Retail coming to Philadelphia (Ardmore, Penn: philosophy, gifts, grown)

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by kyb01

Boyd's has re-opened just like they said they would! Yeh!

Great to hear. Glad a venerable retailer remains.

Originally Posted by g555

I don't think Kohl's will come to Market East. Kohl's doesn't even have a downtown Chicago Loop location, in pursuit of some tourist traffic, even though they are a Midwest chain (based in Milwaukee).

Also, not even sure it's expanding. Kind of doubt Boscov's as well. They'd seem a better fit for some suburban malls, but it'd be very slow growth.

The major off price chains (Ross, TJMaxx/Marshall's and Burlington) seem to be doing well. Stein Mart, a smaller chain, went bankrupt, so it might not be certain for the smaller competitors. The one to watch is Gabe's. I suspect that it will expand with more stores over the next 5 years.

Maybe another gym could occupy some space in Market East as well. Planet Fitness franchises seem to be increasing, although there is one nearby already. Edge Fitness is also adding more locations in the region, and wouldn't be surprised to see them consider a downtown location.

I figured as much related to Kohls and Boscovs, and an expansion outside of their usual realm would certainly be risky right now.

Gyms are fine, Planet or Edge.

Other good options - Lowe's, Home Depot, The Container Store, maybe even a Saks Off Fifth (those are the nicest of the off-rack department store spin-offs), Bed Bath & Beyond (although they are closing more than opening)

[Redddog]

A big box like Lowes?HD would be a game changer. Though, I loves me some 3rdstreet/10th street hardware. Those guys are fantastic. But a downtown location for HD/L would be amazing. Parking seems like it would be ans issue, tho.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by Redddog

A big box like Lowes?HD would be a game changer. Though, I loves me some 3rdstreet/10th street hardware. Those guys are fantastic. But a downtown location for HD/L would be amazing. Parking seems like it would be ans issue, tho.

I don't know if I've ever seen a major hardware store in a big city downtown. Those smaller chains you mention might be more appropriate. The lack of convenient parking would make it impossible to carry much out of such a store.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by Redddog

A big box like Lowes?HD would be a game changer. Though, I loves me some 3rdstreet/10th street hardware. Those guys are fantastic. But a downtown location for HD/L would be amazing. Parking seems like it would be ans issue, tho.

Originally Posted by FindingZen

I don't know if I've ever seen a major hardware store in a big city downtown. Those smaller chains you mention might be more appropriate. The lack of convenient parking would make it impossible to carry much out of such a store.

Manhattan does have wider streets, but there are two full-size Home Depots, Midtown and the Upper East Side. So its possible in Center City.

There is one in Chicago near Lincoln Park, but that has an adjacent parking garage.

If the original Gallery were totally demolished, then there would be a real opportunity for a true live, work, shop, play environment with large format stores.

The Fashion District is a pretty lame result considering how many years and hundreds of millions of dollars went into it. The best part is the AMC and some fun entertainment options, which could have been involved even with a total demolition.

There are still other site options for a large format anchor store with underground parking. Theres tons of parking lots along Arch and Race Streets, land along N. Broad, the Hahnemann area, etc.

[Pennsport]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Manhattan does have wider streets, but there are two full-size Home Depots, Midtown and the Upper East Side. So its possible in Center City.

There is one in Chicago near Lincoln Park, but that has an adjacent parking garage.

If the original Gallery were totally demolished, then there would be a real opportunity for a true live, work, shop, play environment with large format stores.

The Fashion District is a pretty lame result considering how many years and hundreds of millions of dollars went into it. The best part is the AMC and some fun entertainment options, which could have been involved even with a total demolition.

There are still other site options for a large format anchor store with underground parking. Theres tons of parking lots along Arch and Race Streets, land along N. Broad, the Hahnemann area, etc.

Yeah, but that's out of necessity. There have to be big box hardware stores on the island of Manhattan somewhere and there really isn't a "good" place to put them. Philly already has several (Frankford - 10 minutes north on 95); South Philly (right on Columbus Blvd. - both a Lowes and HD); 22nd and Oregon; the NE; Port Richmond. There are several Lowe's around as well.

