Re: What happens to Fair Oaks Mall
Posted by:
Return to neighborhood strip mal
()
Date: April 30, 2017 09:26AM
4uh73 Wrote:
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> .com
Simply put.
I visited Security Square Mall (West Baltimore) yesterday. While the mall continued to have Macy's and Sears, I don't know why. On a pad in the parling lot sat an active AMC movie theater, not so busy. The mall's operator has survived by dropping rents to achieve occupancy, increasing security and trimming way back on ambiance.
The retail mix was curious: urban boutiques (clothing, kids, shoes) which may have previously struggled in a strip mall all hab business. Chain restaurants replaced by buffets. The hull of one prevuous retail anchor was occupied by a trade school, another by a Day Spa. Several franchized snackfood vendors were peppered in (ice cream, cookies, pretzels). But there were many retail operation atypical of most malls: large buy-on-credit furniture store, Dollar store, large footprint Dominican Barber shop, beauty supply/wig emporium, no name sports wear and many more unexpected.
The mall had a diverse mix of shoppers, and obligatory Cadre of noisy unsupervised youth. Security was plentiful inside & outside and were clearly visible.
I'm guessing that the demographics of that area may insulate some of those retail components from .com.
To me, it was like those places in Zombie movies where the zombies mindlessly congregate because the place had significance to them in their past life..
All malls are beginning to show zombification.
Reston Town Center parking app is mis-timed. Security Square Mall was DOWN but not OUT. To charge for parking would quickly reduce foot traffic.