Even if 15% of the people going to the mall are only going there because of the Apple store (possible, but unclear because sales numbers do not tell that story one way or another - when all you sell is small, expensive electronics, your sales per customer will tend to be astronomical) there’s still the other 85%.
Growing up, Crabtree was my mall. I think that 90s character still brings me so much comfort, especially since North Hills is now all glossy and beige. Honestly, the mall used to seem like such an outlier compared to other malls when it was owned privately. It was always a test mall for certain brands – American Eagle had two of their offshoot brands start there, not to mention Crate & Barrel, Lord & Taylor, and other stores. Heck, I thought it was “big ups” when Lord & Taylor came lol. I still remember those dark wood accents.
To me, Crabtree feels like one of those malls that can withstand a lot because of its prime location. Aside from the water issue, it really is accessible compared to a large population.
I wonder if this will have the anchors look at sprucing up their spaces – I can’t see it happening with the current state of both Macys and Belk, but it would be nice. And since the Sears space is spoken for, makes me wonder if Belk might want to fold the mens store back into the main store.
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View of the very beginning phase of the upcoming pedestrian bridge from Makers Alley to the new Standard Beer/Food in Midtown.
Also, a view of a barnacle in a parking deck. Gotta make sure there’s plenty of empty spaces…
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Walked to the mall the other day. After taking a walk throughout the mall, I noticed that more stores were vacant now. I’m curious what’s trying to be brought in.
Someone had sent me a picture of a Coach store coming. I’m sure I saw one open on the bottom floor. Maybe they’re moving them to the top?
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Macerich says it wants to bring more entertainment to the mall I wonder if one of these could be on the list to target. They are coming to SouthPark in Charlotte and it is for kids. There is one in the Macerich owned Tysons Corner Center. Called CAMP
https://camp.com/
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If new stores are coming, look for upfit to begin soon. Most retailers want to have their stores stocked, staffed, and open by early November when sales (hopefully) rise sharply.
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One of those closings is Forever 21 which went bankrupt. It occupied a huge space, which makes perfect sense for CAMP to take over. COACH had been on the lower level between the elevators and Belk, but makes sense for them to move to the upper level for more visibility – looks like the same section of the mall.
Crabtree suffered from its ownership issues the last few years, and many stores left (J.Crew, Williams & Sonoma, Madewell, Baileys, etc.) for greener pastures (North Hills, Fenton). I think turning towards experiential entertainment is a perfect fit for the mall, but that comes with a number of potential issues that I think all malls are wary of, so it’ll be interesting to see how this works.
I will say, Belk needs to do a nice update to their stores here. Both looked a bit run down last time I was there, and this is a flagship location for them. Dream would’ve been for Bloomingdales or Nordstrom to have taken over the old Sears space, but that isn’t happening.
I do think the mall could benefit from having a hotel or residential component. Ideally, move Belk Men back to the main Belk and tear down that pad and build a hotel. Keeps with the entertainment aspect of the vision.
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Fenton, greener pasture? No, the way they operate this joint is subpar. They conned all of their tenants into moving into their buildings.
I agree with the idea of potentially building a hotel on the property. The owners could try to lure a luxury brand hotel into a deal to entice more luxury rentals to move into the mall.
I’ve never been to Fenton, so I don’t know much about it’s history and operation (although it is your fairly benign suburban lifestyle center). Is it trying to be North Hills? Sure. But, again, I can’t speak for it’s history or operations.
I know, I was just venting sorry. It’s not worth going.
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Needs better connectivity to existing hotels. There’s a ton around. I’ve seen people walk to the Hampton Inn area from the mall and crossing Blue Ridge. It’s not the worst part of the intersection, but turning high speed traffic isn’t good. I’m sure people also walk from the Marriott and potentially Embassy Suites. Although there is at least a crosswalk, the sidewalk area on the mall side is very small.
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Once upon a time, there was a huge proposal for the land across Glenwood from Crabtree (which has since been developed into an absolute shitload of ugly ass 5-over-1s) that included apartments, more retail, some office, and at least one pedestrian bridge over Glenwood connecting it to Crabtree Mall.
It was not happily ever after, after all 
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A pedestrian bridge over Glenwood wouldn’t have been cheap… 10 lanes of traffic, plus a skinny median with no place to put a mid-span support, a sidewalk on the north side, etc. Plus, the owners of the Marriott and potentially the other commercial properties would have opposed it because they don’t want CVM shoppers using their parking lots.
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This is a common complaint among people I’ve talked to who stayed at some of those hotels. Like, what’s the point of being next to a mall when you can’t hardly walk to it safely?
True story: I have a good few friends/acquaintances that are Flight Attendants. Most airlines, if the layover is over a certain length of time will skip the airport hotels and book them into hotels in the city, so that they have dining/entertainment options.. Some airlines will put them in downtown hotels (great idea), but some will put them in Crabtree area hotels (bad idea) for some reason.
One day one of them texted me “They want me to sprint across ten lanes of highway traffic for PF Changs?!?” 
But yeah, people from out of town just end up not liking those hotels at all because they give a very false sense of convenience when they really aren’t.
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Yes, my niece is a flight attendant whose airline puts her in the Embassy Suites occasionally. It is possible to walk across Glenwood at the Marriott Dr intersection but it’s not pleasant.
By the way, what we call Marriott Dr was the original NC 50, Creedmoor Road. The Glenwood-Creedmoor intersection was redesigned in the 1970s, and the Marriott was built in the early 1980s where there was formerly a farm house.
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I have stayed 2x at the Homewood Suites behind Crabtree and it is a easy safe walk crossing only a 2 lane street behind the mall. The most dangerous part of the walk is through the lower level of the parking deck. Crossing Glenwood that is another matter that makes Six Forks between North Hills sections look tame in comparison.
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Dave’s is replacing BB’s at Midtown Corner. We knew they were coming to Raleigh after HS and WF but I don’t think the location was disclosed. Saw the sign yesterday.
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I wish it was called Hot Dave’s Chicken but it’s okay. That BBs venture seemed like a bust.
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