^
Can you let us know what the marketin' manager has to say?
Can you let us know what the marketin' manager has to say?
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jlblues wrote:^This is shocking...Union Station has a Marketing Manager?
You'd think t-shirt shops would sell themselves!
jlblues wrote:^This is shocking...Union Station has a Marketing Manager?
When I think of the Union Station marketing manager: I think of Kevin Bacon at the end of "Animal House" in the ROTC uniform during the riot yelling "Remain calm. All is well...All is well!!!!"
jlblues wrote:^This is shocking...Union Station has a Marketing Manager?
way too funny
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goat314 wrote:Union Station is a failed mall, because it was not intended to be a mall, it was intended to be a train station. Instead of building that ugly new Amtrak station, we should have found a way to reroute traffic into union station.
It's been a long time since I've been to Washington, so things may have changed, but their Union Station somehow manages to be a successful shopping destination AND a train station. Could it be that their train station automatically has a captive audience? I'm sure there are other factors, and I know it would've probably been prohibitively expensive to reconfigure our Union Station anyway, but I see the lack of trains there as a missed opportunity as well.
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dweebe wrote:jlblues wrote:^This is shocking...Union Station has a Marketing Manager?
When I think of the Union Station marketing manager: I think of Kevin Bacon at the end of "Animal House" in the ROTC uniform during the riot yelling "Remain calm. All is well...All is well!!!!"
These comments and the picture sums it all up, when I tell you the major announcement you will be shocked. So here it is..........The Hyatt is moving out and the Marriott is moving in!
Oh boy, have fun with this one. Do you think the only one who didn't know this or read the newspaper several weeks ago was guess who?
I bet the next major announcement is that the trains will no longer service Union Station
lamiaposta wrote:
These comments and the picture sums it all up, when I tell you the major announcement you will be shocked. So here it is..........The Hyatt is moving out and the Marriott is moving in!
Oh boy, have fun with this one. Do you think the only one who didn't know this or read the newspaper several weeks ago was guess who?
Did they say anything about "The Shed" and "Einstein Bros"? Since those are run by the Hyatt, will Marriott keep them?
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ThreeOneFour wrote:goat314 wrote:Union Station is a failed mall, because it was not intended to be a mall, it was intended to be a train station. Instead of building that ugly new Amtrak station, we should have found a way to reroute traffic into union station.
It's been a long time since I've been to Washington, so things may have changed, but their Union Station somehow manages to be a successful shopping destination AND a train station. Could it be that their train station automatically has a captive audience? I'm sure there are other factors, and I know it would've probably been prohibitively expensive to reconfigure our Union Station anyway, but I see the lack of trains there as a missed opportunity as well.
Amtrak in Washington would not allow St. Louis Union Station to keep trains because they insisted that the trains go straight through rather than pull in and pull out. Then when Washington refurbished their Union Station, Amtrak allowed pull in and pull out. Then they bragged that their Union Station was still being used as a train station.
Well, to be fair, Washington's Union Station does have straight through capability for 8 of its 22 tracks via the First Street tunnel. It just so happens that most Amtrak services on its Northeast corridor terminate in Washington. Our Union Station would have to be entirely pull-in, pull-out.Gary Kreie wrote:Amtrak in Washington would not allow St. Louis Union Station to keep trains because they insisted that the trains go straight through rather than pull in and pull out. Then when Washington refurbished their Union Station, Amtrak allowed pull in and pull out. Then they bragged that their Union Station was still being used as a train station.
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there is a depot here, but that's how it works(denver). but there are only two trains a day, east and west bound california zephyer. i've seen this thing go in and out, it takes about 20 minutes to back in. that's a long time when your train is already 3 hrs. late.
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Here is a short update on the happenings at Union Station. But first I have to say it is a shame the management at Union Station does not read Urban St Louis so they would not always be the last to know.
At end of July Todays News was required to close so a new place next to them called Gateway News could open with a non compete on the sundries. Same concept as Todays News, just a better job and a nicer store. I have to agree if you are going to have a 7-11 type of store in Union Station, this is a national group and knows probably what they are doing and will not look so ghetto like the Todays News.
Next on the forecast, CeCi who has 3 stores in Union Station (Ceci's, Ceci's Unique Gifts and Shoe "something, not sure of the name) just bought and closed on the Good Works Space on Washington. No word on what she is going to do with this space, but my guess is she will move out of St. Louis Union Station and combine all 3 stores into this new space. Makes sense and knowing how she operates, she will be going after the convention traffic. Less we forget, she was a long time merchant at the failed downtown mall and only moved out when they shut the place down completely. The Good Works space is just a few blocks away.
