I Have Seen the Future of Crossroads Mall

[Kerry]

I have seen the future of crossroads Mall if anyone with the financial backing has the desire to pull it off. This last week I paid a visit to Discover Mills Mall in Lawrenceville, GA (metro Atlanta). This concept based in OKC would be a sure winner and could bring Crossroads back to life.
So what makes Discover Mills unique? It is basically an outlet mall with the usual outlet stores with some regular mall stores, but the big difference is what it uses instead of large anchor department stores. It has 7 spaces that are the size of department stores but they house the following 7 businesses.

1. A huge Bass Pro.
2. An 18 screen theater
3. Medieval Times Dinner Theater
4. Airsoft Combat Arena
5. An indoor skate park
6. A huge Books A Million
7. Dave and Busters

They also have an 18 hole mini golf course, a store with a 465 foot slot racing track ($5 for 5 minutes of racing), an indoor inflatable bouncing business with 8 very large inflated climbing structures, a rock climbing wall, and many similar businesses. It is basically a large indoor amusement park where the parents can shop while the kids play. Perfect for those cold days.

Discover Mills - Lawrenceville, GA 30043 | Simon Malls

[dmoor82]

That would be cool!a regional draw!

[ddavidson8]

$1/minute??????????????????????????????

[Blazerfan11]

They should name that mall "Something to do while waiting to die"

[Rover]

I can see where that would draw quite a few teenagers, but mall rats is not what will save a mall in a bad location with that much space to fill.

[Debzkidz]

Those Mills Malls are all over the country. Used to live just a few miles away from one that was just outside Houston, Katy Mills. They are not as great as they sound, and as the previous poster mentioned, its a draw for the mall rats. We would go there occasionally to go to the movies or if hubby wanted something at Bass Pro Shop but thats about it. Even with it being located in a nice upscale community outside of a city the size of Houston, it was almost always devoid of shoppers.

[fuzzytoad]

it would make more sense to covert it into some sort of prison.

At least its in the right location.

[stlokc]

We have a Mills mall in St. Louis and I agree with Debzkidz. With the exception of a couple of novelties (and ours doesn't have a Medieval Times or a golf course) it's just a crappy-built cheapo mall with acres of parking and not a lot of shoppers. I don't think it could overcome the major problems with Crossroads: the location and the fact that people's tastes are moving away from enclosed malls of all types. I haven't been to Crossroads in years and years and years but it could be that that needs a complete reinvention away from retail altogether. The times have changed.

[OKCGUY3]

I believe I have a better solution for the Federally owned mall, ( but no money to attempt it myself)
Imagine this, take the big department store spaces, put in a sub floor with hidden plumbing, build Two thousand small apartments in them. rent out the small store spaces to coffee shops, small resteraunts, eye doctors, dentist, health clinic, small clothing and specialty stores that cater to the elderly. Build in a small theater, and things for visiting family members to do. Fence the whole property wtih security and nice walking trail and park. then rent out the apartments to independent elderly people, kind of an assisted living center that encompasses everything a person would need in one little city. Imagine if there were over 2000 apartments at $2000 a month, that would be 4 million a month, then throw in the rental for retail and other monies, It could be profitable over a period of time and most likely, the right group could get the whole property "donated" by the federal government at no cost. THis would be a premier place for the independant aging to move to. Families would come to visit, spend money, etc.... I have never heard of any thing like this at such a large scale. Anyone?

[ljbab728]

Imagine if there were over 2000 apartments at $2000 a month, that would be 4 million a month, then throw in the rental for retail and other monies, It could be profitable over a period of time and most likely, the right group could get the whole property "donated" by the federal government at no cost. THis would be a premier place for the independant aging to move to. Families would come to visit, spend money, etc.... I have never heard of any thing like this at such a large scale. Anyone?

I'm not saying your idea is bad but $2000 a month won't happen in OKC. Maybe in New York or LA.

[rcjunkie]

I'm not saying your idea is bad but $2000 a month won't happen in OKC. Maybe in New York or LA.

I have to disagree, the average cost per room in an assisted living center is between $2400--$4000 per month. I know from experience, my mother lived in one for almost 7 years before she passed. With that said, I don't think this would be appropriate for Crossroads, if not converted to office's, it will more than likely be torn down.

[ljbab728]

I have to disagree, the average cost per room in an assisted living center is between $2400--$4000 per month. I know from experience, my mother lived in one for almost 7 years before she passed. With that said, I don't think this would be appropriate for Crossroads, if not converted to office's, it will more than likely be torn down.

I agree about the cost for assisted living but that wasn't mentioned in the original post. There is no where near the demand for that kind of housing that would make that feasible for this area.

