HomeFairfax General ForumArrest/Ticket SearchWiki newPictures/VideosChatArticlesLinksAbout
Fairfax County General :  Fairfax Underground fairfax underground logo
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Pages: Previous12All
Current Page: 2 of 2
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Your Name ()
Date: June 12, 2011 10:20PM

Touche. However, spics can't use the Internet, but they also can't buy $20 tshirts at Hot Topic. We're both right.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 12, 2011 11:08PM

ha ha ha ha +1 for you

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Johnny Walker ()
Date: June 12, 2011 11:41PM

I hear Orange Julius is gone from Springfield now.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2011 11:41PM by Johnny Walker.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Interweb, really? ()
Date: June 12, 2011 11:43PM

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> yeah, it's the Hispanics.............
>
> the interweb has absolutely nothing to do with the
> downfall of malls - it's just the Hispanics.
>
> yeah.


Are malls like Tysons succumbing to the interweb? It's that crazy ol' Dem O'Graphics who is sending these malls to their graves.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Billie Dalek ()
Date: June 13, 2011 11:06AM

Just as long as there are three Time Outs and that giant Predator statue is on the lower level...

We will be gravy!!!!!

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Arlingtonkid ()
Date: June 13, 2011 12:38PM

Ya, I know it's in Manassas, but Manassas Mall is another shithole. How it survives is beyond me because out of the Christmas shopping season, it's like a ghost town. And, now with another shopping center planned for Gainesville, it won't be too much longer, before the only two stores left will be Wal-mart and target.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: conincidence??? ()
Date: June 13, 2011 01:19PM

Manassas Mall is also owned by Vornado.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Raptured ()
Date: June 13, 2011 01:54PM

Arlingtonkid Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...How it survives is beyond me...

I asked the same question for 20 years about the Safeway in Sully Station.

The only rational answer I could come up with was the strip mall owners gave Safeway a REALLY cheap lease as an "anchor store" that was for 20+ years and when it finally ran out, so did Safeway.

That store had to be losing money every single day of those 20 years.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Arlingtonkid ()
Date: June 13, 2011 02:22PM

Raptured Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Arlingtonkid Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ...How it survives is beyond me...
>
> I asked the same question for 20 years about the
> Safeway in Sully Station.
>
> The only rational answer I could come up with was
> the strip mall owners gave Safeway a REALLY cheap
> lease as an "anchor store" that was for 20+ years
> and when it finally ran out, so did Safeway.
>
> That store had to be losing money every single day
> of those 20 years.


You mean the safeway closed? Huh. Worked near there for a few years, shopped there once or twice.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: 5% ()
Date: June 13, 2011 02:38PM

The simple fact on both of these malls is the way the community changed around them. Both areas are El Salvatrukaville now. They are both trashy and full of immigrants that moved in with no money. It is no longer safe aropund either one of these malls. Take a drive around either of these malls and see who is at the bus stops and hanging around the streets and in the front yards. It is very simple if you really look at it.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Anon ()
Date: June 15, 2011 09:25PM

5% Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The simple fact on both of these malls is the way
> the community changed around them. Both areas are
> El Salvatrukaville now. They are both trashy and
> full of immigrants that moved in with no money. It
> is no longer safe aropund either one of these
> malls. Take a drive around either of these malls
> and see who is at the bus stops and hanging around
> the streets and in the front yards. It is very
> simple if you really look at it.


SFM has been circling the drain for almost as far back as I can remember, the final nail in the coffin was the completion of the metro station across the street IMHO.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Huntington ()
Date: June 16, 2011 12:38AM

You couldn't pay me to step foot in Springfield Mall these days, that whole area is a dangerous situation. Rape, kidnapping, and carjacking, how lovely is that prospect when deciding where to shop? I'll gladly make the drive from Alexandria to Fair Oaks or Tysons to shop, forget Pentagon City. I will agree with previous poster about metro access, it just invites crime.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Raptured ()
Date: June 16, 2011 08:43AM

Arlingtonkid Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Safeway in Sully Station.
> You mean the safeway closed? Huh. Worked near
> there for a few years, shopped there once or
> twice.

Not only did it close, but the grocery store that took its place itself closed in LESS than a year due to lack of business (I really liked the replacement, a Grand Mart subsidiary; had fresh seafood, all the right sorts of fresh veggies, etc). That particular location is just not a good one for a full-sized grocery store - it needs a smaller 7-11-ish store that sells the staples like milk, bread, bandaids. One that folks can pop into/walk to without driving to a full grocery store. That location also needs a good place for kids to go to like an arcade or something - might cause police problems but at least the gajillion kids around here would have somewhere to go other than the ridiculously expensive Rita's...

