Why is Lakeforest Mall dying? (Bethesda, Gaithersburg: movie theater, private schools, income)

[Mr Beco]

Also, nothing lasts forever.....things die, including malls, peoples tastes, various trends.

Personally, I cant wait for pleats to come back. Im sick of all these flat front suit pants....

[MoCoGirl]

Much to my mother’s chagrin I used to frequent Lakesforest as a teenager back in the 80s and 90s and have a certain sense of nostalgia for the mall, but won’t shop there today. Given the option I prefer the openness of Rio, Kentlands or Rockville Town Center – experience the weather, grab some fresh air, etc. Depending on the shopping center there seems to be more small business rather than large chains and I prefer giving my business to local, small businesses whenever possible. I know that this eliminates the convenience (one stop shopping) of all the options offered in an enclosed mall but it works for me.

I don’t know if ghetto is the correct word. I will say that on 2 different occasions I have seen fights at Lakeforest that required police involvement to break them up. The mall security did nothing but stand and watch. I haven’t returned.

[LynchburgLover]

Originally Posted by MoCoGirl

Much to my mother’s chagrin I used to frequent Lakesforest as a teenager back in the 80s and 90s and have a certain sense of nostalgia for the mall, but won’t shop there today. Given the option I prefer the openness of Rio, Kentlands or Rockville Town Center – experience the weather, grab some fresh air, etc. Depending on the shopping center there seems to be more small business rather than large chains and I prefer giving my business to local, small businesses whenever possible. I know that this eliminates the convenience (one stop shopping) of all the options offered in an enclosed mall but it works for me.

I don’t know if ghetto is the correct word. I will say that on 2 different occasions I have seen fights at Lakeforest that required police involvement to break them up. The mall security did nothing but stand and watch. I haven’t returned.

You gave an excellent example of how tastes change. You prefer Rockville Town Center. Rockville Mall was a disaster -- a big ugly block with underground parking that very few shoppers frequented. Eventually, it was demolished and redesigned to replicate the type of shops that were there originally. It is such a shame that the mayor/council of Rockville in the 60s and 70s did not have the foresight to perserve those historic buildings.

[Mr Beco]

Originally Posted by LynchburgLover

You gave an excellent example of how tastes change. You prefer Rockville Town Center. Rockville Mall was a disaster -- a big ugly block with underground parking that very few shoppers frequented. Eventually, it was demolished and redesigned to replicate the type of shops that were there originally. It is such a shame that the mayor/council of Rockville in the 60s and 70s did not have the foresight to perserve those historic buildings.

Rockville Mall was a disaster for a lot of reasons, but mainly, they didnt secure an anchor tenant when they built the mall. So it was just a bunch of small insignificant shops. Plus the ingress/egress seemed hard to navigate. They didnt demolish it, they converted it into office.

But I am going from memory.....that was a long time ago. Now its just a weird office building.

[LynchburgLover]

Originally Posted by Barry Rock

Rockville Mall was a disaster for a lot of reasons, but mainly, they didnt secure an anchor tenant when they built the mall. So it was just a bunch of small insignificant shops. Plus the ingress/egress seemed hard to navigate. They didnt demolish it, they converted it into office.

But I am going from memory.....that was a long time ago. Now its just a weird office building.

True, demolished was a poor choice of words. "Repurposed"? It has been several years since I visited that area.

All malls, however, change anchors and tenants through the years. Remember when Lakeforest had an ice skating rink?

[bufflove]

Originally Posted by Barry Rock

Rockville Mall was a disaster for a lot of reasons, but mainly, they didnt secure an anchor tenant when they built the mall. So it was just a bunch of small insignificant shops. Plus the ingress/egress seemed hard to navigate. They didnt demolish it, they converted it into office.

But I am going from memory.....that was a long time ago. Now its just a weird office building.

The mall was demolished (it was where the town center area now stands). There were office and residential components to the "urban renewal" plan which are still largely (entirely?) intact. I imagine that's what you're referencing.

[Mr Beco]

Originally Posted by bufflove

The mall was demolished (it was where the town center area now stands). There were office and residential components to the "urban renewal" plan which are still largely (entirely?) intact. I imagine that's what you're referencing.

Its not a big deal, but I believe they razed a smaller segment of the actual mall, creating an office building, sort of....its still odd whenever I walk in there. Town Center was built across the street. Not much was there at the time.

The mall still stands..next time you are there, walk inside....

[Mr Beco]

[quote=LynchburgLover;39029205]True, demolished was a poor choice of words. "Repurposed"? It has been several years since I visited that area.

All malls, however, change anchors and tenants through the years. Remember when Lakeforest had an ice skating rink?[/QUOTE]

Im not THAT old.....

Was just up at Lakeforest, its still there.....parking lot is empty. I can't wait until they start to build

[LynchburgLover]

[quote=Barry Rock;39033559]

Originally Posted by LynchburgLover

True, demolished was a poor choice of words. "Repurposed"? It has been several years since I visited that area.

All malls, however, change anchors and tenants through the years. Remember when Lakeforest had an ice skating rink?[/QUOTE]

Im not THAT old.....

Was just up at Lakeforest, its still there.....parking lot is empty. I can't wait until they start to build

Hey, ease up on the age thing. lol The rink was in the mall in the late 70s. . . yeah, I'm older.

Our old cpa was in one of the office buildings and I always hated going there. Just seemed to have a lot of people loitering around. Fortunately, he moved his office to Bethesda.

[JamesInDC]

Originally Posted by dkf747

That depends on where in Gaithersburg you live. Quince Orchard High School is a really good school, for example.

Is it really? It gets average reviews on school rating websites and I've heard directly from several people that say its average.