Why are national retailers reluctant to locate in Center City?

[Notcom]

Deleted

[OffenseTaken]

...

This sounds like a hoax. It's a dead link, and the url says "Fake-news-updates." Plus, Leopold Bloom isn't the name of a Vice Squad Officer in Philadelphia, but it is the name of a guy who had a knack for getting daytime nooky in unlikely places.

[acenturi]

I just read that Uniqlo is opening a store here in the new development planned for 15th and Walnut! That's awesome, especially considering their only other US locations are in NYC. Hard to believe we're getting it before other major cities, but it's probably because it's close enough to exist within their current distribution chain................

Why is it hard to believe that we are getting it before other major cities ?? How many "major" cities do you know that have major concerts with Madonna, Springsteen, Jay-Z, etal and Striesand over a 5 week period?? The only reason for a youth oriented retailer to ? Center City Philly for a store is the city business tax structure.

BTW, I wrote a letter to Uniqlo corp and gave several reasons why I felt a store would be highly successful in Center City.
They replied, with what was obviously not a Form letter, and said they are currently reviewing several prospective U.S. locations.

[CountFunkula]

Not sure why Notcom found it fun to make sport of my misery, but I guess I will address this.

Yes, the company decided to leave the country after making promises of growth into the Manhattan market. My showroom was doing well and I had improved sales every year since I started with the firm. I am a believer in the product as I think that the beds are amazing. I was unable in the end to convince them that the American market required more budget and branding than the limited efforts that they employed. No advertising, no true marketing and branding - word of mouth might work in the Middle East, but not here. I worked my tail off here and went well above and beyond for a company that I do not own. While I am disappointed to leave the neighborhood, I'm proud of what I tried to do here and how the community embraced the showroom as well as the region. Could we have done better...sure. But it takes a different skill set to approach this competitive environment and I'm not sure that they were willing to change.

So, I didn't really want to write this, but Notcom seems to have tried to get a reaction out of me for some reason. So, I move onwards and upwards.
If you know of anyone who needs someone who works hard, brings a creative twist to his job, and has a knack for selling ice to eskimos - I'd appreciate the leads.

Thanks to everyone that has been supportive of my efforts. I sold many products to the people of Philadelphia Speaks and Phillyblog.

If you are looking for a great deal...and I mean great ....on the remaining products and fixtures - I suggest coming to the showroom and seeing what we have.

Thanks.

[Notcom]

Not sure why Notcom found it fun to make sport of my misery, but I guess I will address this. .

OOPS!! my apologies, no one had confirmed the remark after a day, and when I checked Hollandia's website I found no mention of it closing, so I thought the observation was in error; certainly wasn't trying to make a light of what obviously isn't and I wish the Count and his coworkers well.

[ShoshTrvls]

My showroom was doing well and I had improved sales every year since I started with the firm. I am a believer in the product as I think that the beds are amazing. I was unable in the end to convince them that the American market required more budget and branding than the limited efforts that they employed. No advertising, no true marketing and branding - word of mouth might work in the Middle East, but not here. I worked my tail off here and went well above and beyond for a company that I do not own. While I am disappointed to leave the neighborhood, I'm proud of what I tried to do here and how the community embraced the showroom as well as the region. Could we have done better...sure. But it takes a different skill set to approach this competitive environment and I'm not sure that they were willing to change.

I am the proud owner of 3 Hollandia beds, due solely to the Count's promotional skills. And I love all three of them (plus my pillow). Yes, the products are expensive but worth every penny. It's a shame the company couldn't succeed in the US, but I can't imagine that, with all the Count did, it wasn't successful here in Philly.

Now, with that being said .... Count, what do I do if I ever want to move my bed? Give me some contact info for someone who might be able, some time in the future, to do that for me. 'Cause if I ever move, I'm taking the bed and never giving it up.

[CountFunkula]

You are on my Facebook and my friend. I will help.

[AbortedWalrus]

Why is it hard to believe that we are getting it before other major cities ?? How many "major" cities do you know that have major concerts with Madonna, Springsteen, Jay-Z, etal and Striesand over a 5 week period?? The only reason for a youth oriented retailer to ? Center City Philly for a store is the city business tax structure.

