7 replies to this topic

[lobster]

Downtown is now without a wicker papazan retailer ..
one is now left to ponder "where is one to get tangerine candles now?"




It's really too bad... I think it's a little premature, leaving before all the new residents across the street arrive... but I'm wondering if the move to close it has any relevance to their HQ vacating City Center? I had always figured anyone renting 14 full floors of one of the towers would get a nice fat retail space on the street as a bonus, aye?

[JBB]

Probably has less to do with that and more to do with their planned store at the MW development. Seeing as how that store won't open for several months, I would guess that the Sundance store was not very profitable.

[UrbanLandscape]

Whoa. That appeared to still be open just Saturday night.

[cberen1]

Unfortunately it causes me to wonder, yet again, about the viability of retail in downtown Fort Worth. Two attempts at a mall failed. Larry's Shoes is gone. Pier One is gone. Main Street Outfitters, gone. Adair Optical, gone.

Does anyone know about the financial health of the Barnes & Noble? What kind of retail can survive down here?

It seems like high-end specialty stores might be OK. (e.g. Haltom Jewelers, the Milan art gallery, the basket company, maybe Leddy's - time will tell). Maybe Pier One was too middle class (moderate margins, insufficient volume)?

[AdamB]

B&N does very well and is always packed. someone told me a while back that it was one of their better performin stores in the metroplex.

I dont think you will see anything but specialty retail until we get a good amount of residents downtown. It just isnt practical to drive downtown look for a parking spot to go pick up a few quick items.

[Sam Stone]

I don't remember exactly where I read this, I think it was in a ULI publication, but that high-end luxury retail is usually the best bet for revitalizing downtowns and that low-end or discount was a surefire way to fail. The retail history downtown seems to confirm this. Transforming Tandy into that Outlet Mall was a doomed venture. I think that until downtown residence picks up in a few years, you won't have a place like Pier 1. Furniture is different from other goods. It's heavy and bulky and people won't come from the burbs to buy it. Jewelry, clothing, books, etc. are easier to deal with.

I go up to Downtown Indianapolis once a week these days and they have a downtown mall (anchored by Nordstroms) and a substantial downtown population. Their downtown has supposedly gone through a similar decay and renaissance to FW--they're a few years ahead.

Anyway, I'm sure Sundance won't have a problem filling that spot if they're willing to go outside the retail box. With Pour House and Mikado closed it might be time for a new restaurant.