Mall’s success called vital to Jefferson City's retail growth

Retail action team: Change in mindset needed

Monday, May 16, 2011

The way Eric Schulte sees it, his action team serves as a barometer.

Schulte serves as one of the co-chairs for the retail attraction action team, one of nine under the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce’s economic development plan called “Transformation.”

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One of the main locations that needs to succeed, Schulte said, to create an overall retail success in Jefferson City is Capital Mall. He said the biggest difference between Jefferson City’s retail numbers and its biggest competitors’ numbers in Columbia, St. Louis and Kansas City is a result of ....

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JCLifer 2 years ago

Put a branch of the library at the mall. Have an internet cafe and coffee shop. Free Wi-FI and several computers.

Should have put the new YMCA at the mall too, if you really wanted to save it.

If you want to attract and retain Young Professionals, you gotta bring in things that young professionals want. They sure don't want a 1970's era old building with a bunch of stodgy or cheap clothes. The Japanese restaurant was a nice start-- now keep bringing in some things like sporting goods, wine stores, culinary, Abercrombie and Finch, Eddie Bauer, etc. - things that young professionals want.

JMO 2 years ago

I have to admit, I like the library idea! It would be like a Barnes & Noble where you can't actually buy anything. The question is, would their budget support it? Our mall pretty much stinks, that's for sure; feels like a ghost town a lot of the time.

Rison 2 years ago

Yeah, because having two fitness centers in the mall would be really beneficial to all parties involved.

JCLifer 2 years ago

We certainly would not want the mall to have two department stores, two restaurants, two clothing stores, or two jewelry stores either.

Are you on the City Council?

Rison 2 years ago

No, just someone who knows that two gyms under one roof doesn't work. I like your other ideas though.

JMO 2 years ago

I suspect Wilson's would have a non-compete clause in their lease, preventing the mall from renting to another fitness facility.

JCLifer 2 years ago

Why would a specialty fitness place like Curves not be a good fit in the mall?

JCsleeper 2 years ago

Full article states that interior design stores like Schaffer House and The Warming House would be desirable stores to locate in the mall. Sorry, but the Warming House closed last month. Simply put, the mall's rent is probably too high as evidenced by stores that have relocated from it. Yes, the mall does stink in places - the area by Penneys smells like sweat due to bad ventilation from the fitness place and the area by Dillards smells like cooked cabbage due to the Senior Nutrition Center. Capital Mall could be so much more. Article also states that local median income is a factor that retailers consider when locating a store. WIth the largest payroll in the area depressing local wages, it doesn't look too promising. JC as an event shopping place for the ladies? Doubtful.

citmyway 2 years ago

yeah, no one is relating that the local JC residents are living paycheck to paycheck or are poor and there is a lower cost of living here than most places, when strengthens that the city is poor and the ones that have money do not support the community 7 days a week or do not live in JC and do cherry pick the events that they support, thats the attitude of this city...i give it 20 years and it may be a ghost town or has been. How do other poor cities manage?

Gotigers 2 years ago

The GAP leaving the mall was a huge blow. I cannot see the mall become vital anymore. To many good stores (TJ Max, Maurices, Barnes and Noble, Kohl's, etc...) have located elsewhere. The mall just doen't drive enough foot traffic for stores to move into it.

JCLifer 2 years ago

Capital Mall might be useful as a flea market or antique store.

Capitol Mall is going to need a complete renovation/remodel job inside and out if it ever hopes to become viable. The worn out 1970's decor and materials are getting close to hidious, and the exterior's clear lack of style, landscaping, and pot-holed parking lot make it quite an eyesore on the west side of town.

I would say the best thing for Capitol Mall would be to convert it to a big flea market /antique store, or else tear it down and start over.

morgan7987 2 years ago

we can make the mall a warehouse for all the state documents and put in a gun range and a bar and hey why not a place for people to go read books and hay how about a go cart track and miniature golf and call it wally world 2. and hey how about a drive movie place? hey how about a non stuffy work out gym. not like YMCA. and hey how about a place to bye bagels and a good cigar? how about in door race track for remote race cars. how about bass pro or nice BBQ restaurant? how about jobs that pay more then minimum wage? city of Jefferson will never be progressive as Columbia. that's why i go there. To many conservatives in jeff. To many upper crust saying keep things the way they are.

wcywing 2 years ago

good ideas. i have been to conservatives citys/towns and its more fun than JC. like Greenville SC. JC has no business sense it seems like. i might even move to Columbia, more jobs are popping up there and they say Conservatives are business friendly, but it doens't seem like it here.

tonto 2 years ago

Conservatives believe that cutting taxes is good business. Stores that are losing money won't benefit as much from those reduced taxes.

rmsberengaria 2 years ago

Hermann is a conservative town and it thrives on its German heritage and wines etc. Oops we can't do that here we have torn every significant landmark down, The Lohman House, Half of McCarty Street, a Block of High Street, The old Police Station, Several of the Stately homes on West Main, the Bassmann House. All for what non descript edifices to big government! The only thing worth seeing in this town is the Capitol Building, The Supreme Court Building, and the Governors Mansion and that is if you can get through all the omnipotent security public servants think they need.

