[murph1982]

We visited the area of Rutland on a trip to Vermont last fall. You have a beautiful state! We live in southern New Jersey. I have to ask a question though, we stayed at the Hampton Inn in Rutland and across the street there was a large shopping mall that I found interesting. The mall had so many stores that were closed . What happened? It looked like such a nice mall at one time but fell on hard times. Really sad.

[Vermonr]

The Diamond Run Mall opened in the mid 90s, at a time when spending was at an all-time high and the economy was booming. At one time the mall had a LOT of nice stores - The Disney Store, KB Toys, Candles and Gifts, many clothing stores, etc. Probably the best store though was Boomers! Boomers was a gift store set up in different sections. One section was a rainforest, with a giant tree in the middle, one section was a cave with the sound of dripping stalactites, one section was blacklighted, one section was all mechanical cogs and gears, one section was gag gifts, etc. I've been to many cities and I've never seen another store like it.

But now most of the stores remain empty. Rumor has it that the mall simply charges too highly for rent and that the population just can't support the businesses. Online purchases and a not-so-great economy in a blue collar VT town also contribute.

[thunderkat59]

We left VT in 2007. Even back then, that Mall had more locked up stores than open ones.
When we first got to Vermont, we thought that it would be like other malls with lots of people and activity, and we could grab a cup of coffee, walk for a while, relax and observe ~ something to do on a winter saturday night . . . Not quite

[Hopes]

There's only 600,000 people in the entire state. Whoever built that mall was crazy to think a small percentage of the population could support a mall. It would be different if it was near the largest city in the state.

[OhBeeHave]

Vermonr & Hopes made very good points. I'm going to add that part of the population is closer or equidistant to tax free New Hampshire. I'm in Chester and can be in Lebanon or Keane, NH in the same amount of time it takes to get to Rutland. Claremont is even closer.

[momnh]

Malls are dying all over. Without a rebirth, malls face extinction: Rick Caruso

[murph1982]

Very interesting information on the Diamond Run Mall. Sad but as Hopes says it did not make sense to expect a small state to support the mall.

[Vermonr]

Thank you for posting that news article, momnn. Very interesting to read that not a single new mall has been built since 2006- that really blew me away!

[OhBeeHave]

Tanger and Simon begin construction on outlet mall - Charlotte Business Journal
2013 New Simon/Tanger Outlet Mall being built in Charlotte, NC.
2008 Tanger at the Arches built. Deer Park, NY

Mr Caruso of Caruso Affiliated is a developer focused in CA. His properties appear to be of the current trend toward open air lifestyle shopping, which Simon and Tanger have emulated in their more recent expansions and new properties. This does play into what the article states (I'm unable to play the video on this device) and having shopped similar venues Simon's Smithaven property and several Tangers (including the Arches mentioned above) in NY & Florida, feel the whole open air scheme is lovely if the climate is agreeable.

Being Mr. Caruso has a serious interest in malls, how likely is it that he will give the largest property holders (Simon & Tanger) recognition for their success in the current economy?

Open air works in Vermont, but only in heavily visited areas such as Manchester. The outdoor shopping experience of Church St in Burlington is what many of these developers strive for.