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: FFX4life ()
Date: June 16, 2011 08:49AM

Orange Julius right outside Timeout, what could be better. I went to many a birthday party at Farrells and saw "Raiders of the Lost Ark" for the first time there.....great memories from my youth until my father started refering to it asan "open air drug market", which he must have heard listening to WMAL......

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Date: June 16, 2011 08:56AM

Raptured Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Arlingtonkid Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > Safeway in Sully Station.
> > You mean the safeway closed? Huh. Worked near
> > there for a few years, shopped there once or
> > twice.
>
> Not only did it close, but the grocery store that
> took its place itself closed in LESS than a year
> due to lack of business (I really liked the
> replacement, a Grand Mart subsidiary; had fresh
> seafood, all the right sorts of fresh veggies,
> etc). That particular location is just not a good
> one for a full-sized grocery store - it needs a
> smaller 7-11-ish store that sells the staples like
> milk, bread, bandaids. One that folks can pop
> into/walk to without driving to a full grocery
> store. That location also needs a good place for
> kids to go to like an arcade or something - might
> cause police problems but at least the gajillion
> kids around here would have somewhere to go other
> than the ridiculously expensive Rita's...

I have noticed a number of grocery store closings...SFW, Magruders, etc. Even a Giant. What is the root cause of this? better stores? Picky customers?

-----------------------------------------------

"...your suffering will be legendary even in Hell!"

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 16, 2011 08:58AM

answer:Wegmans on one side of the spectrum, Walmart on the other

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: ffx4life ()
Date: June 16, 2011 09:08AM

Why go a supermarket AND a department store when a Super WalMart (or now Target Greatland) does it all in one store?

People love their Wegity Wegs and all the super specialties therin. They love the hot food choices and feeling of getting something "different".

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Date: June 16, 2011 09:14AM

ffx4life Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why go a supermarket AND a department store when a
> Super WalMart (or now Target Greatland) does it
> all in one store?
>
> People love their Wegity Wegs and all the super
> specialties therin. They love the hot food
> choices and feeling of getting something
> "different".


All the while robbing up $8.99 a pound hot bar food.

-----------------------------------------------

"...your suffering will be legendary even in Hell!"

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Alex Resident ()
Date: June 16, 2011 09:19AM

Huntington Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You couldn't pay me to step foot in Springfield
> Mall these days, that whole area is a dangerous
> situation. Rape, kidnapping, and carjacking, how
> lovely is that prospect when deciding where to
> shop? I'll gladly make the drive from Alexandria
> to Fair Oaks or Tysons to shop, forget Pentagon
> City. I will agree with previous poster about
> metro access, it just invites crime.


You know I wonder if there will be a movement to go back to shopping in towns rather than malls. Not suggesting it will happen, just wondering.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: ffx4life ()
Date: June 16, 2011 09:21AM

"You know I wonder if there will be a movement to go back to shopping in towns rather than malls. Not suggesting it will happen, just wondering."

personally I think the days of the main street stores over over....the town center concept will drive nostalgia for a time whenyou could walk around outside from store to store, but otherwise, people will keep to the big box stores or strip mall.....

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Johnny Walker ()
Date: June 16, 2011 10:42AM

Alex Resident Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You know I wonder if there will be a movement to
> go back to shopping in towns rather than malls.
> Not suggesting it will happen, just wondering.


Only in already-established "Old Towns" that evolved back when there were no malls will you see that. There will never be a new one like those. Closest you will get will be the "town centers," which lack any kind of genuine "neighborhood" feel. To me anyways.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: eesh ()
Date: June 16, 2011 10:44AM

Johnny Walker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Closest you will get will be the "town centers,"
> which lack any kind of genuine "neighborhood"
> feel. To me anyways.




+1

Just look at Reston Town Center. That place is as artificial as they come.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Date: June 16, 2011 10:46AM

It is but it is the "vogue" design these days. They are all over the place. RTC, Fairfax Corner. Hell, when we were down in Virginia Beach watching the Norfolk Admirals choke in their playoff games, there is a Virginia Beach Town Center.

The plus side is the Westin at Va. Beach Town Center rocks. Fabulous hotel!

Same thing in Richmond and other cities.

-----------------------------------------------

"...your suffering will be legendary even in Hell!"



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/16/2011 10:48AM by Pinhead the Cenobite.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: FFX4life ()
Date: June 16, 2011 10:48AM

National Harbor is essentially a town center. As people move away from cities, the desire for a "small town" feel will always be there.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: eesh ()
Date: June 16, 2011 10:54AM

FFX4life Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> National Harbor is essentially a town center. As
> people move away from cities, the desire for a
> "small town" feel will always be there.





