While I'm sure we are not the most affluent city around, we sure do have a hell hell of a lot of money in StL. More than most think, I believe. I agree with wheels. This store would be able to survive here. I can't tell you how many people I met in hs with more than enough of their fair share of the trendy gear.
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I also think St. Louis could support a Bloomingdale's. I'd guess the odds of one opening here are pretty slim, but I figure it can't be entirely ruled out given the demographics and disposable income within our region, along with the significant presence Macy's has maintained following the buyout of May Company.
I assume Nordstrom at the Galleria is still moving forward based on CK's post from September? Another area location would be great!
I assume Nordstrom at the Galleria is still moving forward based on CK's post from September? Another area location would be great!
- 11K
If the Plaza Frontenac expands (as it might with Shriner's Hospital's move to the city) I think Bloomingdales would work well there. Otherwise, I'm not sure if there's a location that could support it. A downtown location would be great, but I'm sure I'm way ahead of things there.
Seven locations in St. Louis would be decent for a Bloomingdale's:
1a. Galleria- Lots of space to expand and lots of foot traffic and the mall if pretty high end too. Would the recent negative publicity drag down the two decade label as the regions top mall?
1b. West County Mall- Probably not enough space unless they out kicked JC Penny's , but the mall generates good foot traffic and is balanced between older and newer affluent areas.
3. Plaza Frontenac- Space to expand and it is a high end mall, but perhaps not enough foot traffic.
4. Downtown Clayton- I am sure Clayton would throw tons of incentives to bring them in and Bloomies does like the urban setting. The question is, would a Bloomies be an attraction enough to draw people to shop away from a mall?
5.Chesterfield Mall- Wealth moves (and is moving) west. Look no further than the high end car dealerships in the Valley.
6. CWE- Good foot traffic and employment base, but the same basic questions as downtown Clayton: would shoppers trek to the CWE just to shop at Bloomingdale's? Sadly, I just don't see it.
7. Downtown Creve Coeur- Call me crazy, but if Creve Coeur really wanted to make a splash for their developing downtown, a Bloomingdales might just do it. The downtown is well located with an expanding office core , great highway access, and a good location to draw the wealthy from west and east. But once again, what about the non-mall location; would it work?
Of the above options, while I would love to see the CWE, from an urbanist perspective I would rather see either downtown Clayton or the Galleria. The old Famous Barr building in Clayton would make a good location for a store and with the number of high end retail and residential developments at the eastern tip of Clayton, it might just work. Yet, if Bloomingdale's is going to expand into st. Louis, I just don't think they would be willing to take a chance away from a main mall. Given that belief, rather the Bloomingdales be at the centrally located Galleria rather than encouraging more shopping sprawl further west and locate out at West County or shudder Chesterfield Mall.
1a. Galleria- Lots of space to expand and lots of foot traffic and the mall if pretty high end too. Would the recent negative publicity drag down the two decade label as the regions top mall?
1b. West County Mall- Probably not enough space unless they out kicked JC Penny's , but the mall generates good foot traffic and is balanced between older and newer affluent areas.
3. Plaza Frontenac- Space to expand and it is a high end mall, but perhaps not enough foot traffic.
4. Downtown Clayton- I am sure Clayton would throw tons of incentives to bring them in and Bloomies does like the urban setting. The question is, would a Bloomies be an attraction enough to draw people to shop away from a mall?
5.Chesterfield Mall- Wealth moves (and is moving) west. Look no further than the high end car dealerships in the Valley.
6. CWE- Good foot traffic and employment base, but the same basic questions as downtown Clayton: would shoppers trek to the CWE just to shop at Bloomingdale's? Sadly, I just don't see it.
7. Downtown Creve Coeur- Call me crazy, but if Creve Coeur really wanted to make a splash for their developing downtown, a Bloomingdales might just do it. The downtown is well located with an expanding office core , great highway access, and a good location to draw the wealthy from west and east. But once again, what about the non-mall location; would it work?
