Breaking news from the St. Louis Business Journal. Galleria and West Co. stores will close.
Can you imagine a move in the next year to blight these two malls?
Can you imagine a move in the next year to blight these two malls?
No, i really doubt you need to worry about blight. To be honest, I expect Macy's to announce at some point that Bloomingdales will move into those vacated spots. Though given the locaiton of LnT at the Galleria it would be a gret time to knock out that section of the mall and expand a new lifestyle center like development all the way to the brentwood sidewalks.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Nordstrom take over the Galleria space, although that would involve Federated selling their space to a rival.
Nordstroms already has space in this market and I am not sure that the west county story is doing well enough to make a second location viable. THough as I said, if Galleria made the upgrades i refered to above and created space for two more anchor tenants, one could see the combined power of an expanded galleria and boulavard development as enough of a carrot to lure nordstroms away from west county.
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Federated has already said that Bloomingdales will not open a store in the St. Louis market. Westfield will most likely purchase the Lord and Taylor building and turn it into more retail shops. Nordstrom has said that a 2nd store was a possibility for St. Louis, so maybe they will open up at the Galleria. If that doesn't happen then General Growth will probably by the building and build some sort of an expansion. There really aren't any other department stores to fill these vacancies. Neiman Marcus and Saks aren't going to move from Plaza Frontenac, and I do not see a Sears going into either of these malls. The last possibility that I can think of would be a Von Maur, but I haven't head anything about them looking at the St. Louis area.
^ While Federated has said that, in the long run I think you will see one added to the market. While Federated may stick to their notion that buyers in STL can't or won't handel the "upscale" merchandise at bloomingdales, I think you will find that much like nordstroms, they will carfuly test out midwest markets and come on in. Hopfuly the galleria will be in a great position to make them a home.
You guys are more optimistic than I on the enclosed shopping mall!
I think there is something to the idea to reconfigure the Galleria into a lifestyle center...make human (not auto) connections between it and surrounding places. Shoot, take the L&T space build a new high rise residence.
I think there is something to the idea to reconfigure the Galleria into a lifestyle center...make human (not auto) connections between it and surrounding places. Shoot, take the L&T space build a new high rise residence.
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I kinda saw this coming, since those stores are never really busy. I guess L&T were kept here for so long as because May's HQ was here.
I am hoping a Von Maur comes to town and takes the space at either mall, went to their stores in Bloomington, Chicago, and Indy, very nice stores and some nice merchandise!
I am hoping a Von Maur comes to town and takes the space at either mall, went to their stores in Bloomington, Chicago, and Indy, very nice stores and some nice merchandise!
Nordstrom take over the Galleria
Actually Nordstrom St. Louis sales were up in 2005 - I'll look for the source I read that from in January.
I could see Nordstroms expanding in St. Louis.
I heard they are putting in an indoor paintball course at both malls? Can anyone confirm this?
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matguy70 wrote:Nordstrom take over the Galleria
Actually Nordstrom St. Louis sales were up in 2005 - I'll look for the source I read that from in January.
I could see Nordstroms expanding in St. Louis.
The Saint Louis Galleria L&T site would be a great fit for Nordstrom.
And I would think there's a possibility Dillard's might give the L&T site at West County Center a closer look. Dillard's lease at Crestwood Plaza expires in 2007, and rumor has it that they were planning to leave their store regardless of Crestwood Plaza's future. I can't imagine them closing a store without a replacement, since they will compete well with Macy's just as they do with Famous-Barr...
Although the MainStreet at Sunset project is dead, I have still heard that Federated wants a free-standing Macy's somewhere in the general area of Crestwood Plaza. There has been talk of seriously revamping Crestwood Plaza, but I am surprised by the lack of action given the massive improvements that Westfield has made to other St. Louis area malls (South County, West County, and Chesterfield have all been expanded/renovated in the last five years).
I heard that Crestwood was one of the first, if not THE First, mall in st louis to have TWO department stores at one location (within a mall). And they were the first in the country to offer parking on two levels where one could "drive to the second level". Now, I'm no fan of suburban parking malls, but it did make me think that St. Louis was on the cutting edge of development 45 years ago.. Today, we're JUST getting our new urbanism BOULEVARD after places like... san antonio..