[anniemae]

I believe I have a better solution for the Federally owned mall, ( but no money to attempt it myself)
Imagine this, take the big department store spaces, put in a sub floor with hidden plumbing, build Two thousand small apartments in them. rent out the small store spaces to coffee shops, small resteraunts, eye doctors, dentist, health clinic, small clothing and specialty stores that cater to the elderly. Build in a small theater, and things for visiting family members to do. Fence the whole property wtih security and nice walking trail and park. then rent out the apartments to independent elderly people, kind of an assisted living center that encompasses everything a person would need in one little city. Imagine if there were over 2000 apartments at $2000 a month, that would be 4 million a month, then throw in the rental for retail and other monies, It could be profitable over a period of time and most likely, the right group could get the whole property "donated" by the federal government at no cost. THis would be a premier place for the independant aging to move to. Families would come to visit, spend money, etc.... I have never heard of any thing like this at such a large scale. Anyone?

I've not seen nor heard of anything like this, but it sounds appealing and profitable. Of course I'm not in the rental business and with the government regulating every little detail of businesses these days it may not be feasible as they might not be able to keep serial killers etc without being charged with discrimination.

[onthestrip]

I think some posters on here don't have a clue about the current state of real estate or how the business works. That's all I'll say.

[USG '60]

As a concept, I think it's great.

[OUGrad05]

A second bass pro isn't going to happen, it would suck the life right out of the downtown location.

[oneforone]

Regardless of what happens, Crossroads will be sitting in it's current state for a good long while. Renovations are going to be costly. Demoltion is going to cost even more.

I think it could easily be converted over to a convention and event center with office space and service shops. The retail big box stores could be converted into Ballrooms, Exhibit Halls or large auditoriums. The place already has plenty of parking so why not use it as something would draw large crowds.

[soonerliberal]

As with most Mills malls, Discover Mills is in a medium high-income, suburban environment. Crossroads is not. That's all I have to add.

[Spartan]

I have seen the future of crossroads Mall if anyone with the financial backing has the desire to pull it off. This last week I paid a visit to Discover Mills Mall in Lawrenceville, GA (metro Atlanta). This concept based in OKC would be a sure winner and could bring Crossroads back to life.
So what makes Discover Mills unique? It is basically an outlet mall with the usual outlet stores with some regular mall stores, but the big difference is what it uses instead of large anchor department stores. It has 7 spaces that are the size of department stores but they house the following 7 businesses.

1. A huge Bass Pro.
2. An 18 screen theater
3. Medieval Times Dinner Theater
4. Airsoft Combat Arena
5. An indoor skate park
6. A huge Books A Million
7. Dave and Busters

They also have an 18 hole mini golf course, a store with a 465 foot slot racing track ($5 for 5 minutes of racing), an indoor inflatable bouncing business with 8 very large inflated climbing structures, a rock climbing wall, and many similar businesses. It is basically a large indoor amusement park where the parents can shop while the kids play. Perfect for those cold days.

Discover Mills - Lawrenceville, GA 30043 | Simon Malls

Are you serious? Why do you have this desire to bring back Crossroads Mall? Many things wrong with that idea. First of all, Crossroads is dead because the location is bad. A better proposal to bring the mall back would be to pick it up and move it to Moore. Even then it would continue to struggle because indoor shopping malls are dinosaurs. No one is building them any more, no one is going to them anymore, and stores are no longer adding locations in indoor shopping malls for the most part. That's probably the #1 shift in city planning trends that has occurred over the last 10 years.

And second of all and more importantly, even if you wanted to bring it back, why? Crossroads disappearing frees up retail demand for downtown retail, and more importantly, for inner southside retail to make a comeback. If you have followed the history of the southside as much as I have, as a southsider myself, you'd know that Capitol Hill and other inner southside strips used to be vibrant retail areas--right up until when Crossroads Mall came. Crossroads sucked the life out of the southside. Now it's gone, now the southside can make a comeback.

And all of those things you proposed--a Medieval Dinner Theatre, a Dave and Busters, a Books a Million, an 18 screen theater (which Crossroads already has, also going to go out of business soon)--why can't these things go some place better than Crossroads? I'm sorry but this is like the worst idea I have ever heard, in my life.

[oneforone]

--why can't these things go some place better than Crossroads? I'm sorry but this is like the worst idea I have ever heard, in my life.

Oh like the..... I can't believe it takes twenty minutes to get through this Intersection Penn and Memorial.

I think we have enough irons in the fire when it comes to developments.

How about we slow down and fill the buildings we already have. The Crossroads area just needs a little TLC. The first act the city should commit to is sending code enforcement into the neighborhoods into the areas around Crossroads. Second they should charge Valley Brook for fire services. This would force Valley Brook to fold because they do not bring in enough revenue to pay the bills let alone fund their own. After Valley Brook folds they send in OCPD to put the strip clubs under.

