Wal-Mart Supercenter opening in Metrocenter in 2016 (Phoenix, Mesa: section 8, renters, hotel)

[YAZ]

You know why they're putting in a Wal Mart?

They couldn't find anyone else.

[azriverfan.]

If anything, this is really good news. It was a blighted area and could have gotten more dangerous. With Wal-Mart, it will bring economic development to the area. It was never going to be an upscale area. What did you expect a Nordstrom to be built there? Sorry but Wal-Mart serves the demographic of Metrocenter well. It will be busy. Sure, it may not lure the type of crowd you are seeking but people actually shop at Walmart unlike the other stores at Metrocenter.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

I don't know much about the east valley but I know that Fiesta Mall is more or less dead and someone here was saying that even Chandler Fashion Center was losing ground to something new in Gilbert.

Chandler Fashion Square has declined a little but it has to do with the economy not San Tan Village. It was built during the prime of the housing bubble. Most of the stores it lost did not move to San Tan Village. It lost William Sonoma, Pottery Barn Kids, Harry David, and Janie and Jack among upscale stores it lost. But it's still nice than San Tan Village. It still has stores than San Tan Village lacks like H&M, Nordstrom, and Pottery Barn. Once the economy improves, I think you will see it will improve because ultimately it's an indoor mall and with the heat, people still prefer those.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by grmi66

What I could see for Metrocenter is that it becomes a lunchtime and post-work destination for all of the people that work on the other side of the freeway. There are quite a few manufacturing, warehouse, service companies and call centers along the east side of I-17 from Northern up to Cactus. Think that is why the focus has been on building all of the new restaurants around the perimeter. If you can get people over there to eat, they may stick around for a few more minutes to shop.

Metro Center is not in the center of the city. It's on the west side or at the point where the western part of the city begins. That area is proximal to south Glendale, and bad parts of the city like Maryvale. There is not a lot of business traffic in that area. You are never going to attract a busy business lunch crowd there. People are not going to drive west of downtown to have lunch in Metrocenter.

And even during the height of the economy, people did not eat at the restaurants in or near Metrocenter. A lot of them closed down because no one was going there. Remember the Fajitas, TJI Fridays etc? They had nice places. The economy was good back then yet those restaurants were still empty and they ultimately shut down.

What they should have done is tore down Metro Center and expanded Castles and Coasters. They could have added rides and expanded parking to make somewhat of a real theme park.

[grmi66]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Metro Center is not in the center of the city. It's on the west side or at the point where the western part of the city begins. That area is proximal to south Glendale, and bad parts of the city like Maryvale. There is not a lot of business traffic in that area. You are never going to attract a busy business lunch crowd there. People are not going to drive west of downtown to have lunch in Metrocenter.

And even during the height of the economy, people did not eat at the restaurants in or near Metrocenter. A lot of them closed down because no one was going there. Remember the Fajitas, TJI Fridays etc? They had nice places. The economy was good back then yet those restaurants were still empty and they ultimately shut down.

What they should have done is tore down Metro Center and expanded Castles and Coasters. They could have added rides and expanded parking to make somewhat of a real theme park.

Have you ever been around Metro at lunch time? There are a bunch of people that work in the business parks and office complexes just on the east side of the freeway. Never said that it would attract people from downtown or even central Phoenix. On top of that there are a lot of business travelers that stay at all of those hotels along the freeway. All need a place to spend their expense accounts.

While not considered central Phoenix, Metrocenter is centrally located to everywhere in the valley. When I lived in the area it took me 30-45 minutes to get to most places in the valley. Took me 30 minutes to Scottsdale and 30 minutes to Goodyear.

It's never going to be upscale, but with a little work it could be a decent place for lunch, after work drinks and dinner for the thousands of people that work within a few miles of the mall. Remember seeing some stats on the area a few years ago, something like almost a million people live within a 15 minute drive of Metrocenter. There is potential for Metro if someone works it right.

[Potential_Landlord]

Originally Posted by grmi66

Will be interesting to see what the new owners of the mall do to try and revitalize an archaic retail concept.

Thanks for your explanation. I was curious as I went there for the first time ever - by bus to the transfer station. The area did strike me as little creepy too and combined with an embattled retail concept it is not going to be easy. IMO (just as a layman) they should completely remodel the area to a mixed-use pedestrian-friendly area like City North with some shopping, some entertainment, some park and residential. So you can live there but also attract surrounding workers for a trip to a restaurant or shop.

[Juram]

Originally Posted by Ztonyg

There was actually a quite nice Kmart store at 35th Ave and Greenway that closed about a year ago. That site would've / still would make a nice Winco site.

It's now a Go-Kart facility.

[Juram]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Metro Center is not in the center of the city. It's on the west side or at the point where the western part of the city begins. That area is proximal to south Glendale, and bad parts of the city like Maryvale. There is not a lot of business traffic in that area. You are never going to attract a busy business lunch crowd there. People are not going to drive west of downtown to have lunch in Metrocenter.

And even during the height of the economy, people did not eat at the restaurants in or near Metrocenter. A lot of them closed down because no one was going there. Remember the Fajitas, TJI Fridays etc? They had nice places. The economy was good back then yet those restaurants were still empty and they ultimately shut down.

What they should have done is tore down Metro Center and expanded Castles and Coasters. They could have added rides and expanded parking to make somewhat of a real theme park.

And new places such as Outback Steakhouse, First Watch, Hooters and Buffalo Wild Wings have opened up.



The area is pretty centrally located to just about everything and there's still a ton of restaurants and commerce there too. New places such as In N Out have popped up in recent years. Your comment about people not going there simply isn't supported if you drive through that area on a Friday night, restaurant after restaurant is packed.

[youthinkso]

If 10% of the people who claimed to "never shop at Walmart" actually never did shop at Walmart they would have been out of business 20 years ago.

[pbenjamin]

Originally Posted by youthinkso

If 10% of the people who claimed to "never shop at Walmart" actually never did shop at Walmart they would have been out of business 20 years ago.

I have been inside of one once in the last 20 years and that was under protest. Not a claim, reality.