Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << I think someone needs to build something like a Great Wolf Lodge on the property that combines a nicely themed hotel with a good waterpark. >> The company that builds Great Wolf Lodges is losing money at rates that aren't sustainable. I expect they'll be in bankruptcy by the middle of 2011 when they have some pretty substantial debt instruments come due. I don't think a bankrupt waterpark hotel would be much better than a bankrupt shopping center.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer I kind of figured that they wouldn't last long. They built a hotel in a pretty dumpy town along I-5 about an hour and a half outside Seattle. The location s dreadful. It's too late for GardenWalk anyway. Too much has already been built to be able to justify the expense of tearing it down and starting over.
Originally Posted By Ohana hey Sport oofy, <<Witness all of the malls inside the hotels on the Vegas strip that have closed/downsized during the past several years. >> what malls in vegas have closed or downsized?
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy ^^ The last time I was there, the Miracle Mile shops were being gutted and replaced with a less themed and more downscale shopping experience. There were a lot of empty shopping storefronts in a lot of the hotel malls on the strip, including the fashion show and Caesar's. Then there's the removal of a number of themed attractions that weren't replaced with anything.
Originally Posted By Ohana ^^ just wondering because im there often. although there has been change in the places you mentioned, they are doing well. Miracle Mile had almost no vacancies in November. Caesars Forum is also very full to capacity. Fashion Show i did not see and do not know well enough.
Originally Posted By snappyfun yes affordable housing would be great at GW, then we could have drive by shootings, and slums and Disney could make it in to a cops ride
Originally Posted By believe >>>>>Tourists don't do heavy duty shopping on vacation. Witness all of the malls inside the hotels on the Vegas strip that have closed/downsized during the past several years. Tourists don't go to the Gap to buy clothes while they're on vacation. They can do that at home.<<<<< Actually, we do buy stuff during vacation, but usually outlets store type stuff, and "bargain" stuff, and stuff you don't usually see at home. Vegas - they have too many high end stores - who can afford that even in good times.
Originally Posted By crapshoot <<There were a lot of empty shopping storefronts in a lot of the hotel malls on the strip, including the fashion show and Caesar's.>> FAO Schwarz is one store no longer at Caesars Forum Shops. Sad.
Originally Posted By Ohana true, FAO was the last kid's store holdout. Disney and Warner Brothers went out of the Forum many years ago. The mall is still healthy though, i think a lot of Vegas has been taking out the "kid-isms"
Originally Posted By believe <<<<<<FAO Schwarz is one store no longer at Caesars Forum Shops. Sad>>>>>> Actually, it's still a toy store now, but not an FAO toy store. The trojan horse is still there.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "FAO Schwarz is one store no longer at Caesars Forum Shops." All the FAO Schwartz shops closed years ago except the one in NYC. We lost the one here and there's a Barney's in its place.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Americans have all bought into the cult of real estate and retail.<< Don't forget SG, real estate always goes up! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Real-Estate-Boom-Will-Bust/dp/0385514352/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266384182&sr=1-1" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Real-Est...2&sr=1-1</a> And it has to be true, because Suzanne researched it! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubsd-tWYmZw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...d-tWYmZw</a>
Originally Posted By jmuboy FAO was aquired by Toys R Us last year and now operates only the FAO Flagship on 5th Ave in NYC. FAO is more tourist attraction / landmark now than a real store in my mind.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 So...anybody have info about the auction that took place yet? I'm curious to find out who bought it. I"m guessing if it was Disney, we would have heard about it by now.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Ok.. dumb question.. If tourists don't shop on vacation... who's at Epcot and what on earth are they do in World Showcase?
Originally Posted By dshyates "...who's at Epcot and what on earth are they do(ing) in World Showcase?" DRINKING! Duh!
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 So, I found out that the auction got postponed to April. I don't know the reason, but I do hope Disney buys the property thinking of the longview instead of short term profit.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I've yet to hear a reasonable argument for why Disney should invest in that failed shopping mall.
Originally Posted By gadzuux How about this one - that plot of land links not just one but TWO separate disney owned parking lots with the esplanade, the 'downtown disney district, and it's two parks. If they were to purchase AGW they'd have a continuous strip of land from the parking lots to the parks. This strip is lined with already existing locations for retail, food and beverage. Similar in concept to Universal Citywalk, where guests arriving at their parks must first traverse an onslaught of retail and restaurants. It also has available space for at least two new hotel towers - all directly adjacent to their premium park properties. In short, disney could capitalize on this development more effectively than anyone else. Conversely, if it fails, it impacts the entire resort area. As the proverbial 800 pound gorilla of the resort district, Disney has a responsibility to prevent blight and decay in the immediate vicinity. How's that for a reasonable argument?
