Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=72956" target="_blank"><b>Latest: OCReg: GardenWalk defaults on $210 million loan</b></a> <p>The <i>Orange County Register</i> reports the developers of Anaheim GardenWalk, the outdoor retail mall near Disneyland have defaulted on their $210 million loan and are facing foreclosure. The article quotes GardenWalk spokesman Robert Magnuson, "The financing in no way will affect the customer experience at GardenWalk."</p>
Originally Posted By doombuggy no shocker at all. I always thought it was like a carnival opening up next to DL. Why build a strip mall when Down town Disney was right there?
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight The GardenWalk is sad to say the least. There are alot of hoity toity shops in there that are always dead when it comes to customers. The design of the GardenWalk is pretty nice. It's a nice place togo and walk around and hear some music at night and would be a great place for people to hang and shop,if it weren't for the hoity toity places in there. Perhaps if they toned it to places where people could actually afford to buy a few things, and add more laid back restaraunts. They are trying to be high class, and it's back fireing on them. MY DD worked the Empty Grave, scary maze they had there this past Oct and as I walked around in all the shops I saw how dead it was and asked the people in the shops if it was always like this. They ALL said YES. It was always pretty much dead in there. All of the people in the shops said that it was because the shops they worked in had higher end thing's and most people that came through there would rather spend thier money at Disneyland, wich seemed to be where alot of poeple were headed to or comming from. ( one shop I went in had a tank top for $90.00)And that wasn't the only shop that was priced as so. It has alot that could be worked on tomake it work,but the shops they have there now just aren't working.
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<"The financing in no way will affect the customer experience at GardenWalk.">> Huh? GW has no chance for survival what so ever. It is simply pathetic.
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight <<Why build a strip mall when Down town Disney was right there?>> Yup! But it could work if they changed the shops and added more relaxed places to eat. It could work for the locals more.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>MY DD worked the Empty Grave, scary maze they had there this past Oct and as I walked around in all the shops I saw how dead it was and asked the people in the shops if it was always like this.<< Now that's themeing!
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<But it could work if they changed the shops and added more relaxed places to eat. It could work for the locals more.>> That's what the Block was kind of designed to do, but they haven't been able to keep their anchor stores operating. I just wouldn't base a resort type strip mall on local $$$.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Not just DtD .. there's also The Block just a couple miles away! I will say though ... they got a great movie theater complex. Plus .. a rather cool bowling allie underneath. I hope the place does not go completely under. One idea - What about the thought of Disney buying it?
Originally Posted By xrayvision They need a Walgreens or CVS or ABC Stores at Gardenwark, or within walking distance to the Disney Resort, especially for those of us who fly into town and have to leave without or throw away our liquid toiletries to enter the plane (ie liquid soaps, suntan lotion). And, having a place to buy food, fruit, snacks for your kitchen suite/timeshare kitchen, without getting in a car or bus, is what would be helpful to me as a tourist. Such stores are offered within resorts or walking distance at other vacation destinations, so why not Disney California? Yeah, I can use a check-in a bag to contain those items, but I usually just have a carry-on bag for a Disney minnie-vacations.
Originally Posted By TP2000 Why is this in the Disneyland section? It should have been placed in Future Expansion.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes (agrees with post 12) I think Disney could find a way to get people there. I recall an aquarium was planned for the GW in it's early concepts. Get an attraction in there. WDI could come up with something to make it a must see for both the tourists and the locals. Give the Imaganeers a crack at it. They can do amazing things with shopping malls. Look at Main Street. I'm sure there would have to be some kind of quick smooth transport from DLR to GW, but it would be perfect for Disney's hotel development.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney I know these places in general are suppose to be more expensive places for tourist, but I never get why ONLY high end stuff in places like this? Why not a mixture of both? And yes, its done ALL the time in L.A. malls and other shopping areas. I was at the Grove, Irvine Spectrum and Santa Monica promenade all in one week last week and they all had a mixture of expensive stores and middle of the road ones. It brings in everyone. Even people who might come for the lower end stuff might check out the higher end stuff if they see something they like. But you cut out ALOT of people who wont ever bother to go if they hear its all expensive shops only....especially in this economy. And post 11 is right, put a Target in there or something, something EVERYONE goes to because not only is it affordable, every basic thing you need is there, especially for a tourist. I dont understand why no one thinks to put something in places nearer these vacation resorts where you can find some cheap vacation shorts, process film, buy an affordable camera or video recorder, find a discount book to read, get some DVDs, buy food/snacks for the hotel, etc? I mean if Irvine Spectrum can have a Target, why not this place? These kinds of all-in-one stores would make a killing based on the location and especially for all the budget tourist or the tourist that went overboard (which at Disney is not hard at all ).
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "One idea - What about the thought of Disney buying it?" I can't see that happening given that the place is losing money. Maybe I'm just not a visionary, but I can't see what value can Disney add that would turn the place around without spending millions of dollars. I think Disney would be better off financially by building new hotels and at DLR and expanding DTD.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Why is it that developers in Southern California only seem to be interested in building cookie-cutter shopping malls? Even The Grove, with it's silly copycat faux Main Street, has little in it worth seeing. I actually end up spending most of my time in the old Farmer's Market whenever I'm in that area. As a tourist I always get the impression that the LA/OC area is lacking in cultural activities for such a large and diverse region. Therefore, my main gripe about GW is that rather than more shops and restaurants that can be found anywhere it should have been some kind of shopping/dining experience unique to the region.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes >>>without spending millions of dollars<<< That's my point. They would have to spend millions, probably hundreds of millions, but I think it would work. They would have to make it seem as much a part of the resort as DTD. The critical factor would be coming up with a way to transport guests back and forth rather seamlessly (and I can't see how that could be done without hundreds of millions more). It would need attraction(s), not exactly 'rides' or Disneyland style attractions, and it would have to have a couple of highly themed Disney hotels to provide a base of visitors. But I think it would be a money maker in the long run. I think they should grab it now, and when they eventually develop the strawberry field into a third park, the place ought to be very busy. Very long range, I know. Those seeking a quick return on investment wouldn't approve this idea. Anybody know what they paid for the strawberry field just to hold it?
Originally Posted By dshyates Here is an article from the OCRegister: <a href="http://m.ocregister.com/news/mall-334910-voorhees-disney.html" target="_blank">http://m.ocregister.com/news/m...ney.html</a>
