When big shops fail

[Peter Parker]

Some fascinating sites about dead shopping malls and 'big box' stores in the USA.

Dead Malls site http://www.deadmalls.com/

Salem Mall http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,16381.0.html

Abandoned since 1979 http://accidentalmysteries.blogspot.com/2008/12/king-of-dead-shopping-malls.html

These seem less prevalent in Australia but are not unknown. Eg Ringwood Market never really succeeded and is abandoned. It is near the much more successful Eastland though outside there the Ringwood town centre can't be considered that successful.

As for dead 'big box' stores, IKEA in Moorabbin has been idle. Ditto for Dimmeys and Spotlight in central Frankston (though I would regard all as being in prime positions for something).

From the Salem article, certain types of low-rent businesses are associated with retail decline. Eg payday lenders (very common in central Geelong) and two dollar shops (dominate central Dandenong and to a lesser extent Frankston).

 

[JulieW]

I understand Dimmeys in Frankston is being developed by one of the big players. There was an article in the local paper about it with various voices saying how good it was for the neighbourhood that the derelict building was being made over. Sorry don't have more details. Thought it was a good indicator of Frankston's potential.

I didn't know that about 2 Dollar Shops - retail decline. In UK the 'Pound' shops look to be in fairly high rent zones. I'd think that a lot of dead malls around Melbourne are as much to do with bad design. Not much point in putting a business where traffic is light.

Interesting point on 'Feng Shui' principles. In Carnegie there used to be a graffiti covered gloomy mall between the main street and the carpark. I think it had one old op shop and a bootmaker or similar. Then a vietnamese family opened a green grocer outlet at the carpark end - lots of colour, light, flowers, etc. Lo and behold now the whole mall is lively and sought after.

It's not absolute, but bad design is the major feature of retail dead ends I think.

 

[Player]

Morrabbin IKEA has become Barlow World Mercedes and Volkswagen dealership and service.

I know what you're getting at Spider. The prime example is Ringwood. As Julie mentions the Frankston corner is slowly happening as will that eyesore Peninsula Centre on Nepean Hwy...........eventually.

Back to Ringwood, that is such prime land b/w Eastland and the lesser Centro just down the street. Maybe they are waiting for the leases to run out and planning something more befitting of the precinct. Offices with resi above would do well. Close to everything needed for shopping and the transport hub....bus station and train. One would think with the 2030 initiatives (cough, cough) that some denser development would be warranted there.