That Gaylord hotel is pretty awesome inside. I like hotels that have the rooms facing towards an atrium.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: snap in ()
Date: June 16, 2011 10:58AM

eesh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FFX4life Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > National Harbor is essentially a town center.
> As
> > people move away from cities, the desire for a
> > "small town" feel will always be there.
>
>
>
>
> That Gaylord hotel is pretty awesome inside. I
> like hotels that have the rooms facing towards an
> atrium.

You like it because you are the Gay Lord.

Lordofgay.jpg

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Gordon Blvd ()
Date: June 16, 2011 04:34PM

@Pinhead - Fairfax Corner makes me sick with it's fake-ass "town center" feel. It's as artificial as Saccarin to me - at least Old Town Fairfax feels real (since, I guess, it is real LoLz)

what's REALLY funny is that Landmark used to be an outdoor mall - and they enclosed it up due to ppl not going to it cause it was outdoors in the first place.......................

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Your Name ()
Date: June 16, 2011 07:14PM

wetbacks' brains are about as dead as this thread and springfield mall.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: All Knowing ()
Date: October 06, 2011 12:03PM

Landmark was caught with their pants down. They were preparing to redevelop the mall which resulted in a failure to sign long term lease agreements with major retail companies. The only tenants that would sign short term leases were Mom and Pop tenants who were drawn by the cheap rent. Unfortunately GGP filed for bankruptcy and it derailed any redevelopment and left them with less than desirable tenants.

They are also only 1/3owner. Macy's and Sears are partners who have to buy into the redevelopment. That's usually approved on a corporate level so you can see how this would complicate any redevelopment.

In November of 2010 GGP broke off it's redevelopment companies to Howard Hughes who currently operates Landmark mall. Do they have the capital and fortitude to make Landmark something shiny and new that would bring retailers and customers back? Probably not in this economy.

Tearing it to the ground, adding condo's, a movie theater, and an open environment like Reston Town Center would be their best bet. That would probably require the massive finacial support of another partner such as Simon.

Another option would be to put a Target, Cosco or Wallmart in the old Lord and Taylor space but seems unlikely.

You can probably expect minor renovations with no change in the tenant or customer culture. I do however recommend the Zumba classes.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: donkeytimes ()
Date: October 06, 2011 12:18PM

At least Chick Fil A is still there!!

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Captain 20 ()
Date: October 06, 2011 01:18PM

Within 5 years...Landmark and Springfield Malls will be plowed up to make room for SHOCKER...homes.

Within 10 years...all of the commercial real estate within 2 miles of the Springfield Interchange will be plowed up to make room for SHOCKER...homes.

The reason things have been vacant and desolate for so long is because the LAND is insanely valuable. Vornado and the owners of Landmark, despite what they've said in the local media, bought the malls that they bought on speculation. They are simply biding their time until the economic situation moves in a direction that makes their holdings more valuable than what they paid for them.

A large indoor or outdoor space that could require lots of electricity, heating, A/C, water and sewer as well as structural, decorative and landscaping maintainance in order to serve as a place that goods and services are sold is a dead business model. Tysons will survive a bit longer due to its affluent location and clientele but eventually the hordes that have invaded and degraded S'field and Landmark will do the same there, too.

And yes, the beginning of the end of Springfield Mall was the opening of METRO. I managed one of the stores there then and I remember attending the Mall's announcement of Metro's plans. There was a palpable and positive buzz in the air which I then sucked out of the room by raising my hand and asking, "Pardon me, but the Metro will connect Springfield with every other area within the DC/MD/VA region. Has anyone considered that in addition to an increase in new customers there may also be a 'new element' in the Mall which was not there previously?"

I got a lot of dirty looks and then there was a moment of silence before members of the panel looked at each other and scoffed, "Won't happen!...Nah!...Not here!"

I'm not right about very many things...and that was one thing I'm sorry I was right about. Perhaps its heydey was an artificial, saccharin, suburban world...but, it was MY artificial, saccharin, suburban world.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Roast beef and cheddar ()
Date: October 06, 2011 01:52PM

I miss that short black lady that used to work at Arby's

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: bingo ()
Date: October 06, 2011 02:36PM

Remember Lums?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: saldecki ()
Date: October 06, 2011 02:37PM

hifolks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> sumguy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Landmark and Springfield have been crappy mall
> for
> > 20+ years. You can't have gangs of kid with no
> > money running the mall. Ballston almost fell
> into
> > that trap.
> > Not to mention the fact that the traffic in
> both
> > of those areas limits the time you spend in the
> > mall. 2 hours sitting in traffic I just go to
> > another mall or amazon.
>
> Ballston may someday... if some of the offices
> move or close up. But yes Springfield is becoming
> more and more vacant as the days go on. I saw a
> new store open at Landmark, some calender store
> when I went to Macys on Saturday, and I saw quite
> a few people, not just a lot in Macys, but quite a
> few through out the mall, but where the hell were
> they shopping?!

