Retail coming to Philadelphia (Parker, Monument: scenes, bought, improvement)

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by cpomp

At least these types of stores provide good foot traffic, the one in New York is always busy.

Pun Intended!!

[koolski71]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

I think it may be older than that even: I believe the Bala-Cynwyd Shopping Center, which it anchors, dates to the mid-1950s.

Yup. Completed in 1957.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Not my cup of tea wrt footwear but sounds good anyway.

Well, you can’t say they’re not cool:! https://www.travelandleisure.com/sty...birds-sneakers.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by koolski71

Yup. Completed in 1957.

Which makes it the last of a breed of shopping center that has pretty much disappeared from the scene: the strip mall with a department store and a supermarket as anchors.

Those were quite common in the 1950s and early 1960s. Their contemporaries, the outdoor arcade malls, also often had supermarkets as second anchor tenants; the original King of Prussia Plaza, built in 1965, had Wanamakers as an anchor and an Acme supermarket (and a Woolworth's) as well.

[PHLondoner]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Well, you can’t say they’re not cool:! https://www.travelandleisure.com/sty...birds-sneakers.

All Birds will do really well here, good news. Retail isn't really dying, it's just changing. The legacy brands without a sustainable digital footprint are fading and online-first retailers like Warby Parker and All-Birds are expanding their brand and reach into Brick and Mortar.

So what's going to take over the Govberg space once they move?

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Well, you can’t say they’re not cool:! https://www.travelandleisure.com/sty...birds-sneakers.

I don't want to get into stuff about clothing tastes or what I like since it's how a lot of my contrarian qualities come out.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Which makes it the last of a breed of shopping center that has pretty much disappeared from the scene: the strip mall with a department store and a supermarket as anchors.

Those were quite common in the 1950s and early 1960s. Their contemporaries, the outdoor arcade malls, also often had supermarkets as second anchor tenants; the original King of Prussia Plaza, built in 1965, had Wanamakers as an anchor and an Acme supermarket (and a Woolworth's) as well.

I'm the only person here who remembers any of this wrt KoP. The simple strip mall was there before Wanamakers,btw.

Re. Bala Shopping Center. Probably one of the last Horn and Hardart restaurants was there.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Bala, afaik, is the oldest Phila. area location. Been there from as long ago as the 60s. It may actually be one of L&Ts first branch locations outside of NYC.

The land that the Bala store is built on was used for Action in the Afternoon.

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

The land that the Bala store is built on was used for Action in the Afternoon.

Are you sure? I thought that happened directly behind channel 10 studios at City Line and Monument Rd.

L&T is further west at City Line and Belmont Ave.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Are you sure? I thought that happened directly behind channel 10 studios at City Line and Monument Rd.

L&T is further west at City Line and Belmont Ave.

When I worked at channel 10, there were still a handful of the original technicians working there. I was told by each one, at different times, that the land had belonged to the station. All of the outdoor scenes for Action in the Afternoon were shot there. Then it was sold and the store was built there.

I'm pretty sure. If I had only been told by one of the men it would be questionable. I was told by all of them.