topic Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT in Among Friends

MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

Shanus — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 12:34:14 GMT

I had a return at Nordstrom and dreaded the crowds, parking far away, etc. There was no one there...you could hear crickets!! Sales associates were standing around or straightening counters, folding clothing, but no customers to help.

I walked around from 7-9...no one. There were a few couples at Starbucks, but even the restaurants were almost empty. The stores have their sales in full force and are advertising their Cyber Monday, Black Friday and early discounts, but still no shoppers.

Is it true that everyone's really shopping online? I know, for me, I'm tiring of flipping through the racks, finding what I like...then not available in my size or color. Online, I go straight to my category, size, color, click, put in necessary payment info and finished in 10 minutes...still wearing my pjs. Evidently a lot of others are doing the same.

The mall store are piled high w/ inventory. I can see why B&M stores cannot compete w/ online convenience.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

AuntG — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 12:54:26 GMT

My friend shops a lot after 7 pm and says it is the best time. DH and I will go one evening and finish our Christmas shopping. We pick a night when stores are open until midnight - usually the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

Group 5 minus 1 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 12:59:19 GMT

We have several malls in Grand Rapids and I cannot remember the last time we were at a mall. Our malls have become a hang out for teens.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

FrostyBabe1 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 13:08:28 GMT

I’ve been at both a large “upscale” mall in Sarasota and an outlet mall near Bradenton in the past week, and both were busy. Not cram packed full, but busy. The outlet mall had all of their Black Friday specials and pricing in place already but I still only found a few things that interested me.

I do do think that more people do most of their shopping on line. I know that I do. It’s certainly more convenient.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

FrostyBabe1 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 13:12:30 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
We have several malls in Grand Rapids and I cannot remember the last time we were at a mall. Our malls have become a hang out for teens.

Respectfully, how do you know that they’re teen hangouts if you haven’t been there? When I’m home, if I’m going to shop in a store, I drive up to GR to the malls. Lots more to choose from and I’ve never seen crowds of teens.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

jackthebear — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 13:22:40 GMT

malls here are always busy

I actually like to shop in person, I want it now and like to try on

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

Shanus — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 13:28:26 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
malls here are always busy

I actually like to shop in person, I want it now and like to try on

@jackthebear I agree, but for example, Nordstrom has been running 40% off online and only a few sale racks in the store. I like to go to some stores, try on or feel fabrics. If I need a smaller size, I shop for it online. With free ship and free returns, nothing to lose.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

LonestarBabs — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 13:32:42 GMT

Our malls are pretty busy, but one long-established upscale mall is now being sued to request they close part of their parking garage because of street racing that endangers people walking to/from their cars.

A few malls are being repurposed into multi-use developments, one has been torn down for years and the removal of rubble has languished. The vitality ebbs and flows as the population shifts in this rapidly growing area (adding 100K people a year for the past 10 years).

I become irritated with brick and mortar stores when an item I want to see and feel isn't available in the store -- only available online or ship to store.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

haddon9 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 13:33:47 GMT

I mostly shop online and have done so for years. I haven't been to my local mall for a very long time but I never really liked it all that much. Even the Macy's there is considered a lower performing one.

However I will occasionally go to Quakerbridge in NJ or KOP in PA. Both are nice high end malls and KOP is HUGE...there is just about every high end store there including department stores...plus great restaurants! Depending on the time of day it can get quite crowded.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

chrystaltree — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 14:23:20 GMT

Malls aren't what they once were. They are all thin on customers now. But 7-9 isn't prime shopping hours in the middle of the week. The Christmas rush hasn't begun yet. Online shopping is indeed the way to go. I like that the whole world is at my finger tips. A few clicks and I find exactly what I want. I'm not confined by what is on the racks. A few clicks and in a week or so, it's at my door.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

Lipstickdiva — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 14:55:09 GMT

Our malls and restaurants are very crowded on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including the outdoor malls. During the week, not so much. Once Thanksgiving is over, evening shopping will really pick up.

I used take a day off of work and shop during the day for Christmas. Generally the stores were pretty dead.

As an aside, DH and I were in Nashville last weekend and we had to drive by Opry Mills on the way to our hotel and that parking lot was jam packed everytime we drove by it. On our way there and back we also drove past an outlet mall in Columbus and one in Cincinnati and both appeared to have good crowds on Friday and Sunday.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

Shanus — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 15:10:03 GMT

Our outlet mall and discount stores are jammed. Folks are watching their dollars more closely.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

Sooner — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 15:19:13 GMT

I think dept. stores that survive will go more the route of a Talbots store. Smaller, big presence online, and in-store online ordering that the staff can do or you can also do in store.

That way you can see a lot of the merchandise, pick out what you want, try things on, see and feel it, then find out if you can get it online. You or the clerk orders and in a few days it's at your door.

BUT you can also find things in-store, know in advance what is in the store and reserve it. For emergencies or convenience. They have the best of all worlds.

Our Talbots is always busy! I order online a lot and take back what doesn't fit to the store and never have gotten anything but pleasant clerks to take my returns.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

x Hedge — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:00:33 GMT

I never go to malls. I've avoided them for many years. They really bug me.

I will go to stand alone stores though.

I'm increasingly shopping online and I'm finding I prefer it. I'm often shopping at the online version of B&M chains, so don't see that as competing with them.

Never bought anything through Amazon though. They are the online version of a mall, and it likewise bugs me.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

Group 5 minus 1 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:26:25 GMT

How do we know? We've been there.When I say "the last time" I cannot remember but I know there were lots of teens. I think the TV stations also reported on this.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

Suzeecat — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:38:21 GMT

I have a very nice outdoor mall near me that I enjoy wandering around, although I don't do much spending. They decorate beautifully for the season and have music playing and fires crackling and it's very dog friendly. They also have a theatre and lots of nice restaurants. However, they recently lost two of their biggest stores, Carson's and Nordstrom. I hope they find good replacements.

There's another indoor mall nearby that is so empty it's creepy. The stores that are left appear to be mom & pop-owned second-hand type stuff. It's so empty inside I feel a little unsafe, and honestly, depressed. The only restaurants are the food court type. The city is looking at repurposing the mall some way or another. It's a shame, because the whole city was built around it back in the heyday of malls.

I do the vast majority of my shopping at stand-alone stores (Target, Kohl's, Meijer) and on line. I steer clear of the malls if at all possible. They're just too overwhelming to me. Too much sensory overload and I can't think straight.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

FlowerBear — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 17:03:01 GMT

In the next town over we go to sometimes the malls have all closed there!! It is sad.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

deeva — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 17:05:12 GMT

Our mall is always busy. Especially in the summer when it's 100+ degrees every day.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

panda1234 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 19:04:27 GMT

@FrostyBabe1 wrote:
@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:
We have several malls in Grand Rapids and I cannot remember the last time we were at a mall. Our malls have become a hang out for teens.
Respectfully, how do you know that they’re teen hangouts if you haven’t been there? When I’m home, if I’m going to shop in a store, I drive up to GR to the malls. Lots more to choose from and I’ve never seen crowds of teens.

@FrostyBabe1 I don't go to our mall either. Our local paper had a notice that our mall was asking kids 17 and under to leave after 5pm if they were not with an adult. I guess this has become a problem just over the last several years.

Re: MALL EMPTY LAST NIGHT

Anonymous032819 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 19:27:12 GMT

Malls are a dying breed.

They are (very) quickly becoming a thing of the past.

They are an antiquated way of shopping.

They had their hay-day (hey-day?) in the sun, but time marches on, and the only constant, is change.