Maybe they are, especially with high gas prices, but that’s not what I got from his post. I do commute to Miami every so often for semi-business purposes, but I know I’m the exception more than the rule. (BTW, I commuted to Mays Landing twice a week from Freehold when I lived in NJ, LOL)

Although if deadmalls.com is any indication, Miami has more than its share of defunct malls. Omni in particular sounds like a beaut.

Contrary to what Keith wrote, WPB is not dying, if anything downtown is slowly coming back with all the new restaurants opening. Although on the down side, the theatre now has a For Sale sign on it. It made me sad.

Debbi, As a former resident of NJ, That would be like living down toward Bay Head & driving to work in Manhattan. Edge suburbs that grew like crazy over the last 20-years are contracting at an encredible rate. Not just in Florida but, throughout the country.

Yeah, I couldn’t figure out what he was talking about either. (Miami center of South Florida? Thanks for the bulletin.)

What? You’re nuts

Even if Foot Locker could do well downtown (which I disagree with), where would they go? The 200 block would be too upscale for them. On the 500 block, I suppose they could go into the Sewell Hardware space, but there’s no retail chains there, so I doubt they’d be welcome. Likewise Banyan and Datura–what little retail I observe there, Subway excepted, is of the mom-and-pop variety. On the 300 block, Off The Hookah is going into the Z Gallerie space. Maybe, just maybe, they could give it a go where Diablo Liquor Stand was, but again, I’m not seeing it. I’m thinking a more logical place for them to relocate would be on Okeechobee Blvd–certainly lots of retail space and their demographic lives much closer.

OTOH, if/when George’s Music is forced to relocate, I see them easily going into the Sewell Hardware space. But then again, that’s just me.

But Debbi, you are forgetting, that Foot Locker is the kind of thing that a lot of West Palm Beachers like. Also, Foot Locker is not near as upscale as Ann Taylor Loft, and I think they could do well in downtown. you cant compare the two, Ann Taylor has an entirely different demographic. The reason the Clematis Street Store closed is because there is one SO close by, less than 1/4 a mile… in City place.

I am more surprised that Sears has pulled out of West Palm Beach all together without a replacement (especially after all the hoopla in 1980 that they went through to get that spot). Like JCP, I always thought that Sears was pretty busy.

JCP on the otherhand tho is always absolutely packed! Their demographics is very similar to that that would shop at Footlocker. Perhaps Foot Locker may get one of those out parcels across the street, like where Boaters World use to be.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/palm-beach-mall-reps-talking-to-ikea-bass-181414.html

Also, forgot to mention in my earlier post that both JCPenney and George’s Music looked to be pretty busy. JCP had their surrounding lot about 2/3 full.

So the best I could tell from looking inside locked doors, Payless looked to be one of the final holdouts, as was a nail salon. I’m guessing from the posts above, Foot Locker and all its spinoffs were there as well.

The shoe repair shop was in the process of moving; there is a sign on their door saying the new address will be on the 500 block of Clematis. I chatted with the staff for a couple of minutes; they appear to be good people. Good luck to them. I know I posted just upthread that retail does horribly there, but little businesses do seem to perform ok. Besides, the 500 block is more low-key than the flash-and-glitter of a couple blocks down. An art gallery and cell phone store have just opened, a local restaurant just relocated, and last night I heard a tiki bar is in the process of being built into the old Ray’s Downtown Blues space. I think they’ll be just fine.

On the mall, I agree 100% with Brian. Yeah, the neighborhood may not be too great, but there are lots of office buildings nearby, and it’s practically right next to I-95…no excuse for Simon to neglect the mall the way they did. And now it’s gone.