Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter I know that Department 56, Libby Lu,and Starabilia are gone. Have any other businesses left DtD? And has anything replaced the ones that went out of business yet?
Originally Posted By alexbook Haven't seen any replacements yet. No other empty storefronts that I've seen.
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter Thanks, Alex. I read a post somewhere about four businesses having left DtD, so I was curious about the 4th one. Sounds like it's actually just the three.
Originally Posted By alexbook Illuminations will probably be closing in April. I think that was the fourth store you read about. According to this story, Yankee is closing all their Illuminations stores, but they're opening more Yankee Candle Company stores. I wonder if they're going to be in the same locations? <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D95R646G0.htm" target="_blank">http://www.businessweek.com/ap...46G0.htm</a>
Originally Posted By Main Street Dad Anyone have any idea what the lease rates are there? Not that I have a shop to open, but since I work in real estate here, I'm curious...
Originally Posted By juicer I am interested too - I wonder if Disney requires a monthly and monthly percentage of income.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Here is a recent OC Register story regarding the possible upcoming closures. <a href="http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/2009/02/09/trip-report-stores-close-in-downtown-disney/5348/" target="_blank">http://ocresort.freedombloggin...ey/5348/</a>
Originally Posted By Jenn31 Thanks for the info Darkbeer. I really hope BASIN doesn't close. That is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE! I spend so much $$$ there every trip, I'd be so sad if they closed.
Originally Posted By alexbook It's interesting that three of the four stores closing are going away because of entire chains being shut down by their parent companies, and not necessarily because business in their DTD stores is bad. (Starabilias is a little different, since it's a "chain" with only two stores, one in Anaheim and one in Orlando.) I'm not saying that business is good in DTD, just that this is at least partly a local effect of a more global problem. Looking at it further, Club Libby Lu, Department 56, and Illuminations were all purchased by larger companies (Saks, Lenox, Yankee Candle), which ran them for a few years, lost money, and then decided to shut them down. I could say more, but that would take us into WE territory.
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter ACK!!!! Basin CANNOT leave DtD! That is one of my absolute must dos of every Disneyland trip. Furthermore, I am pretty certain my hands would just fall off if I didn't have a constant supply of Basin's body butter all winter.
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter Okay, now I'm confused. I just read the article Darkbeer linked. . . it says nothing about Basin. Jenn, did you hear somewhere else that it's possibly closing???
Originally Posted By Jenn31 No no, I was just saying I would be devestated if they left too. It's my favorite store and I donate so much $$ to them. I love the smell when you first walk in. AHHH.
Originally Posted By jmuboy I wonder if ILLUMINATIONS will be converted into a regular Yankee Candle Store? That would be nice. I love Yankee Candles.
Originally Posted By bubsmom *whew*...Sooooo glad to hear the BASIN is not on the list of closures...I love that store and always drop a dime when I'm in town!! Love the bath bombs!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I'm sorry that Dept 56 is gone BUT I'll be coming home from vacation with a lot more money still in my pocket There was always something in that store that jumped into my hands. Going into Basin is a must. I have to get the girls their scrubbie soaps
Originally Posted By pwrof3 DTD has always had a weak collection of stores, and has always been a weak response to CityWalk or even WDW Downtown Disney. It is full of over priced specialty stores that the avergae Joe is not going to wander into and buy something. The only "normal" stores there are the quicksilver clothing store, the Jamba Juice, Wetzel's Pretzels, and the movie theatre. When families are on vacation and visiting from out of stae, they want a place that is close to Disneyland to pick up a cheap dinner and cheap souveniers. This is why the Denny's on Harbor is always packed! Put in a food court with some cheap food, add a few cheaper souvenier shops, and people will spend more money there. Right now DTD is nothing but a hangout for the local Anaheim teens, who do nothing but take up space walking around and creating havoc.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>When families are on vacation and visiting from out of stae, they want a place that is close to Disneyland to pick up a cheap dinner and cheap souveniers. This is why the Denny's on Harbor is always packed! Put in a food court with some cheap food, add a few cheaper souvenier shops, and people will spend more money there. <<< YUK - no way. That is not what draws me 6000 miles to DL. But all the eateries of DTD do appeal, and some of the stores. If it were a cheapy place, then no way would I bother.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I agree. No way I'd leave DL to eat at a cheap food court, even if I could save a few bucks. I WILL leave to eat at one of the DTD restaurants, because the food is better. I've never had a WHOLE lot of use for shopping areas attached to theme parks (CitiWalk, WDW's DTD, etc.); for some reason DLR's works best for me. It's close, it's pretty compact, it has a pleasant atmosphere, usually good live entertainment, and I like it even though I haven't been in most of the stores and have no particular interest in at least half of them. But that's more interest than I have in the other places' stores.
Originally Posted By pwrof3 "I agree. No way I'd leave DL to eat at a cheap food court, even if I could save a few bucks. I WILL leave to eat at one of the DTD restaurants, because the food is better." I agree with you. I'm thinking more along the lines of young familes. Mom, Dad, three kids age 10 and below. I used to work at DCA and would be amazed at how crowded Burger Invasion was every day. And families do flock to McDonald's and Denny's on Harbor.
