Mall landlords struggling to find takers at a price they’ll accept • Hacker News Board

Re: Mall landlords struggling to find takers at a price they’ll accept

#151

Post by sigstoat » Tue, Jun 12, 2018, 5:45 PM UTC

pascalxus wrote: post #124

Malls, yuck! I find little attractive about them, and I'm not surprised no one's going any more. malls are dying because they're all based on materialist consumerism: something millennials want no part of. Here's my suggestion. Fill them with Libraries, Gyms, yoga centers, Cafes, Restaurants, movie theaters, science museums, bike repair shops, ceramic hobby shops and indoor swimming pools, theaters and historic museu…

> Here's my suggestion. Fill them with Libraries, Gyms, yoga centers, Cafes, Restaurants, movie theaters, science museums, bike repair shops, ceramic hobby shops and indoor swimming pools, theaters and historic museums. That would get me going back in a heartbeat!

what's the point of getting you back if all the largest of those things make little to no money?

malls aren't a contest to see who can get the most bodies into the smallest space. (and if it were, they'd lose to clubs and bars anyways.) they're a contest to see who can pack the most variety of businesses into the smallest space.

Re: Mall landlords struggling to find takers at a price they’ll accept

#152

Post by bluedino » Tue, Jun 12, 2018, 5:46 PM UTC

bcrescimanno wrote: post #130

Here's an anecdote about my experience at a mall yesterday. I needed some new shoes: I went to the Skechers store. There were 4 people working. Not a single one ever offered to help me. I had to walk up to the counter and the girl looked shocked when I asked her to get me my size to try on. She handed me the box and walked away. I never saw her again and walked out without making a purchase. I went over to Macy's to…

Go to DSW, all the shoes are out on the floor to try on. I won't go to Macy's (because they're overpriced) but I refuse to sit around while someone fetches me shoes from the back room.

Re: Mall landlords struggling to find takers at a price they’ll accept

#153

Post by enobrev » Tue, Jun 12, 2018, 5:50 PM UTC

thethirdone wrote: post #141

mdorazio wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To play devil's advocate here... 1) Are you incapable of finding the right size shoes yourself? The boxes are usually laid out fairly logically and it's pretty rare for there to actually be anything of use "in the back". 2) Hiring people to provide the level of service you're asking for would significantly increase the cost of labor over the minimum wage kids that usually staff these stores. I'm fairly certain the co…

> 1) Are you incapable of finding the right size shoes yourself? The boxes are usually laid out fairly logically and it's pretty rare for there to actually be anything of use "in the back". Having large feet, its pretty common for shoes not to have something in my size in the front, but maybe 50% of the time there are shoes in my size in the back.

It's very rare that I shop for shoes in person any more, but the few times I've found myself in a shoe store in the past few years, I'll generally just ask a rep to bring me or point out everything they have in a size 14, which usually ends up being 2-3 pairs.

The best places will understand immediately - some will even know off-hand which ones they have in larger sizes. Most of the time, the rep will respond with an awkward laugh and ask if there's a particular shoe I'm interested in.

At that point, I'll pick literally any random men's shoe and ask them to bring it to me in a size 14. When they return, either they'll come back with a couple pairs of shoes in my size (not the one I asked for), which is great, or they'll come empty handed and I'll ask again, if they can bring me (or point out) everything they have in a size 14, which will generally end up being 2-3 pairs.

Re: Mall landlords struggling to find takers at a price they’ll accept

#154

Post by bluedino » Tue, Jun 12, 2018, 5:50 PM UTC

greyfox wrote: post #18

projectramo wrote: post #2

I remember learning that in the 90s some companies had this useless asset: gas pipelines that spanned the country, but had dried up and were not being used. Other companies had a problem: how to acquire the rights to lay fiber from one end of the country to the other. Some very smart person realized you could lay the fiber in the old pipes. Question: what can be done with all that retail space? Is there a new use of…

When i was between the ages of 18-21 in the middle of the 07+ economic crisis i noticed all these "abandoned" car dealerships in my area... grocery stores, etc. I always thought a good repurposing of these buildings would've been: -Skate parks or other athletic venue (maybe a gym if the building was the right size?) -Clubs/Dancehalls -Concert Venues -Intermittent Rental for Parties/Weddings things of that nature (you…

We have tons of abandoned big-box stores. There's a old Builders Square in our town that's been empty for...20 years? We have a Pep Boys that's been empty for at least 15. New stores go up, these just sit with 'for rent' signs in front of them. How this is financially possible I don't even know.

Re: Mall landlords struggling to find takers at a price they’ll accept

#155

Post by user5994461 » Tue, Jun 12, 2018, 5:51 PM UTC

mdorazio wrote: post #136

bcrescimanno wrote: post #130

Here's an anecdote about my experience at a mall yesterday. I needed some new shoes: I went to the Skechers store. There were 4 people working. Not a single one ever offered to help me. I had to walk up to the counter and the girl looked shocked when I asked her to get me my size to try on. She handed me the box and walked away. I never saw her again and walked out without making a purchase. I went over to Macy's to…

To play devil's advocate here... 1) Are you incapable of finding the right size shoes yourself? The boxes are usually laid out fairly logically and it's pretty rare for there to actually be anything of use "in the back". 2) Hiring people to provide the level of service you're asking for would significantly increase the cost of labor over the minimum wage kids that usually staff these stores. I'm fairly certain the co…

I don't know what kind of stores you are used to but there is usually only one shoe on display. All the pairs are kept in the back of the store, you cannot try anything without help from the salesperson.

