Southgate Mall, Albatross or Golden Goose?

Nice analysis. I think at this point it is an albatross, but it seems like an astute business person could turn it around. I'm not sure a dinner club would thrive--but what do I know!

Strip club!!!! (just kidding)

Malls are dying everywhere. It was a trendy thing. The open air shopping centers are the new things in the big cities. Malls get turned into call centers or government offices OR they die a slow death and then get the wrecking ball.

Southgate Mall is surviving because it already hosts a call center and Tractor Supply has some business even though it isn't a real anchor. Walmart can pull people there but the only anchor store space left is Rogers and it is hid behind the mall. They had better start looking for a government tenant if they want to survive.

I would love to see a Bass Pro Shop in that location. They have the power to draw from a 50 to 60 mile radius and since they sell life essentials they would not be hurt by the down turn in the ecomony. I think the owner of the mall property would be wise to put up investment money to draw Bass Pro. This would be great and I don't even live in Muscle Shoals.

Memo to Muscle Shoals Mayor, Hon. David Bradford:

Contact Southgate Mall owner regarding future of Mall property. Pitch him on the Bass Pro Shop (what a great asset sitting right here on the Tennessee River) and tell him it would greatly improve his ROI if he made incentives and concessions to Bass Pro to open a shop on Southgate Mall property. Failing that, advise them that for the common good, we might have to invoke the powers of eminent domain and take over the property in order to bring Bass Pro to Muscle Shoals.

The owners of this property do not seem to care. As I understand the rents on the available spaces are way above reasonable for the area. I conclude they are content with a loss to break even property or are using it to offset income from other properties. With economic conditions as they are don't look for any major investment from the owners.

I know this is gonna upset all the devoted Walmartees but that store has killed Southgate Mall. If there were no Walmart, I would have to say most of the stores would be in the mall. I don't think MS wants anything over here or they would push to advertise the mall and other areas close to it.

quote:

Originally posted by SHELDIVR:
Memo to Muscle Shoals Mayor, Hon. David Bradford:

Contact Southgate Mall owner regarding future of Mall property. Pitch him on the Bass Pro Shop (what a great asset sitting right here on the Tennessee River) and tell him it would greatly improve his ROI if he made incentives and concessions to Bass Pro to open a shop on Southgate Mall property. Failing that, advise them that for the common good, we might have to invoke the powers of eminent domain and take over the property in order to bring Bass Pro to Muscle Shoals.

No No Bass Pro HAS to be built on land by the river (at least that's what was told to us folks here in Florence). Oh and you have to GIVE the land to them in order for them to build.

quote:

Originally posted by redbull:

quote:

Originally posted by SHELDIVR:
Memo to Muscle Shoals Mayor, Hon. David Bradford:

Contact Southgate Mall owner regarding future of Mall property. Pitch him on the Bass Pro Shop (what a great asset sitting right here on the Tennessee River) and tell him it would greatly improve his ROI if he made incentives and concessions to Bass Pro to open a shop on Southgate Mall property. Failing that, advise them that for the common good, we might have to invoke the powers of eminent domain and take over the property in order to bring Bass Pro to Muscle Shoals.

No No Bass Pro HAS to be built on land by the river (at least that's what was told to us folks here in Florence). Oh and you have to GIVE the land to them in order for them to build.

There used to be a river at Southgate when it rained a lot.

Dear younger Forum members, Granny Been There, Done That rides again. Two solutions have been offered for Southgate Mall. Both of them are for amusement related venues. If you are under 60, get the message. This especially applies to those who have said that what we need is a recession. There ain't going to be any clubbing or high class sports money lying around. I do not want to sound negative, but the truth hurts.

Sorry, but a Bass Pro in Muscle Shoals, that mall no less, is absurd. Bass Pro is a huge anchor at large retail centers, not a dead mall with a Tractor Supply. I've been to two, one being at Opry Mills and the other at a huge mall in one of the largest cities in Canada.

That is about as realistic as putting a Cheesecake Factory at 7 Points Shopping Center.