A construction/handyman is really never more than a 10-15 minute car ride to a location, and those are the people that keep big box hardware stores in business, not the people stopping in for a screwdriver or a pail of paint.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Pennsport

A construction/handyman is really never more than a 10-15 minute car ride to a location, and those are the people that keep big box hardware stores in business, not the people stopping in for a screwdriver or a pail of paint.

Absolutely! Those people are the ones who keep their independently owned neighborhood Ace or True Value affiliate in business.

And there certainly seems to be enough business to keep both kinds of hardware stores in business. (And not all of the affiliates of those two chains identify themselves as such. I was surprised when I walked into 10th Street Hardware in Wash West last fall and found out they had affiliated with Ace.)

[cpomp]

Looks like Boyd's is planning a second suburban location in Ardmore. Starting as temporary, but will reevaluate next year if the location will become permanent. Glad they decided on Suburban Square instead of KoP.

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...r-looting.html

"Though that’s the case, Gushner has decided to dip Boyds into the suburbs. The retailer signed a three-month lease to occupy the former Urban Outfitters space at Suburban Square in Ardmore. This is the first time Boyds will have a second location and a presence in the suburbs.

“Some people think we’re crazy but I’d rather try and fail than not try at all,” he said of the pop up location.
In his quest to find the right location, Gushner looked at King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia Town Center and Wayne before settling on Suburban Square. The store will be open at the beginning of October and run until January, when he will evaluate the situation.

The Ardmore location serves two purposes, Gushner said. It allows Boyds to attract and follow clients who are living in the suburbs and not coming into Center City for work or weekend excursions. It is also a test run for a permanent, second location in the suburbs. A migration of residents, particularly millennials having children, out of Center City had started but picked up during the pandemic as people began looking for more space and their own private yards."

[ilovephilly79]

Originally Posted by cpomp

Looks like Boyd's is planning a second suburban location in Ardmore. Starting as temporary, but will reevaluate next year if the location will become permanent. Glad they decided on Suburban Square instead of KoP.

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...r-looting.html

"Though that’s the case, Gushner has decided to dip Boyds into the suburbs. The retailer signed a three-month lease to occupy the former Urban Outfitters space at Suburban Square in Ardmore. This is the first time Boyds will have a second location and a presence in the suburbs.

“Some people think we’re crazy but I’d rather try and fail than not try at all,” he said of the pop up location.
In his quest to find the right location, Gushner looked at King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia Town Center and Wayne before settling on Suburban Square. The store will be open at the beginning of October and run until January, when he will evaluate the situation.

The Ardmore location serves two purposes, Gushner said. It allows Boyds to attract and follow clients who are living in the suburbs and not coming into Center City for work or weekend excursions. It is also a test run for a permanent, second location in the suburbs. A migration of residents, particularly millennials having children, out of Center City had started but picked up during the pandemic as people began looking for more space and their own private yards."

A test run for a second location or a test run for a permanent move? I think I know the answer.

[Pennsport]

Originally Posted by ilovephilly79

A test run for a second location or a test run for a permanent move? I think I know the answer.

Eh, that's Ok. The building is beautiful and the location is ideal. It will turn into condos or get a new retail tenant quickly. It would also probably result in the surface parking lot across the street turning into something more suited to and useful for that area of the city.

[ilovephilly79]

Originally Posted by Pennsport

Eh, that's Ok. The building is beautiful and the location is ideal. It will turn into condos or get a new retail tenant quickly. It would also probably result in the surface parking lot across the street turning into something more suited to and useful for that area of the city.

I wouldn't bet on that. Commercial real estate is a mess and restaurants and retail are going belly up for at least the next year. Maybe if prices crashed and it was low enough, some company would purchase the space. But converted into residential? There's a huge amount of residential being built. All in all, it would suck to lose Boyd's and I wouldn't count on anything as good replacing it anytime soon.