Aug 23, 2008, 01:04 PM
Aug 23, 2008, 02:27 PM
hmmmm.... do they have different stuff or better prices?
It also appears to be mostly outdoor access to the stores, and less people would probably get out to shop on cold or rainy days, than they would in an indoor type mall.
BTW, what's wrong with SJ mall?
It also appears to be mostly outdoor access to the stores, and less people would probably get out to shop on cold or rainy days, than they would in an indoor type mall.
BTW, what's wrong with SJ mall?
Aug 23, 2008, 02:52 PM
If you read up, these types of malls are becoming more in demand, and I like the ideal of open concept, a little cold never hurt anyone. SJ reminds me of a flea market, there are no good stores in it any longer. I can remember when SJ first opened, it was fabulous, but not anymore! :-( Here is the link to Pearland Mall: http://www.pearlandtowncenter.com/shop/p....nsf/index
Aug 23, 2008, 04:27 PM
Here is an excerpt:
HOUSTON
All retail markets in Texas are buoyed by the strong economy. In southeast Texas, the retail markets that have grown most significantly in the past year include The Woodlands, northwest Houston (SH 290 and Spring Cypress) and South Freeway (SH 288 and FM 518). In the next year, we expect to see significant retail growth in the west Houston (Cinco Ranch) area. These are all high residential growth areas where new customer bases are being created.
Lifestyle and town center projects are the hottest retail property types in Texas because customers have a growing affection for these open-air, community-related projects. That being said, the number of this type of project that can be built in a metropolitan area is limited by the stringent demographic criteria necessary to support them. Tenants most frequently seen anchoring these projects include theaters, bookstores, restaurants, home furnishings stores — Z Gallerie, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma and Bombay — and specialty women’s apparel — Chico’s, Talbots and White House/Black Market.
Power center development is also very active in Texas. Anchors most actively pursued for these centers include discount department stores like Target and Wal-Mart; home improvement big boxes like The Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse; housewares big boxes like Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens ‘n Things; family clothing discounters like T. J. Maxx, Marshalls and Ross Dress For Less; and pet store big boxes such as PetsMart.
C-grade, enclosed malls are struggling more than any other retail center concept because they have been out-positioned and out-tenanted by better malls or other, more viable retail concepts.
Some of the more significant retail projects being started or finished this year in the Houston area are Market Street at the Woodlands by Trademark Property Company, the redevelopment of Town & Country Mall by The Midway Companies, and the redevelopment and “de-malling” of Northline Mall by Fidelis Realty Partners.
Other active retail developers in the area include The Ainbinder Company, Crosswell Greenwood Properties and New Quest Properties.
New retailers or retail concepts to the market in 2004 and 2005 are Gander Mountain, Lifetime Fitness, L.A. Fitness, Sears Grand, JC Penney’s freestanding stores and MW Cleaners (a new concept being rolled out first in Houston by Men’s Wearhouse).
HOUSTON
All retail markets in Texas are buoyed by the strong economy. In southeast Texas, the retail markets that have grown most significantly in the past year include The Woodlands, northwest Houston (SH 290 and Spring Cypress) and South Freeway (SH 288 and FM 518). In the next year, we expect to see significant retail growth in the west Houston (Cinco Ranch) area. These are all high residential growth areas where new customer bases are being created.
Lifestyle and town center projects are the hottest retail property types in Texas because customers have a growing affection for these open-air, community-related projects. That being said, the number of this type of project that can be built in a metropolitan area is limited by the stringent demographic criteria necessary to support them. Tenants most frequently seen anchoring these projects include theaters, bookstores, restaurants, home furnishings stores — Z Gallerie, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma and Bombay — and specialty women’s apparel — Chico’s, Talbots and White House/Black Market.
Power center development is also very active in Texas. Anchors most actively pursued for these centers include discount department stores like Target and Wal-Mart; home improvement big boxes like The Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse; housewares big boxes like Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens ‘n Things; family clothing discounters like T. J. Maxx, Marshalls and Ross Dress For Less; and pet store big boxes such as PetsMart.
C-grade, enclosed malls are struggling more than any other retail center concept because they have been out-positioned and out-tenanted by better malls or other, more viable retail concepts.
Some of the more significant retail projects being started or finished this year in the Houston area are Market Street at the Woodlands by Trademark Property Company, the redevelopment of Town & Country Mall by The Midway Companies, and the redevelopment and “de-malling” of Northline Mall by Fidelis Realty Partners.
Other active retail developers in the area include The Ainbinder Company, Crosswell Greenwood Properties and New Quest Properties.
New retailers or retail concepts to the market in 2004 and 2005 are Gander Mountain, Lifetime Fitness, L.A. Fitness, Sears Grand, JC Penney’s freestanding stores and MW Cleaners (a new concept being rolled out first in Houston by Men’s Wearhouse).