Ballston is trying to compete with the shops/retail in Clarendon and nearby Tysons and Pentagon City. Ballston survives largely because of the density (high rise apts and condos) and the daytime office crowd. The Kettler Ice Center is nice, but those patrons rarely use the mall itself. Forest City should tear it down, keeping the garage and ice center (obviously). Design something urban and oriented towards the street, which is why Clarendon is so successful, and those faux-towns in Fairfax County. The one roadblock, as with Springfield and other malls is that Macy's owns their building.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Ex redcoat and building engineer ()
Date: October 06, 2011 04:45PM

Captain 20...

I remember that meeting and the building engineers shared the same sentiment. There was one Christmas Eve when we were standing over the Santa Claus castle (it was during the Disney Christmas theme years) in the Court that was once part of E.J. Korvettes, leading into the Food Court, when all of the sudden a bunch of guys came bursting into the mall and started kicking the crap out of each other, followed by Fairfax County who promptly handcuffed everybody and hauled them out. One of the engineers who lived just across the Wilson Bridge in Maryland got a big grin on his face and said "Just wait till that Metro station opens up across the street".

Up to that point we were getting the ones who could figure out that there was bus service from Huntington to the mall... a higher class of thug as it were.

Bingo...

Lums, York Steak House, Charlies Place, The House of Liu, The Highlander which was part of McCrory's (sic?) Pizza Delight (could you dust that pizza a little for me please?) Hot Shoppes Cafeteria, Orange Bowl, Roy Rogers,,,

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: other factors ()
Date: October 06, 2011 06:20PM

Captain 20. I think I would blame the whole mixing bowl project. That didn't happen overnight, but it made the whole area around there look like LA with slightly more concrete. Certainly sprawling concrete ramps everywhere don't draw people in to the shopping centers or nearby housing.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Champion ()
Date: October 06, 2011 06:41PM

I agree with the mixing bowl sentiment. With the stream lining of the traffic it diverted everyone away from the businesses. If you are in that area it takes a conscious planned effort to stop by a store on the way home, before you could just pull in. I have often driven through Springfield and thought of a place that I needed to go but decided against it because I'd have to circle back around to find the right exit, and I'm lazy.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Surprised Wong ()
Date: October 18, 2011 03:12PM

Holy shit, Fair City Mall is no longer on this list. While far from a renaissance, its making a strong come back, and now its time for that shitty strip mall in front of it to get some stores or get tore down

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: questionguyhere ()
Date: October 18, 2011 04:32PM

I have no idea where fair oaks mall is.... Virginia or maryland?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: theShadowToo ()
Date: October 18, 2011 04:54PM

questionguyhere Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have no idea where fair oaks mall is....
> Virginia or maryland?


Fair Oaks is in Fairfax, VA, at the intersection of 66 and 50.

That being said, the guy above you (Surprised Wong) referenced Fair City Mall...not sure if your response was in response to Mr. Wong. If so, Fair City is also in Fairfax, VA, at the intersection of 236 and Pickett Road.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Fair Oaks Mall ()
Date: October 18, 2011 05:17PM

Fair Oaks is making a SMALL comeback.

They have added a J. Crew

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: Woodlawn ()
Date: February 23, 2012 12:38AM

This place use to be awesome. It is now dead. You wana know what didn't help the mall? Ft belvior now allowing anyone from the east side of the base to drive through it. The mall use to be a 10 minute drive max, but that since has turned into a god damn event.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: Dead Malls - Landmark and Springfield
Posted by: S.CALLIHAN ()
Date: July 16, 2016 09:48PM

America is selling its land little by little to people who have come to America and eventually this country will look like theirs. When I went to Macy's it was cold and dark and dank and the sales personnel had gone to prayer. Most people of Latino descent are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and I for one would rather see them come to America (legally) than ISIL and its killers.

Options: ReplyQuote
Pages: Previous12All
Current Page: 2 of 2


Your Name: 
Your Email (Optional): 
Subject: 
Attach a file
  • No file can be larger than 75 MB
  • All files together cannot be larger than 300 MB
  • 30 more file(s) can be attached to this message
Spam prevention:
Please, enter the code that you see below in the input field. This is for blocking bots that try to post this form automatically.
 ********   **      **  **     **  ********   **     ** 
 **     **  **  **  **  ***   ***  **     **   **   **  
 **     **  **  **  **  **** ****  **     **    ** **   
 ********   **  **  **  ** *** **  **     **     ***    
 **     **  **  **  **  **     **  **     **    ** **   
 **     **  **  **  **  **     **  **     **   **   **  
 ********    ***  ***   **     **  ********   **     ** 
This forum powered by Phorum.