By "Boulevard" are you referencing the new shopping 'development' which includes Jerrods, PF Changs, and other crappy stores, across from the Galleria?
If so, I fail to see how this is New Urbanism when 90 percent of the people that shop here are parking in that horribly ugly and wasteful parking lot; hopefully Metrolink will reduce the dependency on that garage. I thought New Urbanism stresses the usage of public transport and reducing the usage of the automobile.
If so, I fail to see how this is New Urbanism when 90 percent of the people that shop here are parking in that horribly ugly and wasteful parking lot; hopefully Metrolink will reduce the dependency on that garage. I thought New Urbanism stresses the usage of public transport and reducing the usage of the automobile.
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Lord & Taylor closing at Galleria, West County malls
St. Louis Business Journal - March 10, 2006by Christopher Tritto
Federated will close five underperforming Lord & Taylor stores, including both stores in the St. Louis area. As many as 231 workers will lose their jobs as a result.
The Lord & Taylor stores at the Saint Louis Galleria in Richmond Heights and Westfield Shoppingtown West County will close their doors in late July or early August after they complete clearance sales scheduled to begin April 30, according to Federated.
Federated Department Stores sold its Lord & Taylor store in West County to Westfield. General Growth Properties, developer of the Galleria, has bought the Lord & Taylor at that mall, said Federated spokeswoman Sharon Bateman.
The Galleria location employs 114 people. It was opened in 1991 and occupies 115,000 square feet. The West County store has 117 employees and takes up 140,000 square feet. All employees will be eligible for severance and outplacement assistance.
Right Management Consultant, hired by Federated last fall, has been providing job placement assistance to Federated and former May Department Stores Co. employees affected by Federated's $17 billion acquisition of May last year.
Ryan Heaps, store manager at West County, could not be reached for comment.
Mark Steltzer, store manager at the Galleria, declined to comment on the announcement. Christopher Thau, a former Famous-Barr executive who owns his own store in St. Louis, said the closings are a big blow to West County mall and the Galleria. No other department store company is an obvious match to fill the space, he said.
Galleria General Manager Earl Dorsett said he is still gathering information about General Growth's plans for the space and provided no details. Sean Phillips, marketing director at Westfield West County, said Westfield is excited about the opportunity the store offers for development, but also shared no details about Westfield's plans.
In addition to the two St. Louis locations, Federated will close Lord & Taylor three other stores in Newark, Del.; Dearborn, Mich.; and Peabody, Mass. Those stores employ another 384 people combined. A sixth store in downtown Philadelphia is expected to close in June and then reopen Aug. 1 as a Macy's following some minor remodeling.
Federated performed a store-by-store analysis of Lord & Taylor as part of its divestiture process and determined it was not likely to find a buyer for the five stores slated for closing, Bateman said.
The 49 remaining Lord & Taylor stores in New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida and the District of Columbia will continue operating, though Federated said it expects to find a buyer for those properties by the end of this year.
Cincinatti-based Federated laid off 490 former May employees on March 1, primarily from May's corporate offices and May Merchandising Co., which were both headquartered in the Railway Exchange Building downtown. Federated plans to rebrand nearly all May stores, including Famous-Barr, to Macy's this year. But is said previously that it plans to sell the Lord & Taylor division, also acquired from May.
Can You Spell IKEA
St. Louis Business Journal - March 10, 2006by Christopher Tritto
Federated will close five underperforming Lord & Taylor stores, including both stores in the St. Louis area. As many as 231 workers will lose their jobs as a result.
The Lord & Taylor stores at the Saint Louis Galleria in Richmond Heights and Westfield Shoppingtown West County will close their doors in late July or early August after they complete clearance sales scheduled to begin April 30, according to Federated.
Federated Department Stores sold its Lord & Taylor store in West County to Westfield. General Growth Properties, developer of the Galleria, has bought the Lord & Taylor at that mall, said Federated spokeswoman Sharon Bateman.
The Galleria location employs 114 people. It was opened in 1991 and occupies 115,000 square feet. The West County store has 117 employees and takes up 140,000 square feet. All employees will be eligible for severance and outplacement assistance.
Right Management Consultant, hired by Federated last fall, has been providing job placement assistance to Federated and former May Department Stores Co. employees affected by Federated's $17 billion acquisition of May last year.
