I don’t think that’s the reason why they moved locations. I think the new mall entrance will be where the former California Pizza Kitchen is located. It probably also makes more sense to have a higher profile storefront to attract drivers on Route 9 also.

Plus, there are still a number of storefronts that have never officially had a store open since the new wing opened. General Growth’s solution at the moment is to fill one of the stores with a temporary, cheesy oriental gift store in the new wing – I doubt this is what they were hoping for.Two retailers have dropped out of the project altogether (Piazza Sempione and Lauren Ralph Lauren). There were so many lofty expectations for the expansion and it has certainly not delivered. Some retailers they should considering opening in the new wing to fill the many gaps include – H&M (a store people can actually afford), A/X Armani Exchange, and Pottery Barn.

Several high-priced developments had opened up over the past decade in the 15-mile stretch between Natick/Framingham and Worcester and it seems the developers were counting on these people to start shopping in Natick. Unfortunately, these potential shoppers were seriously over-extended, financially-speaking, and this area suffers from what some term “the Spag’s mentality.” (We like our discounts deep, and our parking ample -and free!)

For the uninitiated, Spag’s was a wonderfully eclectic no-frills “warehouse” store located 13 miles west of Natick in Shrewsbury, MA where one could buy anything from a hammer and nails to gourmet foods to grandfather clocks and genuine Persian rugs all at ridiculously low prices. People would travel for miles to grab a bargain, and Spag’s was a much-loved part of the community..

Spags has since closed – but generations of shoppers in the area grew up knowing what a bargain was – and these people simply won’t pay $500 for a pair of jeans @ Neiman-Marcus when they can get something similar for 1/10th of the cost at an off-price retailer like TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Loehman’s or Filene’s Basement (all of which have outlets within a one-mile radius of the Natick Collection) or even the Premium Outlets in Wrentham which are less than a 45 minute drive from the area.

Additionally, the Mall @ Chestnut Hill (10 miles east of the Natick Collection) has a similar roster of stores in a smaller setting – but is anchored by the only Bloomingdales in New England and has no apparent lack of parking.