Aug 24, 2008, 08:38 AM
As a marketer, I read through such things to ascertain the information from the marketing concepts. Such articles are put together by a journalist, after interviewing or reading the marketing materials provided by those who are hoping to create interest and desirability in their product. Hence, the developer is going to tell you that they have the most innovative and desirable concept that the public is looking for, in the hopes of attracting a large percentage of the retail market.
Who was it, that the developers talked to... who did the developers send their marketing surveys to... that determined the design concept that "people are looking for"?
If the "Open Design" concept was what "people are looking for", then businesses and the public would be flocking to W Texas Ave in the old downtown area, which is the same basic concept. The real truth to the matter is people are attracted to anything new. You will also note that the areas noted in the article are also areas where new residential development is still flourishing somewhat. However, that also is a bit of marketing hype, as home sales are down and the retail markets in Texas is NOT flourishing in a "strong economy," as the article tries to imply. Talk to most retailers and the majority will tell you that sales are lagging.
A new mall, regardless of "design" will attract attention and people will come out to see it, in all of its' "newness". Many will buy something that caught their attention, even though they may not have planned to buy, and the initial buzz will last for a while. Then people will fall back into their norm, and sales will fall back in line with the general wants and needs of the average consumer. The design is not likely to make them shop more. As you look around, you will see all types of retail market designs, from malls to strips centers, and one has to wonder if the "design" has fallen out of favor, as the reason people aren't flocking to the stores. It is more likely that they are not spending their money, which is certainly the case in today's economy, due to the uncertainty of the market, brought on by declining home and auto sales, escalating fuel and food prices, failing mortgage companies and banks and the devaluation of the dollar.
San Jac Mall is suffering from the same problems as Pasadena Town Square, Almeda Mall, and many others, due to demographics of the shoppers and the retailers are losing money, so they close or move into a more prolific area for the particular buyers they are trying to attract (such as the NEW higher growth areas indicated in the article). Often you will then find the smaller businesses moving in to take up the space left behind, marketing to a different type of buyer, hence the "flea market" feel that overtakes the business property, as the big stores (as noted in the article) move to other venues. This is regardless of whether the new venue is laid out in an "open design", indoor design, strip mall or stand alone with outlying box stores surrounding it.
While a little cold doesn't hurt anyone, it can have a substantial effect on the retailer's business during those periods, as people tend to stay indoors during cold and rain... and that's a fact of human nature, as well as the retail business.
Who was it, that the developers talked to... who did the developers send their marketing surveys to... that determined the design concept that "people are looking for"?
If the "Open Design" concept was what "people are looking for", then businesses and the public would be flocking to W Texas Ave in the old downtown area, which is the same basic concept. The real truth to the matter is people are attracted to anything new. You will also note that the areas noted in the article are also areas where new residential development is still flourishing somewhat. However, that also is a bit of marketing hype, as home sales are down and the retail markets in Texas is NOT flourishing in a "strong economy," as the article tries to imply. Talk to most retailers and the majority will tell you that sales are lagging.
A new mall, regardless of "design" will attract attention and people will come out to see it, in all of its' "newness". Many will buy something that caught their attention, even though they may not have planned to buy, and the initial buzz will last for a while. Then people will fall back into their norm, and sales will fall back in line with the general wants and needs of the average consumer. The design is not likely to make them shop more. As you look around, you will see all types of retail market designs, from malls to strips centers, and one has to wonder if the "design" has fallen out of favor, as the reason people aren't flocking to the stores. It is more likely that they are not spending their money, which is certainly the case in today's economy, due to the uncertainty of the market, brought on by declining home and auto sales, escalating fuel and food prices, failing mortgage companies and banks and the devaluation of the dollar.
San Jac Mall is suffering from the same problems as Pasadena Town Square, Almeda Mall, and many others, due to demographics of the shoppers and the retailers are losing money, so they close or move into a more prolific area for the particular buyers they are trying to attract (such as the NEW higher growth areas indicated in the article). Often you will then find the smaller businesses moving in to take up the space left behind, marketing to a different type of buyer, hence the "flea market" feel that overtakes the business property, as the big stores (as noted in the article) move to other venues. This is regardless of whether the new venue is laid out in an "open design", indoor design, strip mall or stand alone with outlying box stores surrounding it.
While a little cold doesn't hurt anyone, it can have a substantial effect on the retailer's business during those periods, as people tend to stay indoors during cold and rain... and that's a fact of human nature, as well as the retail business.
Aug 24, 2008, 08:51 AM
I have no problem with the open concept of these malls. Yes the trip between each may be wet or hot, but the inside will be either cool or toasty warm.
As far as SJM you can't find anything there anymore. If I'm on a qwest for a nice present other than tires or appliances (ie SEARS) then sorry folks, I'm headed to Beaumont.
As far as SJM you can't find anything there anymore. If I'm on a qwest for a nice present other than tires or appliances (ie SEARS) then sorry folks, I'm headed to Beaumont.
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