Where are the Malls?

[stephenc]

Now, I don't know about The Avenues or Regency, but the Orange Park Mall just finish a renovation in 2007. The inside is completely different with a renovated food court and adding Dick's Sporting Goods in between Penny's and Belk.

[Steve]

Avenues was renovated in 2006 - similar look as the OP mall

[SanMarcoResident]

Warm in Winter?  Huh?  It barely gets cold enough here to wear a sweater? 

SJTC is great because you can put your items in your car right after you shop rather than having to hike in/out from the parking lot like at the Avenues. It is much nicer to get a breath of fresh air between stores - especially in the evening.  Not everyone has to be contained in a concrete pod while they shop.  You can park in front of your favorite store or eatery and then walk outside.  If you want to go to a different part of the mall, then just move your car - it's much easier than at the enclosed mall - where you have to schlep your packages from end to end.  Much more of a festival atmosphere too.  And the screaming kids voices don't echo throughout the entire place.  I'll never go to an enclosed mall again!

And what happened to Regency? The only decent store there is Belk.  Dillard's is a zoo with clothes strewn everywhere and half the dressing rooms are closed.  And the rest of the stores are all full of cheap urban hip bling and clothes only a handful of the city population would ever consider wearing.  What happened?

[apvbguy]

Warm in Winter?  Huh?  It barely gets cold enough here to wear a sweater? 

SJTC is great because you can put your items in your car right after you shop rather than having to hike in/out from the parking lot like at the Avenues. It is much nicer to get a breath of fresh air between stores - especially in the evening.  Not everyone has to be contained in a concrete pod while they shop.  You can park in front of your favorite store or eatery and then walk outside.  If you want to go to a different part of the mall, then just move your car - it's much easier than at the enclosed mall - where you have to schlep your packages from end to end.  Much more of a festival atmosphere too.  And the screaming kids voices don't echo throughout the entire place.  I'll never go to an enclosed mall again!

And what happened to Regency? The only decent store there is Belk.  Dillard's is a zoo with clothes strewn everywhere and half the dressing rooms are closed.  And the rest of the stores are all full of cheap urban hip bling and clothes only a handful of the city population would ever consider wearing.  What happened?

I don't know when you go to the sjtc but whenever I go there I need to park nowhere near the stores, the place is a raging success and I think there will be serious traffic issues there. regency has little going for it, and it is in a downward spiral that it may never recover from, why go there for substandard stores and a less than secure area when better options exist?

[thelakelander]

Regency is outdated and needs a makeover.  If that doesn't happen, its going to eventually follow the path of decline that killed Philips, Gateway, Normandy and Roosevelt Malls.

[KenFSU]

I'd absolutely love to see a vibrant downtown core as much as anyone, but I still really enjoy going to the Town Center and thinks it's great for Jacksonville. Opinions on how terrible the SJTC is are subjective, but the numbers are not. The place has been a huge success for Jacksonville and has done nothing but good for our local economy.

[fatcat]

I absolutely hate SJTC. It is sooooo artificial. a mall is honest to be a collection of shoppes. What is a "town center" an artificial new "down town" without the history or a down town want to be without the soul.

if i need to buy something, i go to the specific store that is nearest to my house and that's it. I do all my window shopping on line 

[BridgeTroll]

thats nice... I am not a mall person either but you are clearly in the minority regarding SJTC.  The few times I have been there it has been packed.  Stores full of people having a good time.  Restaraunts full with waiting lines.

[Matt]

I'm starting a petition....BRING IKEA TO JACKSONVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll second that. I just went to the one in Orlando this past Sunday, and it was pretty spectacular.
My question is where to put it?

[Joe]

I'm starting a petition....BRING IKEA TO JACKSONVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll second that. I just went to the one in Orlando this past Sunday, and it was pretty spectacular.
My question is where to put it?

Sadly, Ikea will never come to Jacksonville (barring a radical change in store philosophy). We are already in the "market area" of their Orlando store, so they wouldn't even consider us for a store of our own. Ikea knows that people will drive a couple hours to get to their stores.

For example, Columbus and Indianapolis also won't get any IKEA's because they are both within the market area of Cincinnati's new IKEA.

[Orlanta]

Actually, I was just going to say that SJTC has really positioned itself to be the upscale destination for Jax, unfortunately. I'm surprised that Jax does not have the demographic makeup, with such a high average salary.

Ock, that list you made pretty much sums up why lifestyle centers are going to be just a new urbanism fad. However, I think Jax has excellent quality shopping in comparison to my current city of residence and to many others in the Southeast.

I just want to point out that these "lifestyle centers" are in no way, shape or form new urbanism.  New urbanism is essentially just about building traditional neighborhoods where people can live and conduct much of their routine activities without needing a car.  These "lifestyle centers" obviously do not meet that criteria and are just a new version of sprawl.

[Beloki]

Regency should be demolished and that would be a great area for a new huge IKEA and other venues that could flock herds of people....
Problem here is the locust strategy: cheaper to start a new strip mall than to rennovate existing ones.....

[jason_contentdg]

Sadly, Ikea will never come to Jacksonville (barring a radical change in store philosophy). We are already in the "market area" of their Orlando store, so they wouldn't even consider us for a store of our own. Ikea knows that people will drive a couple hours to get to their stores.

For example, Columbus and Indianapolis also won't get any IKEA's because they are both within the market area of Cincinnati's new IKEA.

Tampa's not very far at all from Orlando...

[thelakelander]

^It really doesn't get any closer than those two.  My guess is that if there is a market for them, they will come.  If not, they won't.

[jason_contentdg]

^ Exactly.  If they start seeing enough store/internet/catalog sales from Jacksonville, Savannah, Gainesville, Tallahassee then they will open one up.