Why are national retailers reluctant to locate in Center City?

**3rd&Brown** · 08-10-2012, 05:16 PM

LOL. The only thing I've ever bought at Daffy's is an umbrella.

**acenturi** · 08-10-2012, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

Didn't reports state that they looked for space in this city for quite a while? I seem to recall as much. And I'm sure if someone dug up one of the 12,543 other Apple store threads they would see as much. Also, they're supposed to be looking for another location. Chris123456789 is kind of new here, and apparently doesn't know how to use the search function, or he (or she) would have seen this.

Apple should have taken the old Tower Records store at 100 S. Broad (now Fye) which was available when they were still (supposidly) looking.

**aro1419** · 08-14-2012, 02:20 AM

I noticed recently that both Jones New York and Bubbles Salon on Walnut St closed. I wonder who, if anyone, will be filling those spaces. On a more positive note, though, there is now an Intermix sign up on their future space, and a Philadelphia store is now listed on their website. I have also heard rumors that Joan Shepp will be moving. Has anyone else heard this? Does anyone know how the new 15th and Walnut building is coming along? Sorry for all of the curiosity about Walnut Street, but if any nation retailers want to locate anywhere in the city, their first choice (right now) is Walnut St. Luckily for them, we have some space for them.

**mixiboi** · 08-14-2012, 02:26 AM

Originally Posted by acenturi

Apple should have taken the old Tower Records store at 100 S. Broad (now Fye) which was available when they were still (supposidly) looking.

It was never available as FYE already own it when they bought Tower record's debt....

**Notcom** · 08-14-2012, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by mixiboi

It was never available as FYE already own it when they bought Tower record's debt....

I bet Abner Levy would have found a way ...

**CountFunkula** · 08-14-2012, 01:24 PM

Nope, he would have preferred the "Super Subway Sandwich Emporium" for that space.

**hammersklavier** · 08-14-2012, 08:14 PM

New owner of 1616 Market is consolidating all the retail space into a single, larger floorplate, which will force Joan Shepp to move. I think I saw some Anne Klein signage on the old JNY so I'm guessing they left because their landlord forced them out. Former Brooklyn Industries is to be Lush IIRC. Bubbles IDK, but if JNY was forced out they might be looking for some Chestnut Street space.

BTW the Swarovski, Loft, and Victoria's Secret in Liberty Place all now have duplicates two blocks or less away. This implies all three will leave the mall space when their leases expire. The rear corridor now has several men's stores.

One final note: popular as Walnut is, the three largest floorplates are all on Chestnut: Boyd's, Daffy's (which may or may not be re-occupied as a single retail unit), and Liberty Place (which may or may not be looking to consolidate space to attract a tenant). Once the available two have been dealt with, the pop-up garden lot and parking lots along 20th St. between Chestnut and Walnut will be the only viable place for large-format retail. Even the fye and new Atlantic Building space are little bigger than big boxes.

**Jayfar** · 08-14-2012, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

New owner of 1515 Market is consolidating all the retail space into a single, larger floorplate, which will force Joan Shepp to move.

Rewrite? Joan Shepp is in 1616 Walnut St.

Originally Posted by hammersklavier

BTW the Swarovski, Loft, and Victoria's Secret in Liberty Place all now have duplicates two blocks or less away. This implies all three will leave the mall space when their leases expire.

AT Loft and Victoria's Secret have had this duplication for many years IIRC, although there may have been a period in the middle when the Loft was only in Liberty Place.

**mixiboi** · 08-15-2012, 02:05 PM

Plus the Liberty Place is a Victoria's Secret PINK so I think that is a separation enough...

**hammersklavier** · 08-15-2012, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Jayfar

Rewrite? Joan Shepp is in 1616 Walnut St.

Fixed.

AT Loft and Victoria's Secret have had this duplication for many years IIRC, although there may have been a period in the middle when the Loft was only in Liberty Place.

I don't remember a Walnut Street Loft at all...

**jn00** · 08-15-2012, 03:41 PM

it was located exactly where LOFT is now, before it turned into ESPRIT. For a time, Ann Taylor was trying to distinguish the brands and not co-locate them. Apparently there has been (another) change of heart.

**ShoshTrvls** · 08-17-2012, 10:06 AM

This may be good news for Market East ...
---------------------

Target's first small-format stores a success, CEO says

Target’s first CityTarget stores are performing well, and the chain could eventually be operating several hundred of these scaled-down, limited-assortment urban stores, executives said on an earnings call. Target opened its first three CityTarget stores in late July in the dense urban centers of Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle. These stores measure about 60,000 to 100,000 square feet, while the full-line Target stores measure about 128,000 to 135,000 square feet.

