topic Re: Northgate mall - Seattle in Community Chat

Northgate mall - Seattle

TY — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 19:33:29 GMT

As Northgate mall loses its tenants, take a look at the photos about it on the Business Insider website.

https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-first-mall-northgate-mall-seattle-dying-photos-2019-7

Northgate was the first indoor enclosed mall in the U.S. and is being redeveloped but for now it looks like a ghost town.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

godi — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 19:45:55 GMT

Boy how we have changed. Gone are the days of being excited to go to the mall. Now we just click a few keys and viola it’s on your porch. Brick and mortar is slowly going away. 😢

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

Shelbelle — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 19:49:59 GMT

We had a gorgeous upscale mall here built in 80's, had Macys, etc. Was totally torn down, now it has been revamped with a Costco, Lowe's and apts to be added soon.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

ROMARY — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 20:13:55 GMT

I've been hearing, more and more, about the overall trend of adding apartments and condos above stores in shopping mall space.

'Sort of'/Slightly similar (but not the same) to the 'mom and pop' stores underneath an attached apartment/flat.

In those days, mom could run the store and take care of the baby/young child/children while pop went out to work in another field.

Actually, it did make a lot of sense........two incomes while paying the mortgage, saving money (no childcare expenses), and working all at the same time.

But, of course, the stores are usually chains, and probably, if they are private stores/businesses, I'm only guessing that babies/children wouldn't be allowed (?)

'Anyway', it might be nice to be able to live above the stores and work 'downstairs', ( if financially feasible) for a couple and/or family. No commuting, etc.

Although, it would be a major renovation and inconvenience, (with all of the machinery, construction, etc.) for a community/neighborhood.

Something that would require a lot of patience.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

RainCityWoman — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 20:30:33 GMT

@TY wrote:
As Northgate mall loses its tenants, take a look at the photos about it on the Business Insider website.

https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-first-mall-northgate-mall-seattle-dying-photos-2019-7

Northgate was the first indoor enclosed mall in the U.S. and is being redeveloped but for now it looks like a ghost town.

Actually, it wasn't all indoors originally. The long passageway between both sides was outdoors. It was built that way in 1950, but in the 70's it was completely enclosed. I was there yesterday to take a last look at Macy's. I was shocked when I walked into the mall level and the place was so empty it echoed. They had moved what merchandise they had left all to that floor, while the lower level and upper level were completely emptied. This was the first of its kind in the U.S. Now most of the stores and boutiques will be gone. Nordstrom will close there in August. Penneys is closing, and of course, Macy's for all intents and purposes is already closed. I can always drive to those stores either downtown or to malls further away in either north or south directions, but I wonder if I will.

I'm not sure that they are putting apartments in above establishments or not. They already have tons of condos at the south end of the mall across from the movie theater. The only thing I have heard much about is the planned hockey training center and public ice rink. The food court will probably stay.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

chrystaltree — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 21:38:25 GMT

That looks like a lot of the malls around here, they are ghost towns. There's one here, just a few years ago, it was "the" place to shop and eat. Every store was there and along with all the chain restaurants. Now....only a couple of chain restaurants remain. It's a little scary if you walk through it to get to the parking lot. Last summer, there were a few pop up shops but my friend said that did not happen this summer.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

Pqfan — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 22:16:42 GMT

this made me sad😞

The end of an era.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

IMW — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 22:22:02 GMT

That integrated use of space for retail and residences was/ is a great to keep neighborhoods vital. No empty

downtown commerce areas, no long commutes.

It was the old style years ago. Everything old is new again. Jane Jacobs wrote excellent books re urban

planning.

@ROMARY wrote:
I've been hearing, more and more, about the overall trend of adding apartments and condos above stores in shopping mall space.

'Sort of'/Slightly similar (but not the same) to the 'mom and pop' stores underneath an attached apartment/flat.
In those days, mom could run the store and take care of the baby/young child/children while pop went out to work in another field.

Actually, it did make a lot of sense........two incomes while paying the mortgage, saving money (no childcare expenses), and working all at the same time.

But, of course, the stores are usually chains, and probably, if they are private stores/businesses, I'm only guessing that babies/children wouldn't be allowed (?)

'Anyway', it might be nice to be able to live above the stores and work 'downstairs', ( if financially feasible) for a couple and/or family. No commuting, etc.

Although, it would be a major renovation and inconvenience, (with all of the machinery, construction, etc.) for a community/neighborhood.

Something that would require a lot of patience.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

sidsmom — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 22:47:10 GMT

Here in Dallas, we have long standing enclosed mall

called NorthPark Mall. In the era of malls being torn down...

this mall keeps going & going! I swear they signed a deal

w/ the devil. It’s very active, very nice, near a very high wealth

part of town...and people still go there. Lots of nice, pricey

designer stores, as well as the old standbys.

Amazing how some areas make it & others don’t.

Really no rhyme or reason.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

TY — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 05:00:32 GMT

I grew up in a Tacoma, WA suburb and my mom used to work at Nordstrom at the Tacoma mall. I have fond memories of shopping there as a student but Nordstrom took forever to come to Vancouver, B.C. only 4 years ago and the store never lived up to the hype and reputation that preceeded their arrival.

I just visited my relatives in Tacoma and the drive down I-5 on Friday was a traffic nightmare, especially through Seattle and Tacoma. Downtown Seattle may only be 7 miles from Northgate but it took us 40 minutes in bumper to bumper traffic to navigate that stretch of I-5 and about the same amount of time to go from Federal Way to Tacoma, again in bumper to bumper traffic on I-5 due to ongoing freeway construction that has been going on for 6 years and counting. There is no way I would drive the interstate to get to any mall in the Seattle or Tacoma area. I can imagine that traffic like that would deter most people from driving to a mall too.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

AngelPuppy1 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 09:31:41 GMT

Thanks for posting this. Very, very, sad. Beyond sad, really. I see these articles and I just want to cry. I realize that people for the most part just want to stay home and shop. I get that a lot of people can't get out to shop and shopping on-line is really a God send. But even as I read these articles and I hear the news about all these stores and malls closing --- more and more all the time --- I just can't wrap my head around it.

