Atlanta: Why There's No Retail Apocalypse (credit card, buy, closing)

[Otakumaster]

If there is a "retail apocalypses" Lenox, Perimeter, Northpoint and Discover Mills hasn't heard of it. Especially not Lenox and Perimeter. As another as posters are pointing out most shopping still takes place in person and I personally know I'd *rather* buy many things in person like clothing because buying online can be a gamble these days. Online is essentially the wild west unless you go with trusted brands you are familiar with IRL and even then it's not perfect.

I recently went shopping for a bunch of new shorts due to this heatwave and loosing a bunch of weight in Lenox and that would have just been a mess to do that online without knowing how things fit and then having to return it all the stuff I didn't like etc. It's about quality of vs quantity when it comes to malls now.

[Joe_P]

WSJ has a paywall, but every city is hit by brands who have shut down or dramatically reduced their B&M stores.

[demonta4]

Even malls like Southlake and Greenbrier aren’t doing too bad. What matters is that the mall tries to cater to the surrounding community. Gwinnett Place, for example, didn’t do that.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by demonta4

Even malls like Southlake and Greenbrier aren’t doing too bad. What matters is that the mall tries to cater to the surrounding community. Gwinnett Place, for example, didn’t do that.

Gwinnett Place was the regional mall of its day but got displaced by Sugarloaf Mills and Mall of Georgia. It simply couldn't compete with those newer and bigger malls siphoning away its customer base, and when you lose your big department store anchors, it's pretty much a wrap.

[Joe_P]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I think that it's sad that Sears couldn't survive. I found the store still useful and would shop at the Cumberland one at least a few times a year.

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by Joe_P

I guess I'm in the minority, but I think that it's sad that Sears couldn't survive. I found the store still useful and would shop at the Cumberland one at least a few times a year.

Sears is still around.

I know for certain the Arbor Place Mall location in Douglasville is still open.

[Hokiehaven]

While it won't go anywhere completely, and is changing, Lenox Mall is looking a bit hairy, a lot of stuff has closed there in the past 2-3 months.

[arjay57]

The future of malls is to convert into mixed use centers. You can see that happening at Lenox and Phipps but they need to include more residential options.

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by Joe_P

I guess I'm in the minority, but I think that it's sad that Sears couldn't survive. I found the store still useful and would shop at the Cumberland one at least a few times a year.

What is sad is the aesthetic of these stores is gone. The stores are gone for obvious reasons, but the look and feel of the stores, and the experience of the stores, is what is missing. I don't miss the high prices, fact that stores may not have had an item in my size or any of the other dysfunction of these stores that go out of business. But I do mourn the experience of shopping there, if that makes any sense. How do you replicate the look and feeling of Woolsworth online?

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by goofy328

What is sad is the aesthetic of these stores is gone. The stores are gone for obvious reasons, but the look and feel of the stores, and the experience of the stores, is what is missing. I don't miss the high prices, fact that stores may not have had an item in my size or any of the other dysfunction of these stores that go out of business. But I do mourn the experience of shopping there, if that makes any sense. How do you replicate the look and feeling of Woolsworth online?

It does make sense, and I think you make a good point. European department and other retail stores seem to continue to thrive, and I think its because of they create a sense of excitement in the retail environment that our stores seem to lack.