Intown conveniences are relatively new (Atlanta, Monroe: Home Depot, buying, square footage)

[red92s]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Tonight I stopped by the Best Buy on Sidney Marcus. That was built when, 2004 or so? It was pretty revolutionary at the time because as far as I know, that was the first ITP Best Buy. Before that, you had to go to Cumberland or Northlake.

So it's only been about 8 years or so that intown dwellers have been able to go to a Best Buy without going OTP. It was only last year or the year before that ITP got its own Costco.

The Northlake Best Buy is inside the perimeter, and has been in business for well over a decade now. Probably opened in the late 90's? I'm not sure that I'd consider a Best Buy a modern day convenience at this point . . . more like a neighborhood liability waiting to become an empty concrete box. Sure they only lost $250 million dollars last year, after losing over a billion the year before, but more and more stores will be shaved to try and get out of the red.

There has been a Sam's Club on Clairemont a lot longer than 2 years. Not sure why the brand name of the supermegamart makes a difference.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by red92s

The Northlake Best Buy is inside the perimeter, and has been in business for well over a decade now. Probably opened in the late 90's? I'm not sure that I'd consider a Best Buy a modern day convenience at this point . . . more like a neighborhood liability waiting to become an empty concrete box. Sure they only lost $250 million dollars last year, after losing over a billion the year before, but more and more stores will be shaved to try and get out of the red.

That's true. There was also a Best Buy on Roxboro, but it bit the dust several years ago.

[George Chong]

Originally Posted by arjay57

That's true. There was also a Best Buy on Roxboro, but it bit the dust several years ago.

Wasn't that a Circuit City?

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by red92s

The Northlake Best Buy is inside the perimeter, and has been in business for well over a decade now. Probably opened in the late 90's? I'm not sure that I'd consider a Best Buy a modern day convenience at this point . . . more like a neighborhood liability waiting to become an empty concrete box. Sure they only lost $250 million dollars last year, after losing over a billion the year before, but more and more stores will be shaved to try and get out of the red.

There has been a Sam's Club on Clairemont a lot longer than 2 years. Not sure why the brand name of the supermegamart makes a difference.

Yeah, I'm trying to understand what makes a Best Buy or a Costco (which I love, don't get me wrong) as a "conveniences"? It's not as if there were no small electronics stores before Best Buy moved in or places where you could buy food (granted, not on palates like you can in Costco). Shouldn't this thread be changed to "Intown traditionally suburban big box offerings are relatively new".

I also agree that don't bet on Best Buy sticking around for long. The big electronics retailers are going the same route as record stores.

[Ant131531]

I didn't realize Atlanta started developing from it's suburbs inward.

[red92s]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

I didn't realize Atlanta started developing from it's suburbs inward.

I hear we might get a Red Robin soon!

[JPD]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

Yeah, I'm trying to understand what makes a Best Buy or a Costco (which I love, don't get me wrong) as a "conveniences"? It's not as if there were no small electronics stores before Best Buy moved in or places where you could buy food (granted, not on palates like you can in Costco).

As for Costco, some people feel it is more convenient to buy five metric tons of cat litter in one trip than to buy it in smaller quantities over the course of many trips.

[Zanarkand A East]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Tonight I stopped by the Best Buy on Sidney Marcus. That was built when, 2004 or so? It was pretty revolutionary at the time because as far as I know, that was the first ITP Best Buy. Before that, you had to go to Cumberland or Northlake.

The Northlake Best Buy is ITP.

[Zanarkand A East]

Originally Posted by tonygeorgia

Another thing is the reason why IMO Atlanta is the way it is is because most people that move here would rather buy a big house in the suburbs because it's cheaper than where they just came from instead of moving downtown.

Also, alot of people that move here are coming from smaller towns in the Southeast, and frankly, just aren't city people. For some people, the burbs are the closest thing to their college town, and they buy into the "oh no downtown is dangerous" hype they hear from their neighbors.

[fzx]

I am always a pessimist in this front: most areas in Atlanta and the floormap of Chains are not suited for urban
developments.

If I design for a big urban project, I can either find a very dense area to build some shopping centers or have a vacant area and build from scratch. Atlanta does not have too much of the former type to begin with so the latter is more popular here. Then I will need some area close to tranportation facilities. Cydney Marcus area is an example but the developer (s) screwed it up and attract tenants that are not meant for urban living. It gets target and Best Buy and Home Depot. It is convenient for the landloard to fill empty spaces at once but the move is not to promote urban living. Think what a trouble it is to walk around these big three and then carry the stuffs back. This is not meant for the locals but people with a car from other areas. I think more appropriate tenants are mom-and-pop shops, say restaurants, coffee shops where people and relax. But I guess the rents are too high for these start-ups.

Then we talk about the apartment/condo demand for Atlantans. Sadly, most Americans did not grow up in these boxes and do not like living there forever. A single college grad may want to try the concept for a while but when he/she grows older and has a family, he/she is thinking about a backyard for kids. So the demand for small flats is limited and the tenants,always rotating, donot have a long-term stake in it.

I think the West Mid-town area and the Buckhead Village are more suited for urban development due to its proximity to the core city and a good restaurants base. But I am just an ameteur......