Of the above options, while I would love to see the CWE, from an urbanist perspective I would rather see either downtown Clayton or the Galleria. The old Famous Barr building in Clayton would make a good location for a store and with the number of high end retail and residential developments at the eastern tip of Clayton, it might just work. Yet, if Bloomingdale's is going to expand into st. Louis, I just don't think they would be willing to take a chance away from a main mall. Given that belief, rather the Bloomingdales be at the centrally located Galleria rather than encouraging more shopping sprawl further west and locate out at West County or shudder Chesterfield Mall.
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I don't see Bloomingdale's coming to St. Louis anytime soon. St. Louis is already covered well with high end department stores; Nordstrom (2), Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Bloomingdales would only take away business from these stores, there is nothing you can get at Bloomingdales that you can not at these other stores. Also, if Macys Inc. was going to open a Bloomingdale's in St. Louis, they would have done it when they closed the Lord and Taylor at the Galleria. But, by selling and allowing Nordstrom to build there to me says that Bloomingdales does not have any plans for a St. Louis store.
- 11K
^^ the old Famous Barr in Clayton might be a good location, but it's now owned by Washington University and I don't believe they're looking to sell (understatement).
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Agreed Grover. WashU will probably end up selling the building but not to another store looking to occupy the building. We've talked about that building being sold to a developer looking to build a highrise on the plot. It makes more sense to me.
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There is a Penny's at West County? I haven't noticed considering I won't shop there. Don't know why. Maybe the should kick them out and put in a Bloomingdales.
Also when is this project supposed to start?
Also when is this project supposed to start?
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wheelscomp wrote:Agreed Grover. WashU will probably end up selling the building but not to another store looking to occupy the building. We've talked about that building being sold to a developer looking to build a highrise on the plot. It makes more sense to me.
Even this will take time. There are approximately 400 WU employees in the buildings. IF some could relocate to an expanded North Campus and a new Alumni and Development office were to be built on the Danforth Campus (IF this happens it will likely be 10-20 years down the road), then maybe they'll sell it. If nothing else, maybe the large parking lot closer to Bally - and Bally itself - could be used for a highrise.
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By Joe Whittington
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
03/27/2008
galleria changes: Nordstrom isn't at the St. Louis Galleria yet, but the mall already is feeling its presence in the reconfiguration.
The St. Louis Bread Co. store at the mall is moving "in a couple of weeks" to make room in the reconfiguration, according to company spokesman Andrew Carlson.
"We will be moving to a location close to where we are now, is what I understand," said Carlson.
Carlson said it appears that some other locations in the mall will be affected with the addition of the upscale retailer.
J. Crew is also being added to the Galleria mix, penciled in where the old Kenneth Cole clothing and accessories store was, between the Gymboree and the Sigrid Olsen locations.
The J. Crew chain has a store at Plaza Frontenac.
"We're in the process of reconfiguring, and I can't say much," said mall general manager Earl Dorsett. "We're demolishing the old Lord & Taylor for the Nordstrom right now.
"We have an agreement with J. Crew, but I don't think they have announced it yet."
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/busine ... enDocument
Demolition of the Lord&Taylor building has started. It's a big mess but it's great progress.
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I drove by last night and it is a sight! It is so great that Nordstrom's is investing money into this project instead of just updating the interior of the existing building!
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I'm glad Nordstrom is adding a store at the Galleria, but why exactly was it necessary to demolish the old Lord and Taylor store, which was less than 20 years old?
I wouldn't imagine that the Nordstrom which will occupy that site will be much different, i.e., it will probably have two or three levels with roughly the same amount of selling space as Lord and Taylor.
I wouldn't imagine that the Nordstrom which will occupy that site will be much different, i.e., it will probably have two or three levels with roughly the same amount of selling space as Lord and Taylor.
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^ Everyone is changing their avatars lately just to show off that they can do it.
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ThreeOneFour wrote:I'm glad Nordstrom is adding a store at the Galleria, but why exactly was it necessary to demolish the old Lord and Taylor store, which was less than 20 years old?
I wouldn't imagine that the Nordstrom which will occupy that site will be much different, i.e., it will probably have two or three levels with roughly the same amount of selling space as Lord and Taylor.