“We’ve been extremely pleased with the reception we’ve received from our new guests in neighborhoods around these first three stores, and we expect to apply what we learned to our operations throughout the U.S. and Canada over time,” said Gregg Steinhafel, the company’s chairman, president and CEO. “We’re seeing very strong levels of sales in apparel and home, and that’s Target’s signature strength. That’s really resonating in these urban markets, so we’re excited about that.”

The company has plans to open two more CityTargets in October — one in Los Angeles and the other in San Francisco. “As a result of a unique real estate opportunity in San Francisco, we plan to open a stand-alone store — C9 Active Apparel — next to the new CityTarget location,” said Kathryn Tesija, executive vice president of merchandising. “This small space gives us an opportunity to highlight this exclusive brand in a unique way that complements San Francisco’s active lifestyle.”

Target could end up operating as many as several hundred CityTargets in total, or as few as 75, depending on the return on investment it realizes from this first batch of stores, Steinhafel says. “There are a lot of urban locations where we can’t put the full prototypical store due to the real estate constraints,” he said. “And more importantly, this is about adapting our format to the geography where we have the right kind of demographics.”

Target said its U.S. sales rose 3.5 percent year on year in the second quarter, to $16.5 billion, in part reflecting a 3.1 percent increase in same-store sales.

**kidphilly** · 08-17-2012, 11:49 AM

I got a fee mojito at the Gap (Fall into (or down from too many mojitos) the gap) on my way home last night. Lots of free drinks and jackhmmering last night. Was almost festive. Didnt look like anyone was buying more than usual. Dont think we will see this again any time soon. Maybe a coordinated effort would be better, cocktails and shopping and store open until like 11.

**kidphilly** · 08-17-2012, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by ShoshTrvls

This may be good news for Market East ...
---------------------

Target's first small-format stores a success, CEO says

Target’s first CityTarget stores are performing well, and the chain could eventually be operating several hundred of these scaled-down, limited-assortment urban stores, executives said on an earnings call. Target opened its first three CityTarget stores in late July in the dense urban centers of Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle. These stores measure about 60,000 to 100,000 square feet, while the full-line Target stores measure about 128,000 to 135,000 square feet.

“We’ve been extremely pleased with the reception we’ve received from our new guests in neighborhoods around these first three stores, and we expect to apply what we learned to our operations throughout the U.S. and Canada over time,” said Gregg Steinhafel, the company’s chairman, president and CEO. “We’re seeing very strong levels of sales in apparel and home, and that’s Target’s signature strength. That’s really resonating in these urban markets, so we’re excited about that.”

The company has plans to open two more CityTargets in October — one in Los Angeles and the other in San Francisco. “As a result of a unique real estate opportunity in San Francisco, we plan to open a stand-alone store — C9 Active Apparel — next to the new CityTarget location,” said Kathryn Tesija, executive vice president of merchandising. “This small space gives us an opportunity to highlight this exclusive brand in a unique way that complements San Francisco’s active lifestyle.”

Target could end up operating as many as several hundred CityTargets in total, or as few as 75, depending on the return on investment it realizes from this first batch of stores, Steinhafel says. “There are a lot of urban locations where we can’t put the full prototypical store due to the real estate constraints,” he said. “And more importantly, this is about adapting our format to the geography where we have the right kind of demographics.”

Target said its U.S. sales rose 3.5 percent year on year in the second quarter, to $16.5 billion, in part reflecting a 3.1 percent increase in same-store sales.

Yes lets hope

**BarryG** · 08-17-2012, 11:55 AM

There is a lingerie store opening on the 1900 block of Chestnut, the old Don Onorato office. Jane G's open at the bottom of the apt building 20th St a week or two ago, Pure Tacos a month or so ago, that leaves only one vacancy on this block... the Boyd Theater. Unfortunately it brings down the entire block. It would be nice if Gap Outlet powerwashed their facade too.

**mixiboi** · 08-17-2012, 03:29 PM

Thank goodness that CityTarget isn't just another DisneyQuest....Now come on and bring it to Market East!

**jn00** · 08-20-2012, 05:41 AM

there is an article in the bizjournal which discusses suburban retailers going urban. it talks about ULTA taking the former brasserie perrier space on Walnut for a flagship in the intro section. Any other retailers mentioned in the print edition?

Suburban retailers go urban - Philadelphia Business Journal

**BenDee** · 08-20-2012, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by jn00

there is an article in the bizjournal which discusses suburban retailers going urban. it talks about ULTA taking the former brasserie perrier space on Walnut for a flagship in the intro section. Any other retailers mentioned in the print edition?

Suburban retailers go urban - Philadelphia Business Journal

Last I heard, Ulta pulled out and the place is back up for rent.