Re: Mall landlords struggling to find takers at a price they’ll accept

#156

Post by enobrev » Tue, Jun 12, 2018, 5:53 PM UTC

bluedino wrote: post #152

bcrescimanno wrote: post #130

Here's an anecdote about my experience at a mall yesterday. I needed some new shoes: I went to the Skechers store. There were 4 people working. Not a single one ever offered to help me. I had to walk up to the counter and the girl looked shocked when I asked her to get me my size to try on. She handed me the box and walked away. I never saw her again and walked out without making a purchase. I went over to Macy's to…

Go to DSW, all the shoes are out on the floor to try on. I won't go to Macy's (because they're overpriced) but I refuse to sit around while someone fetches me shoes from the back room.

Unfortunately, DSW generally maxes out at size 13. Otherwise, I agree, and really appreciate how DSW works.

Nordstrom Rack is a pretty great place to shop without asking for someone to "fetch" shoes for you as well, and they tend to have larger sizes and some decent shoes.

Re: Mall landlords struggling to find takers at a price they’ll accept

#157

Post by pascalxus » Tue, Jun 12, 2018, 5:56 PM UTC

throwawayjava wrote: post #133

pascalxus wrote: post #124

Malls, yuck! I find little attractive about them, and I'm not surprised no one's going any more. malls are dying because they're all based on materialist consumerism: something millennials want no part of. Here's my suggestion. Fill them with Libraries, Gyms, yoga centers, Cafes, Restaurants, movie theaters, science museums, bike repair shops, ceramic hobby shops and indoor swimming pools, theaters and historic museu…

> they're all based on materialist consumerism... Libraries, Gyms, yoga centers, Cafes, Restaurants, movie theaters, science museums, bike repair shops, ceramic hobby shops and indoor swimming pools, theaters and historic museums Aside from libraries and (some but certainly not all) museums, aren't all of these examples of things that fit well within materialist consumerism? I also prefer yoga studios, expensive coff…

The things I mentioned are mainly about experiences. For example, with a 5$ cup of coffee you get a great third place to hang out in an inspiring location, comfortable seat, stable table and wifi: it's not really about the coffee (for me anyways).

Re: Mall landlords struggling to find takers at a price they’ll accept

#158

Post by x2f10 » Tue, Jun 12, 2018, 5:57 PM UTC

pascalxus wrote: post #124

Malls, yuck! I find little attractive about them, and I'm not surprised no one's going any more. malls are dying because they're all based on materialist consumerism: something millennials want no part of. Here's my suggestion. Fill them with Libraries, Gyms, yoga centers, Cafes, Restaurants, movie theaters, science museums, bike repair shops, ceramic hobby shops and indoor swimming pools, theaters and historic museu…

>malls are dying because they're all based on materialist consumerism: something millennials want no part of.

There are more than millennials alive. The malls are dead because it's not longer convenient. Clothing stores are now in neighborhood shopping centers. Not to mention the real killer: the internet.

Re: Mall landlords struggling to find takers at a price they’ll accept

#159

Post by markaskey » Tue, Jun 12, 2018, 6:04 PM UTC

My suggestion would be to rebuild the existing set of retail locations and target a group or niche to drive more traffice. For Example: Focus on Moms with kids from zero to 6. All the stores would cater to this group. You wouldn't see Athletic Shoe Stores or Abercrombies but store lke Baby Gap, Carters, Gymboree or Childrens Place. Add in Starbucks and a few other children friendly restaurants. Put in one or two play spaces for kids. Offer Free Babysitting if the Moms schedule appointments at a Yoga Center, Nail or Hair Salon. Make it a destination for Mom's to One Stop Shop for all their needs and a place where kids can play while they sit and watch or shop. Put in a couple of Pediatricians, Eye Doctors and a few Kids focused Dental Services. A Kids focused Movie Theatre and maybe even an aquatic center attached but for young kids. Make the entire place a desitination. "THE" go to place in town to shop for Moms with kids from infant to 6.

Re: Mall landlords struggling to find takers at a price they’ll accept

#160

Post by markaskey » Tue, Jun 12, 2018, 6:07 PM UTC

Malls need to move from Everything to Everyone to targeted segments of the consuming public.

My suggestion would be to rebuild the existing set of retail locations and target a group or niche to drive more traffic. For Example: Focus on Moms with kids from zero to 6. All the stores would cater to this group. You wouldn't see Athletic Shoe Stores or Abercrombie but store like Baby Gap, Carters, Gymboree or Children's Place. Add in Starbucks and a few other children friendly restaurants. Put in one or two play spaces for kids. Offer Free Babysitting if the Moms schedule appointments at a Yoga Center, Nail or Hair Salon. Make it a destination for Mom's to One Stop Shop for all their needs and a place where kids can play while they sit and watch or shop. Put in a couple of Pediatricians, Eye Doctors and a few Kids focused Dental Services. A Kids focused Movie Theatre and maybe even an aquatic center attached but for young kids. Make the entire place a destination. "THE" go-to place in town to shop for Moms with kids from infant to 6.

Or take an existing Mall and put in an indoor Skate Park. Fill it with stores catered to 16 to 25 year olds. Set the expectation that you expect Youth to "cruise" the locations. Add some security to make it safe and create a hangout where they will shop.