BTW, I wrote a letter to Uniqlo corp and gave several reasons why I felt a store would be highly successful in Center City.
They replied, with what was obviously not a Form letter, and said they are currently reviewing several prospective U.S. locations.

Why is it hard to believe? Because whether or not it would do well here, it would do much better in Los Angeles or San Francisco hands down. There is literally no reason for them not to do it there before Philadelphia. After doing some research I found out in fact that they are opening a flagship store in San Francisco this fall. So basically, I was right in finding it hard to believe that Philadelphia would get it before other major cities, because Philadelphia isn't getting it before other major cities. Honestly though, I would have thought San Francisco would get theirs before NYC got two more stores, given the high Asian population in that city.

As an aside, I do find it humorous that you cited Madonna, Springsteen, and Streisand in a paragraph about youth oriented retailers.

[Hospitalitygirl]

Why is it hard to believe? Because whether or not it would do well here, it would do much better in Los Angeles or San Francisco hands down. There is literally no reason for them not to do it there before Philadelphia. After doing some research I found out in fact that they are opening a flagship store in San Francisco this fall. So basically, I was right in finding it hard to believe that Philadelphia would get it before other major cities, because Philadelphia isn't getting it before other major cities. Honestly though, I would have thought San Francisco would get theirs before NYC got two more stores, given the high Asian population in that city.

As an aside, I do find it humorous that you cited Madonna, Springsteen, and Streisand in a paragraph about youth oriented retailers.

And UNIQLO will do spectacularly well here, but would be more fitting in the Border's space at Broad & Chestnut.

[mixiboi]

Walgreens just wanted it more...

[Hospitalitygirl]

Walgreens just wanted it more...

pbbbbbttthhh. The space UNIQLO is planning to go into is too small.

[BarryG]

And UNIQLO will do spectacularly well here, but would be more fitting in the Border's space at Broad & Chestnut.

pbbbbbttthhh. The space UNIQLO is planning to go into is too small.

How do you know Uniqlo will have less square footage in the new building?

[MarketStEl]

cool. that store is always so busy. Although, generally aren't Trader Joe's about that size? I had a chance to check out the one in Media over the weekend, and it was about the same size as the one on Market St.

BTW, the linked article to the Inky was a time warp... pretty cool/interesting reading, to get back 11 years ago and see things from that perspective. That article talks about the dramatic rise in downtown population and predicts similar things happening to Market West, with rosy pictures all around.

About four years after that, I wrote a less Panglossian essay on the subject.

If anything, the situation's gotten worse since then.

Some of this represents a shift in the center of employment gravity: the west bank of the Schuylkill may soon rival Center City as the city's biggest employment center, thanks to Penn, Drexel, and the medical complex.

But some of this reflects that same stubborn anemia in the overall employment picture in the city, no doubt exacerbated by the Great Recession.

I mean, think about this: Two Liberty Place, the younger brother of the Building That Gave Philly an Interesting Skyline At Last, is now half condo. And it's still new enough to be considered Class A office space.

We're still cannibalizing our employment engine for our pleasure, it seems to me. And while I remain bullish on Philadelphia overall, that way lies ultimate ruin.

[MarketStEl]

Not sure why Notcom found it fun to make sport of my misery, but I guess I will address this.

Yes, the company decided to leave the country after making promises of growth into the Manhattan market. My showroom was doing well and I had improved sales every year since I started with the firm. I am a believer in the product as I think that the beds are amazing. I was unable in the end to convince them that the American market required more budget and branding than the limited efforts that they employed. No advertising, no true marketing and branding - word of mouth might work in the Middle East, but not here. I worked my tail off here and went well above and beyond for a company that I do not own. While I am disappointed to leave the neighborhood, I'm proud of what I tried to do here and how the community embraced the showroom as well as the region. Could we have done better...sure. But it takes a different skill set to approach this competitive environment and I'm not sure that they were willing to change.

