[PAmedic]

ok, gotcha. Made a late-night run w/ SJ to a Sheetz down there somewhere.

[Libertine]

In the past, there was also some discussion about putting another Wards Rd. strip mall in on that side. Continuing the road out there would give Campus East more or less direct access to something like that.

[El Scorcho]

The road from Campus East to Wards that is dumping by the airport one of the new roads for the new mall. Not a new strip mall, the new mall that was announced in the N&A not too long ago. It's not an "if" thing anymore. Development is in progress.

[Libertine]

Scorchy, as I understood it they were talking about something like what Wards Crossing is with the Target and chain box stores in it. That's what I meant by strip mall. Are you saying that they're in development for something more along the lines of River Ridge Mall?

[El Scorcho]

That is what I am saying, although River Ridge is a poor comparison as it is a totally enclosed 80's style mall.

The mall that has been discussed is a high-end "open-air" style of mall, in the same vein as Short Pump Town Center in Richmond and The Streets at Southpoint in Durham. If you haven't been to either, it's hard to explain. Southpoint has a traditional (but upscale) indoor mall, with several big-name retailers out in an open air area that feels kind of like a Main Street shopping experience. A big wide sidewalk runs down about three "blocks" of shops, and ends at a large fountain in front of a big theater. The have several big restaurants (Firebirds Grill, Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, etc.) as well as many big retailers (Barnes & Noble, Apple, Pottery Barn, etc.) out in the open-air area. The traditional anchor department stores are still attached to the indoor portion of the mall. I've never been to Short Pump, but people tell me it's more or less the same.

References:

Short Pump Town Center: http://www.shortpumpmall.com/

The Streets at Southpoint: http://www.streetsatsouthpoint.com/html/index10.asp

The comparison to Short Pump, and the original article about the mall can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/3863kk

[Cider Jim]

I'm gonna need a new map everytime I visit

At least the football stadium isn't moving any time soon, and if our tailgating parties get relocated, I'm sure that SJ will send out a memo well in advance.

[Fumblerooskies]

Once this summer is over...the new classes in CN will be on-line....and that will pretty much take the remainder of available space over there. So...if further growth is to occur...DeMoss will have to be completed.

[Hold My Own]

Short Pump Town Center: http://www.shortpumpmall.com/

All that's needed to be said

[LUconn]

The Streets at Southpoint: http://www.streetsatsouthpoint.com/html/index10.asp

I just went there for the first time a couple of weeks ago while visiting my brother-in-law in Durham. That place is something else. I really wonder if Lynchburg has the residents to support something like that.

[Hold My Own]

Corp Real estate investors seem to think so....keep in mind Lynchburg is only half the $$$$$ think of all those who travel to go to a "good mall"

for the first time we'll be getting Roanoke people to come down here to shop

[jcmanson]

I've been to short pump towne center several times, it's very nice. There are malls of this type popping up all over the country. There is another one in Richmond, and I used to live in Fla, and that was basically all that was down there.

[JDUB]

i know a bunch of people who drive 30-45 minutes to southpoint on a regular basis. so i'm sure if lynchburg got one it would definitly draw from roanoke.
on a side note, a new "open-air" or whatever you call it mall is opening in burlington nc this summer. i'm pretty excited about that, b/c we can quit going to durham so much.

[Libertine]

I haven't been to either of those two places but, if they're anything as described then I could definitely see something like this pulling shoppers in from all over. I mean, people come from Danville to shop at River Ridge now!

[Fumblerooskies]

In another thread...someone mentioned about extending the campus east road and access to shopping. Quick question...if that is supposed to be a new mall area...what happens to intramurals.

[SuperJon]

That doesn't count. They're from Danville.

[Libertine]

That doesn't count. They're from Danville.

Their money's still green. Including their spare change.



No, I'm not exactly sure what that means but I do know this: Danville is Virginia's Mexico.

[El Scorcho]

I haven't been to either of those two places but, if they're anything as described then I could definitely see something like this pulling shoppers in from all over. I mean, people come from Danville to shop at River Ridge now!

Yep. There's a reason these malls have hotels piled up around them. "Destination shopping" is the term you hear thrown around a lot by developers working on these places.

[Fumblerooskies]

Intramurals will be fine. The mall will be set further back and a good distance away from Campus East. Walkable, but certainly not on top of it. There's a lot of land back there.

I just assumed that the fields will be gone to make room.

Here's a question my son asked about the movie theater...
..."On Liberty-owned land, will they show R movies?" Pretty perceptive young man.

[LUconn]

is this about the Imax? I thought the movie theatre talk was about the one going in over by lakeside.

[LUconn]

So, I'm convinced that this place will lead to LU buying River Ridge. Those dudes just bought the place and this newer "destination" mall will just absolutely make RR a slum. Enter LU/Art Williams/Hobby Lobby to swoop in, knock it down and make a giant convocation center with ample parking. A happy ending for everyone except the letter to the editor.

[HenryGale]

Rumors I have heard is that 70% of the stores in RR have already committed to moving to the new mall. RR=cheap asking price!

[LUconn]

Hmm, I wouldn't have thought that 70% of RR's stores would be wanted at this mall. Has the 99 cent store comitted? Or are they the hold out.

[El Scorcho]

So, I'm convinced that this place will lead to LU buying River Ridge. Those dudes just bought the place and this newer "destination" mall will just absolutely make RR a slum. Enter LU/Art Williams/Hobby Lobby to swoop in, knock it down and make a giant convocation center with ample parking. A happy ending for everyone except the letter to the editor.

I think I've expressed the same thought on this board before. If I haven't, then I'll just say that I agree with you. I think it would make a great site for a new arena/civic center/convocation center. One step at a time, though.

[Fumblerooskies]

Great...
...all we need is the typical weekend mall rift raft hanging out in close proximity to East Campus.

[Cider Jim]

JF said he was praying about wanting to acquire the RR mall in a meeting I was at today over at LCA.