The beautiful, large Bass Pro Shop in Savannah, GA, is not on a river, heck, it's not even on a creek. BUT there is a large, man-made water fall coming out of the front wall of the building. Bass Pro will locate where someone gives them the incentive to locate. We just need some leadership to wake up and realize that Bass Pro would bring more money to this area than the golf course, hotel and restaurant.

Have you ever seen actual figures regarding the economic impact of the golf course, hotel and restaurant? Actual dollars that have accrued to the tax base, directly as a result of taxes received from this RSA source...and please don't count the two cents per gallon gas extorted from Lauderdale and Colbert County tax payers...just profit proceeds. I suspect if any money is being made it is going to RSA.

Southgate is most likely a tax write-off for somebody.

And a Bass Pro Shop would be terrible. Their demands are too great. In fact, it often results in a negative economic impact.

When I was a kid, Southgate was bumping. Then it emptied out and when I was in High School it revived a little but it was mostly stores like "Dressed to the 9's" and "Happy's"--which were $10.00 or less stores and everything was crappy and barely survived a washing.

What about putting in outlet stores like they have in Boaz, Foley, etc? Or open the mall part of the program for a First Friday type thing?

When I am bored at home I don't want to go shopping. I want to go DO something, where something is HAPPENING. Where I can take my kids and get a corn dog or something. Just get out of the house. We have a lot of things to do here now but something new would be great. Something different.

If people really are desperate enough for shopping as some claim, outlet stores would ROCK. People would come from all over, eat here, stay in one of our fine, overpriced hotels...maybe Daddy would even go play a round of golf while Mama shopped.

Seriously.

flood and freeze the inside and turn it into an ice rink......give the walkers some variety

Use some of that space for indoor entertainment:

Large groovy indoor putt putt golf.
Another bowling alley
A pool hall - no alcohol, just pool tables and other games that are suitable for family & underage entertainment. Such as skeeball, foozball, etc.

Everything but the space the building is sitting on is a flood area and has been designated so for many years. From the looks of the place it just needs be torn down. Maybe they could put a golf course there, we really need another one. I don't know why so many people scream bass pro shop. I think a store like that would do good here but there are other companies that do not want everything give to them like Cabelas.

Help me please. Waht life essentials do Bass-Pro shops sell. I have been in two or three and did no find anything that was essential to my life

quote:

Originally posted by SHELDIVR:
I would love to see a Bass Pro Shop in that location. They have the power to draw from a 50 to 60 mile radius and since they sell life essentials they would not be hurt by the down turn in the ecomony. I think the owner of the mall property would be wise to put up investment money to draw Bass Pro. This would be great and I don't even live in Muscle Shoals.

quote:

Originally posted by MomsyDearest:
When I was a kid, Southgate was bumping. Then it emptied out and when I was in High School it revived a little but it was mostly stores like "Dressed to the 9's" and "Happy's"--which were $10.00 or less stores and everything was crappy and barely survived a washing.

What about putting in outlet stores like they have in Boaz, Foley, etc? Or open the mall part of the program for a First Friday type thing?

When I am bored at home I don't want to go shopping. I want to go DO something, where something is HAPPENING. Where I can take my kids and get a corn dog or something. Just get out of the house. We have a lot of things to do here now but something new would be great. Something different.

If people really are desperate enough for shopping as some claim, outlet stores would ROCK. People would come from all over, eat here, stay in one of our fine, overpriced hotels...maybe Daddy would even go play a round of golf while Mama shopped.

Seriously.

I also recall when Southgate Mall was full of stores, activity and patrons. I can remember a grocery store, a tire store and lots of clothing stores, and even bookstores. It has been years ago (like the late 1970's), but I can remember when the mall was a vital part of the economy and the community.

I would suggest (like most other things) that if you follow the money, it all starts to make sense. It was suggested in an earlier posting that the property might simply be used on someone's balance sheet to create an offset for a more profitable property. Businesses use that tactic every day and there is nothing illegal, immoral, or unethical with that if it is indeed the case. It is a shame though to see such a potentially viable property being underutilized.