So, I didn't really want to write this, but Notcom seems to have tried to get a reaction out of me for some reason. So, I move onwards and upwards.
If you know of anyone who needs someone who works hard, brings a creative twist to his job, and has a knack for selling ice to eskimos - I'd appreciate the leads.

Thanks to everyone that has been supportive of my efforts. I sold many products to the people of Philadelphia Speaks and Phillyblog.

If you are looking for a great deal...and I mean great ....on the remaining products and fixtures - I suggest coming to the showroom and seeing what we have.

Thanks.

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm gonna miss having you as a sort-of neighbor ("sort of" because I'm now a journeyman, office-wise) and popping in on First Fridays.

Good luck and Godspeed to you and your staff. I'm sure you'll land on your feet soon enough.

[BarryG]

West coast retailer's first east coast store coming to Walnut St: Bettie Page Clothing coming to Walnut Street | Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

It's open. Cool store.

[mixiboi]

Its weird seeing Bettie Page face in Philly...

[Preesi]

Bloomingdales and Saks are old lady stores

[aro1419]

Bloomingdales and Saks are old lady stores

I hope that you're being sarcastic.

[acenturi]

Why is it hard to believe? Because whether or not it would do well here, it would do much better in Los Angeles or San Francisco hands down. There is literally no reason for them not to do it there before Philadelphia. After doing some research I found out in fact that they are opening a flagship store in San Francisco this fall. So basically, I was right in finding it hard to believe that Philadelphia would get it before other major cities, because Philadelphia isn't getting it before other major cities. Honestly though, I would have thought San Francisco would get theirs before NYC got two more stores, given the high Asian population in that city.

As an aside, I do find it humorous that you cited Madonna, Springsteen, and Streisand in a paragraph about youth oriented retailers.

I'm well aware they are opening a store in San Francisco as they have been planning and mentioning it
for some time. My comment was directed at your obvious denigration of Philadelphia relative to other major cities in the context of this discussion. What evidence do you have to support your claim they would do better in Los Angeles - or Chicago, or Dallas ? Why should they consider Philadelphia before some other major cities? Simple, the competition here is far less for that type of relatively unique(lo) retail and flashy store/storefront than in most other major cities. My reference to concerts was to illustrate that we are no 2nd class city. What does Asian population have to do with Uniqlo, other than their Japanese heritage ? Their USA stores cater to young American styles - not Asians. Did you contact Uniqlo to show support and provide reasons why a store would do well in Philly - or are you waiting for them to open stores in 5 other major cities first??

[MarketStEl]

A friend of mine recently visited San Francisco after I shared with him my thoughts on what I liked about the city and why I found it off-putting in the end. I got this text message from him the day he was there:

"Market Street in SF looks as gritty as yours does. Only there's a Nordstrom at the end of it."

And I can think of one set of stats that goes a ways towards explaining why this is the case.

Median household income, San Francisco County, CA, 2010 estimate: $70,883
Median household income, Philadelphia County, PA, 2010 estimate: $34,667

Almost 101,000 of San Francisco's ~750,000 residents, or 12.8% of them, live below the Federal poverty line.
About 390,500 of Philadelphia's ~1.5 million residents, or 26.4% of them, live below the poverty line.

Both San Francisco and Philadelphia are statistical outliers among large US cities on both of these figures, at opposite ends of the spectrum.

I'm currently visiting that friend in Washington. You may have heard of some significant demographic changes in the population that have taken place in DC recently, including the loss of its black majority as more affluent white residents move in. I noticed the effects of this shift on a stroll down U Street when I visited several months ago.

That process is also occurring in parts of Philadelphia now. But it's not as far along, and there's much more territory within our city limits.

(FTR: The figures for the District of Columbia are $60,729 and 107,279 (18.8%), respectively. There's no Nordstrom in downtown DC either, nor much in the way of trendy fashion retail. I'd attribute that, however, more to the culture and style of the place than to its income.)

But as long as these numbers are what they are, there are some retailers who cater to certain demographics who will continue to leave Central Philadelphia off their short lists of store sites.