In the food court, a new place has opened called Nestles Cookies and Eddys Ice Cream. It is a frachise and they spent about $120,000 on opening this store. Way more than I would ever spend in Union Station. And to boot they are now competing with several of the other merchants who have been in Union Station for a while, by selling coffee, ice cream and sweets. So the pratice by Union Station management of slicing the pie smaller for merchants continues. But it looks as if they are done with the run on T shirts and now are taking a run on the sweet and coffee business.
On another note, I went to the Union Station web sight to look up the name of the shoe store, and it was not listed, but it was interesting to see how many of the stores that have closed or moved out are still listed. Once again, talk about denial or maybe the Marketing Department does not know who has moved out and who has moved in. Afterall they were the last to break the news on the Hyatt - Marriott change. I think this is how they justify the claim that there are 85 stores in Union Station, just have to count the ATM's, the Union Station tours, and stores that have closed.
At end of July Todays News was required to close so a new place next to them called Gateway News could open with a non compete on the sundries. Same concept as Todays News, just a better job and a nicer store. I have to agree if you are going to have a 7-11 type of store in Union Station, this is a national group and knows probably what they are doing and will not look so ghetto like the Todays News.
Next on the forecast, CeCi who has 3 stores in Union Station (Ceci's, Ceci's Unique Gifts and Shoe "something, not sure of the name) just bought and closed on the Good Works Space on Washington. No word on what she is going to do with this space, but my guess is she will move out of St. Louis Union Station and combine all 3 stores into this new space. Makes sense and knowing how she operates, she will be going after the convention traffic. Less we forget, she was a long time merchant at the failed downtown mall and only moved out when they shut the place down completely. The Good Works space is just a few blocks away.
In the food court, a new place has opened called Nestles Cookies and Eddys Ice Cream. It is a frachise and they spent about $120,000 on opening this store. Way more than I would ever spend in Union Station. And to boot they are now competing with several of the other merchants who have been in Union Station for a while, by selling coffee, ice cream and sweets. So the pratice by Union Station management of slicing the pie smaller for merchants continues. But it looks as if they are done with the run on T shirts and now are taking a run on the sweet and coffee business.
On another note, I went to the Union Station web sight to look up the name of the shoe store, and it was not listed, but it was interesting to see how many of the stores that have closed or moved out are still listed. Once again, talk about denial or maybe the Marketing Department does not know who has moved out and who has moved in. Afterall they were the last to break the news on the Hyatt - Marriott change. I think this is how they justify the claim that there are 85 stores in Union Station, just have to count the ATM's, the Union Station tours, and stores that have closed.
If Starbucks is closing in Union Station - as heard... I just got this email from Union Station Starbucks...
Wierd.
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Wierd.
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first time posting here, but I've been really interested in the situation at US.
I just don't see how the place can be struggling so badly. I was there last weekend and the place was just jam packed on Saturday evening. Yet, half the stores are empty. It just doesn't make much sense to me. It must be some serious mismanagement.
I just don't see how the place can be struggling so badly. I was there last weekend and the place was just jam packed on Saturday evening. Yet, half the stores are empty. It just doesn't make much sense to me. It must be some serious mismanagement.
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matguy70 wrote:If Starbucks is closing in Union Station - as heard... I just got this email from Union Station Starbucks...Wierd
Not that weird, since they still have to keep plugging away until they close. They have also experienced some new increased competition at Union Station. Einstein seems to have increased their business, the new Eddys Ice Cream & Nestle Toll House in the food court is selling coffee drinks and something similar to the Starbucks promotion and the new Gateways News Stand also has a grab and go coffee bar at cut rate prices. So we now have several places in the coffee business and the same amount of customers to divide up the pie. Four more reasons, or 4 more of the same reason to come to Union Station. Hey, what the heck, at least when all the good stuff moves out, the identity of Union Station will be much more clear, ie, t-shirts, junk food, bad coffee and sports stuff. That should be enough to make you come rushing to St. Louis Union Station.
omahacard79 wrote:first time posting here, but I've been really interested in the situation at US.
I just don't see how the place can be struggling so badly. I was there last weekend and the place was just jam packed on Saturday evening. Yet, half the stores are empty. It just doesn't make much sense to me. It must be some serious mismanagement.
Ah, one good night and 364 bad ones, do not make for a success. Believe it or not every once in a blue moon, Union Station gets busy. You came on that night. Try coming on a week day when there are no BIG conventions in St. Louis and you will see the problem.
In the middle of the night, Sunday 8/10, as security watched, two merchants escaped from St Louis Union Station before their sentence was up. They were Sunglasses & More and Personally Yours. Run by two young kids who had little respect for being a professional merchant and should have never been allowed to operate a kiosk in Union Station. This is now becoming the norm for merchants who operate on a temporary lease. When they have had enough or owe on their rent, they just pack up and leave. But not before they have siphoned off sales from the regular merchants who are here year round. I guess when you are desperate for merchants you will take a chance on anyone and anything that can be sold, regardless of the long term negative affect and in the mean time run out the good merchants.