I recall a decade or so ago being told (during a casual conversation) by a very influential "someone" with a very close connection to one of the many small shops that dotted that area at that time that the LAST thing Muscle Shoals needed was a mall (presumably because it would impact the smaller stores and their sales and profitability).

It seems a shame really. With thinking like that it looks like consumers will have to continue to drive to Florence for shopping options. Like I said, follow the money. I ask you, whose ox would be gored if consumers had some real retail options on the south side of the river?

Why is it that everyone seems to treat the river like an international border? For crying out loud, it's NOT that far from MS, Tuscumbia, or Sheffield to Florence. I for one would like to See Regency Square improved (or a really nice mall in either of the quad cities). I hate having to go out of town (REALLY out of town) for a decent mall.

i'd like to see them drop the rent and let all the thriftstores consolidate to one location

the muscle shoals superthrift! people would come for miles!

I remember the big Girl Scout affair that used to be at Southgate Mall in the early/mid 70's. Especially '74 (I think) when we had all the floods and tornado's...it was so flooded we were taken from the edge of the parking lot entrance behind Rogers to the Mall in little skiff type fishing boats.

As for today, perhaps a conglomeration of some ideas already posted:

1) Reasonably priced family entertainment, with no alcohol or smoking, in one wing
2) Thrift and arts/crafts shops in another wing
3) Aldi's in another wing...so there will be one on the 'other side' of the river

quote:

Originally posted by lawguy07:
Why is it that everyone seems to treat the river like an international border? For crying out loud, it's NOT that far from MS, Tuscumbia, or Sheffield to Florence. I for one would like to See Regency Square improved (or a really nice mall in either of the quad cities). I hate having to go out of town (REALLY out of town) for a decent mall.

For one thing, going to Florence adds about 20 miles to a given shopping trip. Dosn't seem that far, but if you check it from MS to Flo Mall is almost 10 miles.
Next, due to the utter stupidity of whoever designs our roadways, I have nearly 10 STOP lights to deal with, the two on each end of the new bridge run my blood pressure up just because they could have been designed out easier than putting them up.
Why deal with all that, when MS is right here ?

My phylosophy is that if a store dosn't want to be on the South side of the river, they don't need the business of people who live here.

Too Old to Care:

Admittedly, LIFE ESSENTIALS may seem a bit of a stretch for some...perspective is everything, BUT to people who love the outdoors, hunting, camping, fishing, hiking, etc...BASS PRO is Disneyland for adults. When I plan a vacation, you can bet your last money that I am going to have a BASS PRO day in the schedule. These places are magnets to draw people, goldmines for the owners and a strong contributor to the tax base where they are located. In a really good BASS PRO Shop hours become minutes and they don't even charge admission.

The last BASS PRO Shop visit, my wife spent over $300 (not to mention how much I spent).

Here in Prattville (close enough to see Montgomery but far away not to have to hear all the annoying gunfire), they have it figured out. There is a HUGE Bass Pro Shop right off the interstate (which I think is probably key). The parking lot is always full.

Across the street there is a new "Summit"-like shopping area with more "girly" shopping options and lots of stores a movie theater. South of that (but within a mile) is the RTJ Jones Golf course on the water. There are new hotels and restaurants that cater to it all.
There are things for the guys (golfers or hunters) and their wives (plus movies for the kids while everyone is doing their thing where ever they choose).

It really is a cool setup and most times it is tough to get a table just about anywhere you go.

There are lots of locals, but there are LOTS of travelers judging from the different license plates.

I would love nothing more than to see the Shoals have something like this to benefit consumers and the tax base. There are some differences in the areas though that would probably limit any potential success.

By the way, my earlier comment about more shopping options "south of the river" was more about supporting a local tax base rather than an issue with distance. I hate to spend dollars elsewhere that might benefit my "home" municipality.

