstein Northern Liberties. Blumenfeld is redeveloping North Broad.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by Debbie1125

Old enough to know that it will be a very long time before the Gallery becomes an attractive places for quality retailers.

PREIT overtook Cherry Hill Mall in 2006? I think? Before that, it was nothing really special and sort of dumpy. Well, do I need to say more? You know where Cherry Hill Mall is today. Soo, that's 7 years? I'll give them 7 years to turn around the Gallery. If you plan on dying within that time frame then yeah I guess you're right.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

Originally Posted by Summersm343

I hope you're not an architect. Beautiful design.

Generally architects are the ONLY people who like modern architecture.

Lucky for the rest of us that this ugly glass box is replacing mostly equally ugly boxes of bygone eras.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by jm02

So help me out you long term Philadelphians. I have trouble seeing the Gallery attract any prestigious department stores such as Bloomies, Nordstroms or Neiman's. My reasoning is based on demographics. To the south, you have a mix of affluence and students crammed into refurbished trinities. To the north, you have poverty being gentrified by hipsters. To the east, you have the tourists. I just don't see enough potential customers in Society Hill and Rittenhouse to support such high-end retail. All the moneyed folks from Chestnut Hill and the Main Line are not going to trundle into Center City and brush shoulders with the masses when they have their own pristine enclave at KoP. And tourists to Philly are not like tourists to NY - they do not come here to shop, but arrive children in tow to expose them to US history.

Given the location, I do see a polished Target as a really viable tenant. I know I would personally spend money there while likely spending little if any at any high-end department stores. I also see tenants such as Crate & Barrel, Container Store and Design Within Reach making a go of it. I would also add some destination restaurants to attract the tourists.

So those who have lived here all or most of your lives: Help me understand your take on whether a refurbished Gallery can support high-end retail.

Totally agree with you there. However, I do think Center City can definately support another high end department store. I travel down Walnut St and by the Macys everyday, so much pedestrian foot traffic and shoppers even during midday. I just think location is key! For example the space where the borders once was, now going to be a Walgreens would be an ideal location for a Bloomingdales to set up shop, if only it were bigger. The Gallery with a Bloomingdales to me is so far fetched. But also enough wealthy people from the suburbs come into the city enough to shop. Even though KoP is the epicenter for wealthy people in the area, Center City could still support a store like that, without a doubt.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by FamousBlueRaincoat

Generally architects are the ONLY people who like modern architecture.

Lucky for the rest of us that this ugly glass box is replacing mostly equally ugly boxes of bygone eras.

I think the building is a beautiful design

[scosm]

Some of you people are way too negative, especially you "long-term Philadelphians" who don't remember when the best shopping was downtown (Strawbridge's, Wanamaker's, Gimbel's, Lit Brothers, etc). It will take North Philly at least a generation to turn around, but not the Gallery. We are not talking about an entrenched ghetto, just a dilapidated shopping mall. The reason it can change quickly? Money to be made. Tourists, conventioneers, people who work in the area, people who live in Center City, people who live on the El or the Broad Street Line or the trolleys or the train lines, people who just love to destination shop in a city of 1.5 million and a region of 5 million. Demographics and shopping habits are changing.

I have no idea if Bloomingdale's or whatever will come in, but I'm sure it can get much nicer pretty much immediately after they remodel the place.

[RightonWalnut]

Originally Posted by scosm

Some of you people are way too negative, especially you "long-term Philadelphians" who don't remember when the best shopping was downtown (Strawbridge's, Wanamaker's, Gimbel's, Lit Brothers, etc). It will take North Philly at least a generation to turn around, but not the Gallery. We are not talking about an entrenched ghetto, just a dilapidated shopping mall. The reason it can change quickly? Money to be made. Tourists, conventioneers, people who work in the area, people who live in Center City, people who live on the El or the Broad Street Line or the trolleys or the train lines, people who just love to destination shop in a city of 1.5 million and a region of 5 million. Demographics and shopping habits are changing.

I have no idea if Bloomingdale's or whatever will come in, but I'm sure it can get much nicer pretty much immediately after they remodel the place.

Thank you. Finally someone who can use their brain.