I think --- don't people like to go to the malls any more??? I mean for me, it's never been all about just purely shopping. For me, for my family and friends, going to the mall, has been over the years, a social thing, a fun experience. We would get together, plan a mall trip, spend hours, window shopping, making a few purchases, having lunch and just people watching. I feel so sad that this part of American life seems to be ending.

I also feel very bad for people losing their jobs. And the closing of all of these stores and malls locally is so bad for the local economy.

Around me, we lost one very nice mall a few years ago. Another close mall is struggling and stores seems to be closing in it more and more. I don't know if it will make it.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

RainCityWoman — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 16:22:52 GMT

@TY wrote:
I grew up in a Tacoma, WA suburb and my mom used to work at Nordstrom at the Tacoma mall. I have fond memories of shopping there as a student but Nordstrom took forever to come to Vancouver, B.C. only 4 years ago and the store never lived up to the hype and reputation that preceeded their arrival.

I just visited my relatives in Tacoma and the drive down I-5 on Friday was a traffic nightmare, especially through Seattle and Tacoma. Downtown Seattle may only be 7 miles from Northgate but it took us 40 minutes in bumper to bumper traffic to navigate that stretch of I-5 and about the same amount of time to go from Federal Way to Tacoma, again in bumper to bumper traffic on I-5 due to ongoing freeway construction that has been going on for 6 years and counting. There is no way I would drive the interstate to get to any mall in the Seattle or Tacoma area. I can imagine that traffic like that would deter most people from driving to a mall too.

Depends on the time of day you are driving.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

SeaMaiden — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 16:26:29 GMT

I have not been to a mall in over 20 years. Why would I when I can click and ship?

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

Trinity11 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 16:30:57 GMT

Happy to say that malls in the tri-state area seem to be doing well. I enjoy walking in a mall where it is climate controlled. I prefer seeing what I am buying and since I am fussy about fit, trying things on make for no returns.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

ScrapHappy — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 16:44:09 GMT

@godi wrote:
Boy how we have changed. Gone are the days of being excited to go to the mall. Now we just click a few keys and viola it’s on your porch. Brick and mortar is slowly going away. 😢

My husband says this all the time.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

ScrapHappy — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 16:49:19 GMT

@TY wrote:
As Northgate mall loses its tenants, take a look at the photos about it on the Business Insider website.

https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-first-mall-northgate-mall-seattle-dying-photos-2019-7

Northgate was the first indoor enclosed mall in the U.S. and is being redeveloped but for now it looks like a ghost town.

Our local mall is struggling. So many stores are pulling out/not renewing their lease. There are plans to re-vamp and add a park and apartments/condos but that is years away and I worry what will be left by then. However, they continue to build "outdoor" malls, with very high end stores and prices. These also have swanky hotels next door and residences above the stores and townhomes. I really don't go there because it's too expensive. $10 for a small scoop of ice cream, $30 plus dollars for a small pizza and the clothing is way out of my price comfort.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

Ms tyrion2 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 17:05:11 GMT

I think people forget how changes in shopping patterns have occurred many times.

In the 60s and 70s when indoor malls became popular, people bemoaned the loss of "downtown" shopping.

...and for awhile, downtown areas were ghost towns.

Now, downtown areas are going through somewhat of a revival--at least they are here in the Phoenix area. Younger people are moving into new high rise apartments and condos that are near the business district.

Malls may have lived out the useful lives. Some will survive, but the cycle continues. Something new will be coming.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

Newgate — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 17:52:22 GMT

Same where I am! They just closed a nice little mall with a Macys and a JCPenney that was very close to me. That one broke my heart. I shopped there a lot over the years and now I have to travel a few miles further for both of those stores.

I love a good mall to walk around in. On line shopping is convenient but not as much fun!

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

RainCityWoman — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 17:57:02 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
I have not been to a mall in over 20 years. Why would I when I can click and ship?

I agree partially because driving around trying to locate what you're looking for is a pain. All you have to do is an online search and there it is. However, I am a hands on shopper for a lot of things, so I appreciate the brick and mortar stores as well. I also like the concept of shopping online and then picking the item up at the store without paying shipping or handling. Pier 1 is a place I do that with. It's very convenient. I also prefer to try on clothes and shoes before I buy them. I see nothing wrong with apartments or condos above the establishments, but then don't run the establishments out of the mall. I would think it would be advantageous to both residents and stores to have them all in the same complex.

I haven't heard anything about Westfield Mall at SouthCenter. They seem to be busy any time I've been there. It's tricky finding parking because it's so full. I haven't been up to Alderwood in over a year, so I don't know what their fate is either. I love shopping in downtown Seattle, but let's face it, there is no free parking there, unlike the malls.

Re: Northgate mall - Seattle

CANDLEQUEEN — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 18:25:48 GMT

Our local mall looks the same way-it isn't as big as this one, has only one story, but it used to be big business, had 4 big anchor stores and the little stores did huge business, but by and by all of the anchor stores closed and now there are a few small stores, along with a couple of chain stores inside, but it used to be on a Saturday Afternoon, you sometimes couldn't even find good parking, now take your pick!

Very sad, and they just revamped the inside, but unfortunately that is not going to help sales....A matter of time before it closes down for good-so sad!