Word spreads of chain stores to set up shop in Cville.
August 12, 2008 by Haidee
It sounds like some retail chains are taking notice of Cville and planning stores for our charming town. Cvillain recently posted a rumor (or inside information) that Urban Outfitters will be the next tenant of the Hardware Store building on the downtown mall. Lulu tells CvilleStyle that Sephora has a “coming soon” sign up at Fashion Square Mall. We’ve even heard rumors of an Apple Store on its way.
With all this buzz flying around about who’s next to set up shop, I wanted to pose the question: What would you like to see in Cville? Are you in favor of the retail development or are you fearful of the demise of “Mom & Pop” shops?
I previoulsy jotted down my thoughts on the commerce and activity on the downtown mall, and I hope that it is clear that I am very much a fan of independent stores. Still, I feel that retail development (done right) could be hugely beneficial. A couple big names could bring the crowds that would hopefully also patronize our independent stores. Of course, I’m also excited by the prospect of more shopping options for the area. Another shoe store, for example, is something I’ve been craving since my first days in town as a grad student.
My primary fear, however, is that big box retailers and strip mall development will dilute Charlottesville’s charm. I am consistently disappointed when I visit a new town and see the same darn scene along every major street…Chili’s, Target, Toys R Us…it is getting a little out of control. Speaking of, do we really need another Lowes in Ruckersville?
Still, I long to see more activity on the downtown mall and Main Street. Or other corners of our town not immediately coming to mind. Yes, the downtown mall is crawling with people on Friday nights, but a weekday early afternoon looks very different.
While I would love a Sephora to avoid shipping costs on some of my faves, I would prefer an independent beauty product store. There used to be one called Blush, but I don’t think that it lasted very long. Lush is an awesome store…while it is a chain, their natural products and atmosphere is fun and quite unique.
Urban Outfitters is a good fit, but I would actually prefer Need Supply Co. from Richmond…a regional gem and decent alternative to UO. In fact, Cary Street in Richmond is an interesting case study. I spent four years in Richmond, and Cary Street was always buzzing (even when I skipped my AM classes for a shopping trip to Pink or Mongrel. How is our downtown different from Cary Street? Is it simply a factor of the size of our town?
I’d like to hear your opinion on retail development and what’s missing in terms of stores, products & services. What would you like to see? What would you not like to see?
A few chains are okay, just so long as they don’t hurt some of the longtime really cool businesses like O’Suzannah and Artifacts. There are other gems as well, but those two happen to be personal faves.
Overall, I think that places like those mentioned above, along with Scarpa etc, are unique enough that no chain could take their place. The owners of those businesses all have a great “eye” and customer loyalty, and no chain can compete with that. Well, Anthropologie perhaps, but I doubt they’re coming here anytime soon.
As far as Cary St is concerned, I agree with your assessment. Cville fancies itself an artsy freewheeling sort of town, but there’s still a strong undercurrent of stodginess, some of it seeping out from UVA. When I moved here in the early 80s, the only thing roaming the downtown mall was a few tumbleweeds. So I’ve seen a huge difference over the years. But we still have far to go to achieve that sort of joie de vivre one experiences in places like Cary Street or, more accurately, Greenwich Village.
Lulu, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think you can still see tumbleweeds, but now only in the winter.
Although Barracks Shopping Center is hugely convenient, you could be anywhere in the country. Sadly, this is the “must be” location for many independent retailers (I’ve heard.) Places like Barracks dilute Cville’s charm. Downtown retail development needs to happen if we want it to be a commercially viable location, but it has to be planned with care.
I am pleased to see that they have extended the pedestrian brick sidewalk to at least one side street. Does anyone know of plans for other side streets?
I am excited to see what happens with the new hotel going up.
I think a few of them are okay. I would hate to call them “anchor” stores, but say a large Apple store or the rumored Urban Outfitters on the Downtown Mall would actually help matters.
Local (usually) is better, but something more nationally known would conceivably bring people in - someone sees an ad on TV and goes “oh, there’s one of those in Charlottesville, we can go there” instead of going all the way to Richmond or DC. Then while they’re here, they’ll walk around and see the other (local) stores and stop in.
Not to mention even though they may be large chains, they’d still pay rent and taxes here, so that’s at least SOME boost to the local economy.
As a side note, I’m sure you you already know that the outlet mall for Zion Crossroads
seems to not be happening anymore.
Thanks for the info, NewmaN. I’m not sure if I am happy or sad about this. I have a love / hate relationship with outlets. Love the awesome deals on some leading brands and home goods, but hate the crowds and chain restaurants that inevitably follow.
Oh how happy I would be to have an Urban Outfitters! I’d be even happier to have an Anthropologie OR a DSW shoe warehouse!!