Ryan Heaps, store manager at West County, could not be reached for comment.
Mark Steltzer, store manager at the Galleria, declined to comment on the announcement. Christopher Thau, a former Famous-Barr executive who owns his own store in St. Louis, said the closings are a big blow to West County mall and the Galleria. No other department store company is an obvious match to fill the space, he said.
Galleria General Manager Earl Dorsett said he is still gathering information about General Growth's plans for the space and provided no details. Sean Phillips, marketing director at Westfield West County, said Westfield is excited about the opportunity the store offers for development, but also shared no details about Westfield's plans.
In addition to the two St. Louis locations, Federated will close Lord & Taylor three other stores in Newark, Del.; Dearborn, Mich.; and Peabody, Mass. Those stores employ another 384 people combined. A sixth store in downtown Philadelphia is expected to close in June and then reopen Aug. 1 as a Macy's following some minor remodeling.
Federated performed a store-by-store analysis of Lord & Taylor as part of its divestiture process and determined it was not likely to find a buyer for the five stores slated for closing, Bateman said.
The 49 remaining Lord & Taylor stores in New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida and the District of Columbia will continue operating, though Federated said it expects to find a buyer for those properties by the end of this year.
Cincinatti-based Federated laid off 490 former May employees on March 1, primarily from May's corporate offices and May Merchandising Co., which were both headquartered in the Railway Exchange Building downtown. Federated plans to rebrand nearly all May stores, including Famous-Barr, to Macy's this year. But is said previously that it plans to sell the Lord & Taylor division, also acquired from May.
Can You Spell IKEA
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I would like to see a Nordstroms goto the Galleria space, while West County gets a Von Maur or Parisian. It would make it more unique. I do like Von Maurs.
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I mentioned previously that Nordstrom would be a good fit for the s/t/b vacant L&T space at Saint Louis Galleria. Several people here mentioned Von Maur and Parisian. I like both of those stores, and I think the Saint Louis market would be a great fit for them. And where better to break into the market than the Galleria or West County Center?
I would think that Dillard's might be interested in a closer look at the s/t/b vacant West County Center L&T. Rumors have indicated for at least a year now that Dillard's wants out of their Crestwood Plaza store, and I have heard that their lease there expires in 2007.
I suppose Dillard's could build a free-standing store in the general area (Sunset Hills? Fenton? Kirkwood?) somewhere, as Famous-Barr wanted to to replace their Crestwood store before the Federated buyout of MayCo and the collapse of the Novus MainStreet @ Sunset proposal. However, West County Center isn't that far from Crestwood Plaza, and it would give Dillard's another location to take on JCPenney and Macy's directly.
I realize Dillard's is pulling out of a mall (Jamestown) in which they compete directly with Macy's (Famous Barr) and Sears- but I think there's no doubt that a West County Center location would be profitable long-term for the company. Nor do I think Dillard's will pull out of the market altogether as some have suggested- since they are updating and expanding their Saint Clair Square location in Fairview Heights.
(Off-topic) For those that know Philadelphia, the Lord and Taylor in downtown Philadelphia mentioned in the STLBJ article was originally Wanamaker's. May Company acquired the chain, along with then-rival Strawbridge and Clothier, in the mid-1990s. As part of Federated's realignment, it looks like Strawbridge's will close completely while the Wanamaker's/L&T building will carry on as a Macy's.
I wish Federated hadn't decided to close the local Lord and Taylor stores, just because there's a chance a new buyer could've repositioned the stores. At least I do think the two vacancies bring good possibilities for re-use, and in these two malls, they shouldn't be vacant for long.
I would think that Dillard's might be interested in a closer look at the s/t/b vacant West County Center L&T. Rumors have indicated for at least a year now that Dillard's wants out of their Crestwood Plaza store, and I have heard that their lease there expires in 2007.
I suppose Dillard's could build a free-standing store in the general area (Sunset Hills? Fenton? Kirkwood?) somewhere, as Famous-Barr wanted to to replace their Crestwood store before the Federated buyout of MayCo and the collapse of the Novus MainStreet @ Sunset proposal. However, West County Center isn't that far from Crestwood Plaza, and it would give Dillard's another location to take on JCPenney and Macy's directly.
