Phillipsburg Mall Ordered For Sale

Phillipsburg Mall is home to anchors like Sears, Bon-Ton, Kohl’s and JCPenney’s.

But have you noticed that the mall’s corridors are riddled with vacancies?

I witnessed the sea of empty storefronts as I walked through the mall during lunchtime Wednesday. I wasn’t necessarily dodging tumbleweeds, but the dearth was obvious.

Phillipsburg has one of the highest vacancy rates among the Lehigh Valley‘s shopping malls, with nearly three dozen empty storefronts among its more than 90 spaces in its online directory.

Read more:http://www.mcall.com/business/retailwatch/mc-phillipsburg-mall-for-sale-20120519,0,6196043.column?obref=obinsite

Boscov’s To Open Pair Of Stores

The southwest entrance facade of Woodbridge Mall. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Boscov’s Department Store said Thursday that it will open two new department stores, one in New Jersey and one in Maryland, over the next year and a half.

A planned 180,000-square-foot store in New Jersey’s Woodbridge Center mall, Woodbridge, will open in August 2013, while Maryland’s White Marsh Mall will get a 197,000-square-foot store in November, according to a Boscov’s news release.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=386979

Pottstown Walmart Supercenter Taking Shape

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

POTTSTOWN, PA  - By the end of summer, the Pottstown Walmart store is going to be a whole lot bigger.

In fact, it’s going to be super.

For the past four months, construction crews have been working on the expansion of the Walmart store in the Pottstown Center, Route 100 and Shoemaker Road, into a Supercenter. In addition to work being done inside and outside the store to grow the Walmart by 55,000 square feet into a SuperCenter - basically a Walmart that includes a full grocery store – the shopping center’s parking lot is also under construction.

That will mean 55,000 square feet of new construction will be added to Pottstown’s tax rolls after the property is reassessed when the construction is complete.

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-times-herald/story/pottstown-walmart-supercenter-taking-shape-3/1

The Three Statistics That Every Downtown Should Live By

Editor’s note:  This is phenomenal advice for all downtown shopping districts and their umbrella organizations i.e. Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority.

Lancaster and its James Street Improvement District are prime examples of living by these three simple rules!  I suggest a field trip for any struggling downtown merchants or downtown organizations who want to see what is possible!

I call this the 7-8-7 rule because of the three most important statistics that make a downtown a successful and vibrant destination. Think of your favorite destination downtowns. Are they beautiful? Do they feel safe? Are there things to do after 6:00 pm?

Read more: http://www.rogerbrooks.org/2012/04/30/the-three-downtown-statistics/

Best Buy To Close 50 Stores

Logo of Best Buy, US-based retail chain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Best Buy Company posted weaker-than-expected sales for the key holiday quarter and said it would close 50 large U.S. stores, sending shares of the world’s largest consumer electronics chain down 9 percent on Thursday.

Analysts and investors expected more aggressive restructuring efforts from the chain, whose large-format stores have often been termed “white elephants.”

While most industry insiders welcomed Best Buy’s decision to reduce its retail footprint at a time when many shoppers buy their gadgets online, they expected the retailer would have done more.

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-mercury/story/best-buy-close-50-stores/1

Thousands Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day In Phoenixville

Editor’s note:  Can you say cha-ching for downtown Phoenixville merchants.  These kinds of regular events are essential for revitalization.  So what happened in downtown Pottstown for St. Patrick’s Day?  Were there hundreds of people celebrating, dozens or just the usual suspects loitering at the clock tower watching the crickets and tumbleweeds roll down High Street?  You say, “But we don’t have an Irish Pub?”  I say, “We could if someone actively recruited more restaurants and stores to fill High Street.”  Marketing, marketing, marketing!

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. — The streets of Phoenixville were filled with the spirit of the Irish Saturday as thousands donned their green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

The festive mood continued inside of Bridge Street favorite Molly Maguire’s Irish Restaurant & Pub.

General Manager Neil Bonner said his favorite part of St. Patrick’s Day is being surrounded by good people.

“Everyone comes out just to have a good time and they all get to be just a little bit Irish for a day,” he explained.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/120319493/thousands-celebrate-st-patrick-s-day-in-phoenixville&pager=full_story

Hodge Podge, To Move From Clayote To Boyertown Storefront

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Editor’s note: Congratulations to my friend Heidi Bauer and her business partner Sandi Evans on moving their store to a larger location!  A win for downtown Boyertown!