3blindmice 2 years ago

i beg to differ. all of those places torn down have nice plaques indicating where history once stood. when my friends come to down I drive them around to look at all those little signs indicating what was previously there before the current parking lots.

JCLifer 2 years ago

I always go by the Lohman Prayer Garden to show folks the glorious Lohman house that isn't there anymore.

We even go to the mall to see all the boarded-up places and I tell them of the days when there used to be stores in them, car shows, home and energy shows, all sorts of events to bring out community members to shop afterwards.

herewego 2 years ago

How about a Tattoo Parlor too!

tonto 2 years ago

Wait a minute! Is the mall fragile like downtown? We wouldn't want to make anyone squeamish or anything.

wcywing 2 years ago

how many action commitees does JC need? the mall has been a joke since the late 80's. the owner of the mall is incompetant. Rent is too high, store owners have to price inventory way to high to make any money.

anyone could have told JC council this for free, but would they have listened?

wcywing 2 years ago

trolling, trolling trolling. guess what i asked, and the guy said the rent was high, did not mention the price but look at the near empty mall. what does that tell you? the mall does make a good parking lot.

JCLifer 2 years ago

in this town, with millions of square feet of commercial space sitting empty, it probably ought to be FREE!

tonto 2 years ago

It's not like renting a house or a storage unit. Retail property and malls in particular almost always have a two-part rent built into the lease. There is a base rent and a percentage of sales. JCLifer is right - it ought to be free until and unless the owners do some better promotional work.

melbrooks 2 years ago

The action teams are not affiliated with the city council.

3blindmice 2 years ago

the day's of malls are dead. invest in something that will make jefferson city stand out from the crowd

tonto 2 years ago

Ok, then explain Columbia Mall's continued growth. Explain how the Parkade Mall in Columbia is fully rented again.

wcywing 2 years ago

don't forget about the mills lane mall in st louis either.

3blindmice 2 years ago

take a look at the population of those cities. jefferson city is not large enough to support a mall. will they come from st louis, columbia, kansas city to a mall in jefferson city? not likely perhaps from brazito, wardsville and linn.

tonto 2 years ago

Please. It's not population that's the problem. It's variety and cleanliness. Shoppers came to Jefferson City from Columbia and the rest of central Missouri when we had a new mall and Columbia had the (old) Parkade and the (older) Strollway.

JMO 2 years ago

I imagine there are a lot of rural areas that would come to the mall if it were a decent mall. I grew up in the Eldon area and remember what a big deal it was to go shopping in JC. But of course, that was when dino's ruled. Now I imagine I'd go to the lake to shop for clothes, etc. Still, California, Tipton and that direction also doesn't have a lot of choice and Columbia is a lot farther.

JCLifer 2 years ago

I am thinking the amount of money to make the mall viable again would take way too much. The question should be: Do we want to let the mall continue in its slow depressing death, or is there anything else that can be done with the space to make it more usable and a valued part of the community. That is why I favor a library branch, maybe some city offices, parks and rec might be able to do some programming there, etc. However, the emphasis needs to be on YOUNG PROFESSIONALS and SKILLED TRADES PEOPLE, not old people, homeless, or welfare people (dollar stores). The money and growth should all be focused on getting more young professionals and skilled trades people to our town. They are the ones with money and alternatives and who can help this town improve.

tonto 2 years ago

The mall is really not that bad, but the owners are strapped for cash and they are spending their limited funds in bigger markets. That's where the size of the city matters. The owners seemt to be trying to milk this cow unitl it shrivels up and dies.

JCLifer 2 years ago

Not too bad? Have you been there and looked around? Everything there is old old old. Out of date, out of style, 1970's cheap construction, worn out.

There is nothing at the Mall (other than the Japanese Steakhouse) that a young professional would want to see. The mall is very outdated and poorly maintained, and its appearance is a blight on the city's west side.

There is nothing about the mall that makes it a positive asset to Jeff City. If Schulte is serious, he needs to work toward tearing it down, or trying to support a multi-million dollar renovation inside and out.