The new Nordstrom is going to be 30,000 square feet larger then the former Lord and Taylor store. Also, I think that the Galleria may add a new little wing attaching to the Nordstrom to add some new small store space.
they need to do something about the connectivity between the Galleria and the MetroLink stop. The "sidewalk" currently in use is absurd and dangerous.
Isn't there already a Nordstrom store at West County Center? And if so, it would seem that the close proximity of the two malls might create a competition for customers, with West County most likely being the loser.
But that might encourage people that take public transportation to patronize the Galleria!TB1000 wrote:they need to do something about the connectivity between the Galleria and the MetroLink stop. The "sidewalk" currently in use is absurd and dangerous.
Isn't there already a Nordstrom store at West County Center? And if so, it would seem that the close proximity of the two malls might create a competition for customers, with West County most likely being the loser.
Yes, there is a Nordstrom's at West County Mall but it is a different class store. The Nordstrom's being built at the Galleria will be a Class A store and if you have ever been to one you should know there is a HUGE difference (not just in size) between the one the Galleria will have and the one West County Mall has. In the end, West County Mall will be the loser, as it should be.
^ Bingo. My wife likes shopping at Nordstroms but hates the West County store because it the selection of stuff just isn't there.
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I have noticed little or NO work being done on this the past few months...here's why...
Nordstrom at Galleria is on hold until fall of 2011
Business columnist Joe Whittington (Post-Dispatch)By Joe Whittington
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
12/11/2008
Upscale department store Nordstrom has put its St. Louis Galleria store in layaway, moving back its intended opening date to fall of 2011 rather than 2010.
The Seattle-based chain, which suffered a 16 percent drop in sales in November, had previously altered the opening schedule for stores in Las Vegas; Long Island, N.Y.; Sarasota, Fla.; and Nashville, Tenn.
The stores in Las Vegas, Long Island and Sarasota were slated for malls that have not been built. The one in Nashville was planned for an existing mall, but construction of the store has been delayed until the economy turns around.
General Growth Properties, owner of the Galleria, already has made a big investment to accommodate St. Louis' second Nordstrom (The other is at West County).
READ MORE HERE
Nordstrom at Galleria is on hold until fall of 2011
Business columnist Joe Whittington (Post-Dispatch)By Joe Whittington
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
12/11/2008
Upscale department store Nordstrom has put its St. Louis Galleria store in layaway, moving back its intended opening date to fall of 2011 rather than 2010.
The Seattle-based chain, which suffered a 16 percent drop in sales in November, had previously altered the opening schedule for stores in Las Vegas; Long Island, N.Y.; Sarasota, Fla.; and Nashville, Tenn.
The stores in Las Vegas, Long Island and Sarasota were slated for malls that have not been built. The one in Nashville was planned for an existing mall, but construction of the store has been delayed until the economy turns around.
General Growth Properties, owner of the Galleria, already has made a big investment to accommodate St. Louis' second Nordstrom (The other is at West County).
READ MORE HERE
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The geniuses have already begun weighing in:
jack2008 December 11, 2008 3:41AM CST
Wonder if the 300% increase in crime at the Gallaria also contributed to Nordstroms decession to delay the project.
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^ I think we're going to make it your unofficial duty to monitor the STLtoday.com comment sections and report the worst comments to those us here that cannot stand to read that rubbish anymore. 
What can one say when this is another case of disappointing yet not unexpected news? With other Nordstrom openings being delayed at this time, clearly this is no indication of any lack of confidence in the Saint Louis Galleria or for the idea of adding another store to the market.
In the meantime, I sure wish the Internet Tough Guy on STLtoday.com would share the source of his crime statistics for the Galleria!
What can one say when this is another case of disappointing yet not unexpected news? With other Nordstrom openings being delayed at this time, clearly this is no indication of any lack of confidence in the Saint Louis Galleria or for the idea of adding another store to the market.
In the meantime, I sure wish the Internet Tough Guy on STLtoday.com would share the source of his crime statistics for the Galleria!