Building a Better Boyertown commissioned a study which found that residents wanted to see two more businesses in Boyertown.

The first was a bookstore, and in July, The Book Nook opened at 130 E. Philadelphia Ave.

And now their second request has been met with Hodge Podge thrift and gift shop.

Heidi Bauer and Sandi Evans opened their consignment and area artisan gift store on Feb. 18 in the lower level of Clayote Art Studio and Gallery, 1 E. Philadelphia Ave.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=369474

Berks-Area Malls And Strips Find Challenges Of Economic Downturn Linger

There is no question that retail businesses have been suffering for the past two years as a result of a weak economy.

Economists predict only slight improvement in 2012. So what does that mean for our local malls and shopping centers?

Shopping Centers Today, a leading publication in the industry, reported in January that shopping center vacancies in the United States averaged 11 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. That figure was up from 10.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010 and not far from the all-time high of 11.1 percent reached in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Read more: http://businessweekly.readingeagle.com/?p=1899

West Reading: Keeping It Fresh On The Avenue

When West Reading’s state and community-funded Main Street Program on Penn Avenue reached maturity in 2005, a total of 66 businesses had been created in six years, along with more than 125 jobs.

Grant funding of $6 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development revitalized the streetscape with new facades, sidewalk and traffic-lane design, and pedestrian and street lighting.

What’s going on in West Reading to maintain and expand the cycle of growth on the hippest street in the county? Some businesses still flounder, while others take root and grow.

Read more: http://businessweekly.readingeagle.com/?p=1908

Target Eyes Valley Forge Shopping Center For Possible New Store

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UPPER MERION — A new development at the Valley Forge Shopping Center goes before the planning commission next week. If approved, a new Target department store and Starbucks Coffee could come to the township in a few months.

The Valley Forge Center Associate are planning to redevelop the eastern portion of the Valley Forge Shopping Center, to include a Target department store, a Starbucks and an inline commercial building.

Read more: http://www.timesherald.com/article/20120203/NEWS01/120209817

First Friday In Lansdale Moves Forward With New Leadership

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LANSDALE, PA  – The committee to run the borough’s First Friday festival, formed earlier this week over coffee, has only three members and is just beginning to formulate a plan.

That’s according to Charles Booz, whose family owns the Chantilly Lace Florist at 29-31 West Main Street.

Booz said the fledgling committee, which includes himself, Ellen Foulke – manager of the Lansdale Business Center – and his mother Margie, plans to meet with the borough’s parks and recreation and public safety committees next month to find out what is required to hold the event.

Read more: http://thereporteronline.com/articles/2012/01/27/news/doc4f233e4302e5e074103950.txt

Online Retailers Hoping Congress Acts As PA Delays Enforcement Of Sales Tax Law

HARRISBURG — Out-of-state retailers will not collect sales tax on goods they sell online to Pennsylvania residents until Sept. 1, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

The clarification in the Pennsylvania tax law has spooked several advertisers into terminating their agreements withPennsylvania publishers in December.

As retailers adjust to the newly interpreted tax law, state residents must track the 6 percent sales tax on the goods they purchase and declare that amount on their 2011 tax return forms, according to the state tax code.

Opponents of the new law, which originally was expected to go into effect Wednesday, said the state will lose more than $22 million in revenue, because Internet companies won’t do business here.  (NO KIDDING!)

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/montgomery-news/story/online-retailers-hoping-congress-acts-pa-delays-enforcement-sales-tax-law/1

York-Based Bon-Ton Pays New CEO $5.7 Million

The Bon-Ton is in the red, but its new president and chief executive officer will be in the pink.

Brendan L. Hoffman will start with a $5.7 million compensation package, consisting of annual salary, various bonuses and restricted stock.

The York-based retailing chain disclosed the pay Wednesday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In the filing, The Bon-Ton said the former Lord & Taylor CEO will begin with a $1 million salary.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/575163_Bon-Ton-pays-new-CEO–5-7-million.html#ixzz1kih3jxG3

York-Based Bon-Ton Store’s Bonds Being Shunned By Investors

Investors are shunning Bon-Ton Stores Inc.‘s bonds – a bad sign for the York-based department store chain with seven stores in the Lehigh Valley.

In contrast, other retailers have recently gained from rising consumer confidence in the U.S.

Bon-Ton’s $480 million of 10.25 percent notes due in March 2014 lost 2.8 percent last month, the worst performance of any bonds in the Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Super Retail Index, which climbed 1.7 percent overall. Moody’s Investors Service put its Caa1 rating for the securities on “negative outlook” on Dec. 1, citing the company’s “persistent underperformance.”