Yes, the owner can be blamed for not reinvesting in quality maintenance or improvements over the years, but some of that blame has to also go to business and city leaders who did not encourage the mall or support it by welcoming it into the community.

JMO 2 years ago

Malls have a style? I have to agree that it's not so bad. It's just a mall. They pretty much all look alike to me, the difference being the stores and customers. The bones of the buidings are the same. Concrete walls and floors with stores at each side. Where is it worn out? The doors work, the lights work, the windows are intact, the floors are there. What else is there to a mall? Sure it could use some sprucing up...new seating in the food court, more "stylish" decor, etc, maybe some new paint and signage...but a "blight"? You sound like a snooty 20 something who thinks anything before 2000 is from the stone age.

JCsleeper 2 years ago

Food Court? Oh yeah, there was one back when teens were allowed.

wcywing 2 years ago

i liked JR burgers, the icee store, and some other places, now its just a shell.

JMO 2 years ago

Well yeah...it needs tenants too! And the teen thing is ridiculous. If they cause trouble, toss them out. If they don't, leave them alone! They have rent a cops patroling who, as best I can tell, do nothing but toss the kids out at 4:00. My kid can't even take a date there and walk around/shop/eat/etc. waiting for a movie to start.

wcywing 2 years ago

this is sad,the (s)mall acting like a mini-police state. i would say boycott it, but since almost no one goes there, would the mall notice?

strange, i thought the malls main customers were teenagers.

JCsleeper 2 years ago

JR Burgers was good. Hot dogs and an Oragange Julius wasn't bad either. Pinball at the arcade was fun, too.

JCLifer 2 years ago

You are probably right. Most folks could not tell any difference between the Capital Mall and the West County Center in St. Louis. Both are nearly identical- just plain old malls with the same amenities and level of style.

(However, one is full of young professionals and skilled trades people spending their money, and the other has a few low income folks looking at the Dollar Tree store.)

JCLifer 2 years ago

You mean like a conference center and a trolley?

Jeffcitysupporter 2 years ago

Malls across America are dying. The retail market is going to the strip mall style, look at any study of retail growth, it is not occuring in malls, Jefferson City's retail market is growing immensely, we have Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, national chains. I completely agree with 3blindmice, Jefferson City has so much more potential than trying to grow the mall, which has never been terribly successful. Take Branson, do you go to the mall or do you go to the Landing? No, you go to shows and the landing on the river.

tonto 2 years ago

Older, poorly maintained malls are dying. There are lots of malls doing quite well, but ours is not one of them. The strip malls do well because they are cheaper. It's not the format.

JCLifer 2 years ago

Also, strip malls allow customers younger than 18 to shop there.

citmyway 2 years ago

invoke new rules and they will come... be hospitable to the teens and be more children friendly transport the students and residents to the mall 7 days a week free wifi -hmmm this is a no brainer step into 2011 and get out of 1991 have promotions to drive the folks in, pageants, conferences, parties hmmm 2nd no brainer be open to all shoppers (if they look different than you, they could be there to shop) provide jobs provide jobs provide jobs, people visit their friends at work and get thirsty dust up the place provide a service and assume there are residents in JC for the weekends that have nothing to do

wcywing 2 years ago

i used to remember when it was ok for teens to be at the mall, now its almost illegal.

citmyway 2 years ago

PS no one likes to look sweaty at the mall (no workout facilities at the mall) people like to look great at the mall, welcome that attitude, those attractive people at the mall shop, sweaty people at the mall run for their cars to go home and shower, they do not shop, no brainer.

Mr_Grimm 2 years ago

the rent there is sky high, thats the reason everyone leaves. Had a friend that used to work in EBgames and said it was just stupid. The city should take over a wing of it a turn it into a GOOD, healthy, fun place for kids to hang out. Games, wifi, music, etc with adults watching and PD making evening walkthroughs. People always complain there is no where for kids to go in this town. so make something.

JMO 2 years ago

Hate to admit, but I don't know. Who owns the mall anyway? Are they just so independently wealthy that the fact that it keeps losing businesses means nothing?

I do shop at the mall. I go to the big three, Sears and Penny's and Dillards on occasion. I go to CJ Banks and JoAnne's Fabrics and Payless. I used to go to Hot Topic (teenager) but it moved out. I suppose I'm not a good example, but I'm not even sure what other places are still there. If I want to "go shopping" and make a day of it...that isn't the place I think of.

JCsleeper 2 years ago

Put in security cameras - lot's of 'em and in the stores, too. Let the kids back in and encourage some new food court tenants and some retail that would be of interest to them. Transfer a JCPD officer from traffic enforcement to mall -teen resource officer during non-school hours. Business might pick up a little.

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