If Simon or General Growth owned Crossroads instead of Maerich, it would have seen all the necessary upgrades and renovations Quail and Penn enjoyed. Instead the mall went stagnant and the crime moved in just like what happens every other area of the city when the business owners stop caring.

[Bunty]

Even then it would continue to struggle because indoor shopping malls are dinosaurs. No one is building them any more, no one is going to them anymore, and stores are no longer adding locations in indoor shopping malls for the most part. That's probably the #1 shift in city planning trends that has occurred over the last 10 years.

So why are enclosed malls out of it? Because it costs too much to heat and cool them, meaning higher rents to pay, and because except for the anchor stores the parking is too far of a walk from the stores?

[ljbab728]

So why are enclosed malls out of it? Because it costs too much to heat and cool them, meaning higher rents to pay, and because except for the anchor stores the parking is too far of a walk from the stores?

Not all enclosed malls are "out of it". I go to Penn Square regularly and it's always busy. I was at Quail on Saturday and close in parking wasn't going to happen. I do qualify for handicap parking and got lucky. I visit some of the newer outdoor centers also and parking isn't any better, espcially if you want to go to more than one store. They may eventually have the same problem but for now they seem to be doing fine.

[Bunty]

Not all enclosed malls are "out of it". I go to Penn Square regularly and it's always busy. I was at Quail on Saturday and close in parking wasn't going to happen. I do qualify for handicap parking and got lucky. I visit some of the newer outdoor centers also and parking isn't any better, espcially if you want to go to more than one store. They may eventually have the same problem but for now they seem to be doing fine.

Yeah, you're right and Spartan is wrong. Just one look at Penn Square offers plenty of proof how wrong he is. The main reason they're not building enclosed shopping malls any more is simply because the already existing ones like Penn Square and Quail Springs are doing a good job filling in the need for them. The metro market is only so big to support such huge commercial complexes.

[megax11]

Are you serious? Why do you have this desire to bring back Crossroads Mall? Many things wrong with that idea. First of all, Crossroads is dead because the location is bad. A better proposal to bring the mall back would be to pick it up and move it to Moore. Even then it would continue to struggle because indoor shopping malls are dinosaurs. No one is building them any more, no one is going to them anymore, and stores are no longer adding locations in indoor shopping malls for the most part. That's probably the #1 shift in city planning trends that has occurred over the last 10 years.

And second of all and more importantly, even if you wanted to bring it back, why? Crossroads disappearing frees up retail demand for downtown retail, and more importantly, for inner southside retail to make a comeback. If you have followed the history of the southside as much as I have, as a southsider myself, you'd know that Capitol Hill and other inner southside strips used to be vibrant retail areas--right up until when Crossroads Mall came. Crossroads sucked the life out of the southside. Now it's gone, now the southside can make a comeback.

And all of those things you proposed--a Medieval Dinner Theatre, a Dave and Busters, a Books a Million, an 18 screen theater (which Crossroads already has, also going to go out of business soon)--why can't these things go some place better than Crossroads? I'm sorry but this is like the worst idea I have ever heard, in my life.

Is that fact, or opinion?

See I have facts from tons of people in the mall. Everyone from the PR lady, to merchants from stores long gone, and none of them said the mall died, because of booby-baby gangbangers, or an overall bad location.

They all said a number of things, and all said the same.

1. The person(s) owning the mall charged too much rent.

2. The merchants asked for the place to be fixed up more to attract customers with a more lively mall... They were either ignored, or flat out told, "no."

With floors from 1974, and the only thing having been beefed up and modernized, was the ceiling of the mall, what did you expect?

I mean Quail was all brown and ugle, until it got its makeover. Now look at the mall. 50's style food court (the mall actually HAS a food court unlike Crossroads,) and even a movie theatre inside.

If Crossroads fixed itself up, you damn well better be sure that place would draw crowds again.

Believe it or not, imposing a curfew doesn't help either, as gangbanger or not, the youth probably had some money to take to the mall to spend.

The location can't be the reason, and isn't according to almost everybody in the mall, because then the mall wouldn't have flourished since 1974, up until around 2003/4.

It was greed that killed the beast. The owners wanted to line their pockets, while not listening to the merchants wishes, that lead to its downfall. You got to stay with the times, but that mall stayed in the 70's/80's, thanks to its look, and people want lively scenery, not dreary browns.

[westsidesooner]

I have seen the future of crossroads Mall

Discover Mills - Lawrenceville, GA 30043 | Simon Malls

Me too, and it looks like it does right now. It's doomed. I say use it for firefighters training and blow it up. Then build then new racetrack there.