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-allentown-bontton-20120103,0,3027398.story

Upper Darby’s Shopping District Losing More Than Sears

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The shopping district in Upper Darby, PA is losing more than their Sears store.  In addition, Marshall’s is closing January 14^th (but being replaced with Ross); the Turf Club has already closed and left a large empty building and Fashion Choice Jewelry is closing.  The vacant Sears store will leave two large empty buildings in the shopping district.

Sears has been a fixture and an anchor store in the Upper Darby shopping district for 30 years.  We here inPottstown can feel your pain.  Sears has been around Pottstown far longer.

The main reason for the closing is the economy (poor performance).  Since 2008 sales at Sears in Upper Darby have dropped 50 percent.  I would say the Pottstown Sears store is in the same boat.  Compared to Boscov’s and Kohl’s the Sears store is empty.  I could barely shop in Boscov’s last week because it was so crowded.

Sears employees losing their jobs can apply for positions in other stores, take severance, if they qualify, or be furloughed.

Pottstown And Upper Darby Sears Stores Closing

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Sears Holding Corporation just released their store closing list and two area Sears stores are on the chopping block.  The Coventry Mall and 69th Street Sears stores are closing.  No Kmart stores will be closed in Pennsylvania and no other Sears store in Pennsylvania will close, other than Pottstown and Upper Darby.

The Sears store at Coventry Mall predates the mall.  Originally Sears was in downtown Pottstown and moved across the river into North Coventry Township as a stand alone store.  When the mall was built in 1967, Sears was connected to the mall.  The Sears store is last surviving original anchor store at Coventry Mall. 

Sears retail stores have been in decline for several decades.  Sears was the nation’s largest retailer until the 1980′s but has declined considerably since then.  In 2005 Sears merged with Kmart.  Kmart purchased Sears and Kmart Holding Corporation changed its name to Sears Holding Corporation.

Sears built and owned what is still the tallest building in the United States, the Sears Tower in Chicago.  In 1993, Sears sold their skyscraper and moved into an office park setting in Hoffman Estates, IL.

Poor Economy Great For Dollar Stores

Dollar stores have evolved into a go-to spot for holiday shoppers on a tight budget or trying to get more value for their money. In contrast with the often dingy spaces they once occupied, many have undergone renovations and are stocked with a bounty of Christmas trees, wrapping paper, toys and inexpensive electronics for the holiday season. Some even carry steaks.

With the job market and economy still unsettled, dollar stores are predicted to perform robustly as shoppers of all incomes flock there to pick up cheap decor and presents. For the fourth quarter, the category is expected to post a sales increase of 4.2% or higher at stores open at least a year, according to business data firm Thomson Reuters.

Although dollar stores have attracted higher-income customers in recent years, the fallout of the nation’s economic downturn is still especially evident in the aisles of these low-cost stores during the holidays.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/business/la-fi-dollar-store-christmas-20111221,0,3740256.story

J.C. Penney Returns To Franklin Mills Mall

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The J.C. Penney outlet store at Franklin Mills mall was one of 19 outlet stores closed by J.C. Penney.  In March of 2012, J.C. Penney is coming back to Franklin Mills as a full-line department store.  The new 100,000 square-foot store will occupy the same space but feature an updated design.

Franklin Mills Mall, is owned by Simon Property Group and has 200 stores.

City Of Lancaster Gets High Marks As Travel Destination From Philadelphia Inquirer

Glad to see that people are finally noticing what Lancaster has to offer! 

THERE’S MORE to Lancaster than outlets and buggies.

Although the eighth-largest city in Pennsylvania is closely associated with the Pennsylvania Dutch, a community that came to this part of Penn’s Woods back in the early 1700s, there’s as much city as there is country to this picturesque part of the state…

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20111007_Lancaster__More_than_just_Amish.html?viewAll=y#ixzz1a6sGAITg

J. C. Penney Store At King Of Prussia Mall Splurges On Remodel

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J.C. Penney is the last original anchor store at the King of Prussia Plaza.  The plaza opened in 1963 with Penney’s, Wanamaker’s and Korvette’s as anchor stores.  To celebrate nearly 50 years at the Plaza, the store splurged on a makeover!

To read all about it, click here: http://www.timesherald.com/articles/2011/09/13/business/doc4e6fe79c39906162083352.txt