I realize Dillard's is pulling out of a mall (Jamestown) in which they compete directly with Macy's (Famous Barr) and Sears- but I think there's no doubt that a West County Center location would be profitable long-term for the company. Nor do I think Dillard's will pull out of the market altogether as some have suggested- since they are updating and expanding their Saint Clair Square location in Fairview Heights.
(Off-topic) For those that know Philadelphia, the Lord and Taylor in downtown Philadelphia mentioned in the STLBJ article was originally Wanamaker's. May Company acquired the chain, along with then-rival Strawbridge and Clothier, in the mid-1990s. As part of Federated's realignment, it looks like Strawbridge's will close completely while the Wanamaker's/L&T building will carry on as a Macy's.
I wish Federated hadn't decided to close the local Lord and Taylor stores, just because there's a chance a new buyer could've repositioned the stores. At least I do think the two vacancies bring good possibilities for re-use, and in these two malls, they shouldn't be vacant for long.
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I wish Federated hadn't decided to close the local Lord and Taylor stores, just because there's a chance a new buyer could've repositioned the stores. At least I do think the two vacancies bring good possibilities for re-use, and in these two malls, they shouldn't be vacant for long.
Macys did a store by store analysis of Lord and Taylor in preparing to sell the chain. After reviewing the analysis, they decided that the St. Louis stores would not be appealing to whoever the purchaser of the Lord and Taylor chain is because of underperforming sales. I think it is a good thing Lord and Taylor is leaving; really they were nothing more then a smaller Famous Barr. These vacancies will allow for better concepts to enter the St. Louis market.
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WayOff-topic) For those that know Philadelphia, the Lord and Taylor in downtown Philadelphia mentioned in the STLBJ article was originally namaker's. May Company acquired the chain, along with then-rival Strawbridge and Clothier, in the mid-1990s. As part of Federated's realignment, it looks like Strawbridge's will close completely while the Wanamaker's/L&T building will carry on as a Macy's.
Way off topic...I believe this is the same store that houses the pipe organ that was built for Festival Hall at the STL Worlds Fair?
Way off topic...I believe this is the same store that houses the pipe organ that was built for Festival Hall at the STL Worlds Fair?
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The going out of business sale and clearance has been going on for a few months now...not sure how much longer...
btw...I happen to think the boulevard is great... its not true to new urbanism but it's not in the city... Its one of the nicest (IMO) infill commercial constructtion projects anywhere in the metro. If you knock it i guess just don't get it...
btw...I happen to think the boulevard is great... its not true to new urbanism but it's not in the city... Its one of the nicest (IMO) infill commercial constructtion projects anywhere in the metro. If you knock it i guess just don't get it...
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Officially it ends June 30th but most of the merchandise is already picked over.
Nordstrom's did a walk through recently.
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Report from Des Peres web site on Lord and Taylors building at West County mall.
Redevelopment of the Lord & Taylor building at West County Center
At the July 24, 2006 meeting, the Board of Aldermen received a report from the Planning & Zoning Commission relating to redevelopment of the Lord & Taylor building at Westfield Shoppingtown West County, introduced three ordinances relating to approval of that redevelopment and set a public hearing on the proposed changes for August 14th. The changes proposed would convert the 140,000 sq ft department store into additional mall space allow for subdivision of the space for up to four (4) mini-anchors, small retail shops and restaurants. Minor expansion of the building and the Manchester Road parking garage will be included so that the net effect of the redevelopment is to maintain the gross leasable square footage of the mall. Display boards for the project are on display in the lobby of city hall.
http://www.desperesmo.org/CivicAlerts.asp?AID=43
Redevelopment of the Lord & Taylor building at West County Center
At the July 24, 2006 meeting, the Board of Aldermen received a report from the Planning & Zoning Commission relating to redevelopment of the Lord & Taylor building at Westfield Shoppingtown West County, introduced three ordinances relating to approval of that redevelopment and set a public hearing on the proposed changes for August 14th. The changes proposed would convert the 140,000 sq ft department store into additional mall space allow for subdivision of the space for up to four (4) mini-anchors, small retail shops and restaurants. Minor expansion of the building and the Manchester Road parking garage will be included so that the net effect of the redevelopment is to maintain the gross leasable square footage of the mall. Display boards for the project are on display in the lobby of city hall.
http://www.desperesmo.org/CivicAlerts.asp?AID=43