On another note, it looks like another store is showing signs of leaving St Louis Union Station. All Tied Up, specializes in a large selection of funky ties and other items, has stopped receiving replacement inventory for some time now and only has left what you see on the sales floor. I noticed the floor inventory is showing some bare spots. Probably just not ready to tell their employees what is going on, but I think the employees already have a sneaky suspicion. Since there is no official word on their leaving, we will just have to wait for more sure signs of their departure.
I am betting they go. I think the tie market is rather soft these days, at least funky cheap ties, that coupled with a poor market at St Louis Union Station and don't see how they can survive too much longer.
On another note, it looks like another store is showing signs of leaving St Louis Union Station. All Tied Up, specializes in a large selection of funky ties and other items, has stopped receiving replacement inventory for some time now and only has left what you see on the sales floor. I noticed the floor inventory is showing some bare spots. Probably just not ready to tell their employees what is going on, but I think the employees already have a sneaky suspicion. Since there is no official word on their leaving, we will just have to wait for more sure signs of their departure.
I am betting they go. I think the tie market is rather soft these days, at least funky cheap ties, that coupled with a poor market at St Louis Union Station and don't see how they can survive too much longer.
I was in Union Station on Friday afternoon , and to my surprise the mall is now featuring a liquor store.
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Prophett wrote:I was in Union Station on Friday afternoon , and to my surprise the mall is now featuring a liquor store.
It is called Gateway News, hardly a liquor store, but a version of 7 - 11 which are known for selling lots of little bottles of booze and in the downtown market usually attracts the wrong clientèle's. It does seem they have chose to focus on the hard stuff, proudly displaying it in there front window and behind the cash register. Wonder why they keep all the booze behind the counter and out of reach of the customer. The last nice liquor store I shopped at had it out where you could get to it. Think they already foresee the problem. Seems a little seedy to me already. But after all, this is Union Station. But if you are looking for hard liquor, lottery tickets and junk food...Gateway News should be a regular stop for you. I bet you they take EBT payments.
Do they sell 40s and loosies? There just aren't enough places downtown where you can get a cold 40 and a coupla loosies to take back to the park.lamiaposta wrote:It is called Gateway News, hardly a liquor store, but a version of 7 - 11 which are known for selling lots of little bottles of booze and in the downtown market usually attracts the wrong clientèle's. It does seem they have chose to focus on the hard stuff, proudly displaying it in there front window and behind the cash register. Wonder why they keep all the booze behind the counter and out of reach of the customer. The last nice liquor store I shopped at had it out where you could get to it. Think they already foresee the problem. Seems a little seedy to me already. But after all, this is Union Station. But if you are looking for hard liquor, lottery tickets and junk food...Gateway News should be a regular stop for you. I bet you they take EBT payments.Prophett wrote:I was in Union Station on Friday afternoon , and to my surprise the mall is now featuring a liquor store.
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jlblues wrote:Do they sell 40s and loosies? There just aren't enough places downtown where you can get a cold 40 and a coupla loosies to take back to the park.lamiaposta wrote:It is called Gateway News, hardly a liquor store, but a version of 7 - 11 which are known for selling lots of little bottles of booze and in the downtown market usually attracts the wrong clientèle's. It does seem they have chose to focus on the hard stuff, proudly displaying it in there front window and behind the cash register. Wonder why they keep all the booze behind the counter and out of reach of the customer. The last nice liquor store I shopped at had it out where you could get to it. Think they already foresee the problem. Seems a little seedy to me already. But after all, this is Union Station. But if you are looking for hard liquor, lottery tickets and junk food...Gateway News should be a regular stop for you. I bet you they take EBT payments.Prophett wrote:I was in Union Station on Friday afternoon , and to my surprise the mall is now featuring a liquor store.
Yep, they sell the 40's and loosies. So you and the homeless should have no problem hanging out at the park for cocktails. So sad. But what the heck, this should bring in some customers to Union Station. It has been a while since the drunks at the park have had a nice place to shop. But why not hang out at the Union Station lake, it won't be as far to walk for refills.
^Cuz they ain't nobody in Union Station to give me and my homies change for my next 40, err, I mean for the bus. 
Pretty soon the Market entrance to US is going to look like the front of the 7-11 at 17th and Pine. This place is managing to make no progress in the right direction.
Thanks for the image.lamiaposta wrote:But why not hang out at the Union Station lake, it won't be as far to walk for refills.
I pictured the Lucas Park crew hanging out at Union Station Lake, with dozens of 'em bathing in the water, peeing off of the boardwalk, and sleeping on the paddleboats in the middle of the lake with all of the flotsam and jetsam from the most recent feeding drifting around them...and then the family in town from Little Rock going to dinner at Landry's or Hard Rock.
