Towne Mall Scam Revisited

FmrMide81 wrote: Ok-I'm willing to eat a little crow. They HAVE made some progress at the mall-the paving alone grants them a gold star-but I do have a couple questions/commnets: Isn't it a little odd that Gabes and Burlington are essentially the SAME store-I don't just mean they carry similar items, I mean someone from GAbes stole not only Burlingtons business model but also their blueprints. You could basically lift up Gabes and drop it onto Burlington and everything would pretty much line up. And the other thing-why no mall access to/from Gabes??? Isn't that kind of the point of locating at a mall??? Not sure how the Planet Fitness will work out (ba dum dum)-but at least it fills alot of previously empty space.

Like with so many jobs, they hire the candidate that has a "strong" local connection. Not always the best candidate, and maybe a fresh set of eyes from an outsider can do much better. No offense to the current people in economic development. Just sayin'

The reason I just now jumped in on this discussion is because I went to Towne Mall last night for the first time in a year to take something back to EB and was surprised at the additions. I didn't go into the mall; just noted the change from the outside. I really didn't think the mall had a chance, but now it just might. I, personally, wouldn't frequent these retailers all that much, but I think what they got there is a good start considering the demographics and the proximity to other shopping centers.

I once caught one of the salespeople at Radio Shack laying down on the floor on her back in front of the register talking on her cell phone! I was out in the mall corridor when I saw it, did a double take since I couldn't believe my eyes, and decided to go back and take a picture. Unfortunately, she got up before I could get my camera phone set up.

On another note, I saw a previous comment (by someone else) that was critical of the Economic Development office. I have a great friend that is in economic development and was highly motivated to work for Middletown. I think would have done a very good job, but the city passed him up both times he applied and interviewed.

Assuming Al-Shabob doesn't take out the mall first (Allah willing...)

According to an update by Chelsea Livingston  in today's paper the construction delays are the reason for the push back on the Burlington store opening. 

This stuff happens all the time. In reality, the originally published time-line was a bit of a pipe dream. I want to say they gave themselves what, 3-4 months to remodel and stock the space? 

oh   my   what   a   shock....c'mon folks, nobody REALLY thought this was going to happen did you????

VietVet wrote: MiddletownFan.. Nice to see the job creation you have listed in your post...... Now, here's Part 2 on the subject of job creation. It is one thing to mention the creation of jobs. This is a common practice used by the news/business people........but they never include the salary ranges paid for the jobs listed.  Bottom line. If the salary ranges are not livable wages, and one would have to work two of these jobs to counter the constant escalation in gas prices, grocery prices, clothes, car prices, housing etc. we are really back to square one with regard to finding suitable employment opportunities for people looking to maintain a decent lifestyle.  Are these 6 buck and hour jobs or are they 14 buck an hour jobs. If 6, it won't cut it and not worth the time to pursue. If 14, then a decent opportunity to provide an income that will keep one's head above water around here......that is, if the spouse works too.

MiddletownFan wrote: Was surprised to see that the username "MiddletownFan" was available here, so I figured I'd scoop it up! From Indeed.com: ====================================== NEW STORE OPENING IN MIDDLETOWN OHIO THIS FALL 2014!! We're now hiring for all store positions: Customer Service Supervisor, Receiving Supervisor, Team Lead, Baby Depot Specialist, Merchandising Team Associate, Markdown Team Associate, Sales Associates, Receiving Associate, and Cashier. For management positions, please review our career site for the position and location information and simply apply online. =================================== News of, by and from the people who are inve$ting in Middletown.

MiddletownFan..

Nice to see the job creation you have listed in your post......

Now, here's Part 2 on the subject of job creation.

It is one thing to mention the creation of jobs. This is a common practice used by the news/business people........but they never include the salary ranges paid for the jobs listed.

Bottom line. If the salary ranges are not livable wages, and one would have to work two of these jobs to counter the constant escalation in gas prices, grocery prices, clothes, car prices, housing etc. we are really back to square one with regard to finding suitable employment opportunities for people looking to maintain a decent lifestyle.

Are these 6 buck and hour jobs or are they 14 buck an hour jobs. If 6, it won't cut it and not worth the time to pursue. If 14, then a decent opportunity to provide an income that will keep one's head above water around here......that is, if the spouse works too.

FmrMide81 wrote: Because nothings open yet-seen too many deals go down in flames to say "Good job!" at this point.

Lots of opinions, few facts in this thread.... and posting full articles goes against TOS of Cox News and other news agencies, just as an FYI. Found that out recently. Ask www.urbanohio.com/forum2 if you really want proof. They had to clip every article in their database.

From MJ

Mattress Firm to open near Middletown’s Towne Mall
MIDDLETOWN —
Bedding retailer Mattress Firm is planning to open in 2015 a Middletown store next to Towne Mall Galleria, further bolstering the mall’s redevelopment efforts.

A former Cincinnati Bell store at 3363 Towne Blvd. will be demolished, and a new Mattress Firm will be built in its place, according to city records. Kim Hardcastle, a spokeswoman for the Texas-based mattress company, confirmed the news.

This comes on the heels of a July announcement that Burlington Coat Factory plans to open this fall an anchor store at Towne Mall. Burlington will lease space formerly occupied by Dillard’s at 3455 Towne Blvd., said George Ragheb, one of the investors behind the California group, SA Mary Ohio LLC, that bought the mall in October 2012. Dillard’s department store closed in 2008.

SA Mary Ohio does not own the Cincinnati Bell property where Mattress Firm will be constructed, but Ragheb said the deal is “very important because it brings traffic into the project.”

“It’s an adjacent parcel of land under the same development agreement,” Ragheb said.

“Cincinnati Bell was closed long ago and I applaud Anchor Retail for buying that parcel and bringing Mattress Firm into it and turning that into a viable retail outlet rather than another closed store,” he said.

Plans for the new Mattress Firm are still in early stages, so more information about the store’s size, opening date or hiring are not yet available, Hardcastle said.

The current building sitting at the 3363 Towne Blvd. site does not suit Mattress Firm’s use. They’re proposing to demolish it and replace it with a larger building with more parking, according to the minutes of a July planning commission meeting of the city.

Also, Ragheb was scheduled to speak at Wednesday’s planning commission meeting about the construction of seven new out lot parcel buildings in areas currently used for parking at Towne Mall.

Currently Towne Mall, located near the city’s Ohio 122 interchange with Interstate 75, sits half empty. A group of California investors including Ragheb bought the property for $850,000 in 2012, and later bought the adjoining Elder-Beerman and former Dillard’s properties.

“This area is a strong regional area and it will be successful,” Ragheb said.

Mattress Firm is a good fit for Towne Mall, whose tenants include Elder-Beerman, Sears and Rogers Jewelers, said Denise Hamet, Middletown economic development director. Other adjacent out parcels to the mall are PNC Bank and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

“I have driven the area to look at various Mattress Firm sites, and they are nicely constructed and seem to fit in well and drive foot traffic to the other tenants where they locate,” Hamet said.

More progress at the TMG?  This item is on this week's planning commission agenda


II.
Towne Mall Preliminary Development Plan

Minor Amendment
Petitioner: George Y. Ragheb representing Bless Properties, LLC
Location: Towne Mall bounded by Towne Blvd.and Pendleton Cr.

Proposal:Construction of seven new outlot parcel buildings in areas currently used for parking

Decision on Towne Mall Development Plan