BlackAcre, great post, and I envy your situation. We could have something to parallel that in the Muscle Shoals area but we lack leadership with the vision to lead, to venture out, bring growth and prosperity. BUT if we keep going, I believe you will be able to start on one golf course and with your driver make it to the next course....hmmmm..maybe I need to open a golf pro shop...

quote:

Originally posted by redbull:

No No Bass Pro HAS to be built on land by the river (at least that's what was told to us folks here in Florence). Oh and you have to GIVE the land to them in order for them to build.

Redbull, you tickle me!
& you are right, that IS what we were told !!

Have ya'll ever had a dinner theatre? We used to have a place called Granny's Dinner Theatre in Dallas. If I remember, it was a very nice buffet(not like the ones we have here-yuck). It wasn't opened everfy day, just two nights a week, but when it was you would have stars/celebrities on stage (in the round)doing a play after you ate your dinner. It was a big deal to go there. You know special big dates, entertaining, etc. You had to "dress" to go and make your reservations in advance because when it was open, the place was packed. It was a lot of fun.

I'll admit that I haven't been in Southgate in a long time. But when I do remember going last, I noticed that a lot of the stores in there were the same thing you can find at Regency - Bookland, Hibbet's, Dollar Tree, etc. Now I know things have changed, for instance Bookland is gone out of Regency and out of Southgate too I assume. However there are still several stores, both inside and outside of the mall, that can be found at Regency. Whatever stores, if any, go into Southgate in the future need to be different than what you can find at Regency. There needs to be a reason for people from Florence to cross the river instead of staying on Cox Creek. And I say that because I'm not sure Colbert shoppers alone are enough to keep Southgate alive.

One thing that definitely needs to be done is to find a tenant for the old Rogers building. Any good mall has a strong anchor store.

I'm reminded of a Talking Heads song: Link

Hibbetts is long gone out of Southgate. I've been meaning to go take pics of the mall for the Deadmalls site. Come to think of it, Regency Square fits the dead retail/dying sites.

Southgate died long ago. Regency has been dying over the last 10yrs. Sure, the anchors are still there, and VS, Gap, Bath and Body Works, Spencers, ...but seems like everywhere else I remember going is long gone - toy store, shoe stores (for the most part), book store.. and the food court is pathetic. It definitely has the 2nd class retail feel going on.

this is the best solution for southgate mall...

Put a Hooter's in it.

For some reason people think that if we have a Hooter's that there will be something to do, so problem and solution. I'm done

quote:

Originally posted by joeycuda:
Hibbetts is long gone out of Southgate. I've been meaning to go take pics of the mall for the Deadmalls site. Come to think of it, Regency Square fits the dead retail/dying sites.

Southgate died long ago. Regency has been dying over the last 10yrs. Sure, the anchors are still there, and VS, Gap, Bath and Body Works, Spencers, ...but seems like everywhere else I remember going is long gone - toy store, shoe stores (for the most part), book store.. and the food court is pathetic. It definitely has the 2nd class retail feel going on.

That's consolidation, and a stagnant population growth for you. There's not enough people to build something bigger, The people in charge are not doing enough to bring long-term growth, and overall marketplace has been contracting for years, although people just really noticed it last year.

A real OUTLET MALL like the one at Foley, Alabama, would draw people from miles around. The nearest one is in Boaz, and it is not what it once was..Yep, OUTLET MALL....wont even need a H00ters...

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Originally posted by joeycuda:
a Cheesecake Factory at 7 Points Shopping Center.

we can dream though, right?

Southgate Mall has such great potential. The outlet idea, dinner theater and other items mentioned could all be done. Another thing that I have enjoyed (just not in the last couple of years) was going to underground Atlanta. Something along that line would be good for the area. Florence has First Fridays but it is not weather resistant.

The solution/progress/recovery should begin with Muscle Shoals Mayor David Bradford meeting with the property holders, Aronov (sp) Realty and formulate a plan to actively recruit/promote the Outlet Mall concept. There is a fantastic Tangiers Outlet Mall about 22 to 25 miles North of Savannah, GA, just over into SC. A good outlet mall has tremendous drawing power and other business will benefit once the mall brings shoppers to the area.