Get Your Mall On

Oh, another year of school has ended, and summer break has began, a time of frolic and laughter, and traveling and shopping and exploring many more malls in this country.

As my loyal readers might know, I don't have many loyal readers, this blog just started and has big plans to become one of the well known mall and shopping blogs on the world wide web of computers. I have mentioned that many of my archives are being searched and sorted to write hundreds of articles on malls and shopping centers I have been to in the past.

Last year, I went to 102 new mall... new to me...some dated back to 1952, when the mall was born.

I have great hopes for what the summer will break, more new and re welcoming states and cities where malls play a pivotal role in how people shop and explore retail atmospheres.

Some states include:

Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Minnesota.

There are not any promises, I will do my best with standing up to my word, and hopefully going to some key shopping destinations of the northwest, northeast, and mid-south.

As will I, I encourage all you out there to get your mall on and take a trip to one or a even a few great malls and states this summer, create new stories and memories with your families as do I

Lets make 2014 the year of the mall!

Express Closing Stores.

The retail chain who that targets sophisticated, young shoppers, tumbled as much as 13 percent after cutting its annual forecast and announcing plans to close 50 stores over the next three years.

Columbus, Ohio-based Express Inc. said on Thursday that its fiscal first-quarter profit fell to $5.08 million, from $32.4 million a year earlier. 

The stores closing will shut there doors at the end of their leases, even as it ramps up expansion of its new outlet-store concept. 

Express debuted its outlet format this past April.

The 50 store closures are expected to result in profit improvement of $5 to $8 million once all locations are closed.

 The closings are expected to start at the end of its current fiscal year or the beginning of the next fiscal year.

Simon Re-brands and Revamps Image.

Simon's new logo, which was unveiled this week.

Simon, formerly Simon Property Group, is one of the largest real estate–investment trusts in America.

Simon announced at the ICSC RECON Las Vegas convention May 19, that the company will introduce a new corporate identity and logo, which will be seen in Simon malls’ digital experiences and advertising campaigns as well as in signage at the malls it owns.

The new look and branding for Simon is part of a new direction for the company, which will offer improvements to customer service and amenities and develop the experience of its malls.

Simon chief marketing officer said, “We are excited to launch a fresh, aspiration consumer-facing brand that reinforces our customers’ experiences of fashion, discovery and community."

The new look would portray Simon as an “elevated” brand for fashion consumers, as well as families going to the mall to shop and to look for entertainment.

 The company has spent more than $50 million on media in print television, digital, radio and direct mail on the new branding. 

The campaign will continue through the end of 2014.

Simon owns premium malls, including Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon, Calif., which recently unveiled a major expansion. 

Simon also owns The Millsdivision of malls and major regional malls such as Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, Calif.; Fashion Valley in San Diego; and The Shops at Mission Viejo in Mission Viejo, Calif.

Many more include Woodfield Mall in Schaumberg, IL, as well as Aventura Mall in Aventura, Fla.; The Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas; and The King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, Penn.

Simon Property Group launched its re-branding efforts Monday with the goal of letting shoppers know exactly which brand is behind their local malls.

In its efforts to become more recognizable, the Indianapolis-based company created new logos for South Florida malls like the Dadeland Mall, The Falls, Miami International Mall and The Shops at Sunset Place. They now look similar to Simon’s corporate logo, with ‘A Simon Mall’ printed beneath the location’s name.

Simon celebrated its 20 years of success anniversary in February.

American Eagle Outfitters Closing 150 Stores

American Eagle Outfitters earnings tumbled more than 86 percent in the first quarter on huge mark downs intended to create higher customer foot traffic. The teen retailer said that it would close 150 stores over the next three years.

The Pittsburgh-based company is attempting to reorient itself after a dismal sales spell. 

Profits fell more than 60 percent last year and revenue fell 5 percent.

Out of the 150 North American stores it plans to close over the next three years, nearly 100 of them will be American Eagle stores. 

The chain anticipates closing about 50 American Eagle stores and 20 aerie stores in North America in 2014. 

It expects annual savings of approximately $10 million to $15 million related to the store closings starting in 2015.

Round One Entertainment Coming to Bloomingdale, IL

Anything but disappointment comes from a day with the family, coming together for a great time with an exciting game of bowling to liven things up. The traditional means of having a good time, although never going out of style, are being reinvented to still drill up excitement that games did when new.

Back in a time not to long ago, after a common Sunday of relaxation, possibly a prayer, the family found themselves strolling through Marshall fields,trying on shoes at Bakers, or going to catch a flick at AMC 10.
Well, as the traditional mall scene is dying away, owners and companies have to think of new ways to draw crowds in to compete with alternate means of shopping and entertainment.

Stratford Square mall, located on Gary Avenue in Bloomingdale, IL, is slowly but surly following the path of any late 80's mall with the lost of Montgomery Ward in 2001, and its replacement, Burlington Coat Factory definitely exiting next year.

Also the JCPenney was one of 35 to close announced back in January, the inside of the mall is continuing to suffer to soon extinction.

Near the Carson Pirie Scott, a wing of abandoned store fronts are now dedicated to the transformation into a new and exciting entertainment center called
"Round One".

The Chain, primarily located in California with three other locations and now one on the way is

" a state-of-the-art entertainment company offering fun the whole family".

Round One also promises " bowling lanes, top of the line arcade games, fully equipped karaoke rooms, and much more".

The companies website:
http://www.round1usa.com/

As malls continue to change for the worse, new and inventive places come in the transform old facilities into new venues that will never go out of style.

Stratford Square Mall Location:

Japanese Retailer UNIQLO Expanding to Boston.

The popular Japanese clothing retailer, specializing in outerwear and famous ultra light down jackets latest US expansion is to the ever lovely city of Boston.

There are plans to open six stores over the next year.

A temporary store is set to open in the former Kingfish Hall location in the south market of the Faneuil Hall's Quincy Marketplace on July 5th.

 Faneuil Hall's Quincy Marketplace.

locations opening include:

Natick Mall-opens Aug. 29th.

The Mall at Chestnut Hill-opens Aug. 29th.

Northshore Mall, Peabody, MA-opens Sept. 19th.

Legacy Place, Dedham, MA-opens Oct. 24th.

Faneuil Halls Quincy Marketplace, Boston, MA- Spring 2015.

341 Newbury Street, Boston, MA- Spring 2015.

Uniqlo is an interesting and contemporary store with styles fitted for a stylish city such as Boston.

Uniqlo has over 1,300 stores worldwide, so get ready, Uniqlo is about to take over Boston, your wardrobe, and your life.

Currently Operate stores in

New York

New Jersey

California

Connecticut

A typical store display loaded with over 50 hues of jackets as
well as pants and other high quality accessories to fit any
style.

There are also three stores opening in greater Philadelphia announced earlier this year.

These locations include:

King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia, PA on May 16th.

City Center- 1608 Chestnut Street on Oct. 3rd.

Willow Grove Park Mall on Oct. 10th.

As a Chicagoan, I have shopped at Uniqlo in New York and New Jersey and would love for a store to open in:

 Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL

Oakbrook Center, Oakbrook, IL

Northbrook Court, Northbrook, IL

anywhere on the Magnificent Mile

So please Uniqlo, Chicago is a popular shopping destination and would love your store to be a choice to experience when shopping the windy city!