Sears vs. JC Penney vs. Macy's - The Gloves Come Off

Yesterday I had the pleasure of doing comparative shopping at some of the nations largest department stores: Sears, JC Penney, and Macy's. This was the first time I shopped for the same exact item at all three retailers, so it was a true comparison of selection, price, service and checkout time.

Comparison item: Levi 511 jeans, retail for $58.00.

Location: Southland Mall in Hayward, California.

Sears result:
Store size: 292,000 sq. ft. (source: Rouse Properties Site Plan).
Selection: 5-10 different styles of 511s.
Price: On sale, $42.99
Service: Non-existent (self-serve)
Checkout time: 10 - 15 minute wait.

JC Penney result:
Store size: 156,000 sq. ft. (source: JC Penney Investor Fact Book 2010).
Selection: 5-10 different styles of 511s.
Price: Unknown... no price tags or signage
Service: Non-existent (self-serve)
Checkout time: 3-5 minute wait.

Macy's result:
Store size: 179,000 sq. ft. (source: Macys Fact Book 2011).
Selection: 12-16 different styles of 511s.
Price: On sale, $42.99
Service: Excellent (sales people ask if you need help)
Checkout time: 1-2 minute wait.

In my opinion, Macy's won this challenge. JC Penney wasn't too far behind, regardless of the mystery pricing. Sears... they don't seem to have a clue how to be retailing.

Share your experiences at these stores!

Scott

Santana Row, A Shopping Adventure

Santana Row in San Jose is one of two lifestyle shopping centers in the Bay Area. When first conceived, lifestyle centers were billed as the "new" mall. Open air and with a street open to vehicular traffic. Since they were mixed-use, apartments and hotels could be build in the property, creating an instant urban village.

While lifestyle centers across the U.S. have been faring poorly, Santana Row in San Jose is an exception. Successful, popular, and nary a hint of the economic conditions that have affected so many families. Santana Row, in many ways, is reminiscent of a Main Street in Disneyland. Everything perfected down to the last detail. The shopping center is private, so photography is forbidden, among other things (loitering, panhandling, etc.). It's like going to the city without being reminded of the decay of urban society. Escapism. Yeah, it works.
 

CineArts Theater

So many cities have tried to emulate the success of Santana Row. The City of Fresno has looked at Santana Row as a model for reviving Fulton Mall, long since downtrodden. However, simply plowing a street down the center does not make for a successful shopping center. Santana Row has desirable stores as well as an affluent population base. These are just a few of the essential ingredients needed. Nevertheless as a consumer, it's a great place to hang out and have dinner.

Please see my updated review of Santana Row.

Enjoy!

Scott

Napa Premium Outlets - Bargains Galore

Alright, I admit it. I enjoy the factory outlet malls. I know this is a break with my keen interest in traditional shopping malls, but who can resist a bargain?

For years I'd go to an outlet mall and buy everything in sight. Later, I'd suffer from buyer's remorse due to the crappy seconds or the new understanding of why the merchandise was relegated to outlet status. Now I've learned to try everything on and if the first one doesn't fit, try a second one. Especially shoes. Stores like The Gap have even created stores exclusively for outlet malls. The clothes aren't seconds, but lower priced (and one could argue, quality). Nevertheless, you still feel like you are getting some great deals. By the crowds, I would say others agree.

I recently went to Napa Premium Outlets, the first time in many years. This easily is my favorite due to its great selection of stores and smaller size. I spent 3 hours there and visited about 25% of the stores, purchasing something at each one. Everything fit, everything looks good. I'm ready for fall.

The food selection at Napa Outlets was pretty low. Only three eateries this time (with another coming soon). However, come on, it's Napa! You are a stone's throw to some world-class restaurants. Make it a day.

Check out my updated review of Napa Premium Outlets.

Enjoy!

Scott

Top 10 Largest JC Penney Stores in Northern California and Reno

Find the top 10 largest JC Penney stores, by square footage, in Northern California and Reno.

1. 266,000 sq. ft. - Sunvalley Shopping Center, Concord, CA (largest in California, third largest in chain [after Plaza Las Americas in San Juan, PR, and Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL]).

2. 235,000 sq. ft. - Eastridge, San Jose, CA.

3. 224,000 sq. ft. - Stoneridge Shopping Center, Pleasanton, CA.

4. 223,000 sq. ft. - Shops at Tanforan, San Bruno, CA.

5. 216,000 sq. ft. - Fashion Fair, Fresno, CA.

6. 213,000 sq. ft. - Vallco Shopping Mall, Cupertino, CA.

7. 211,000 sq. ft. - Meadowood Mall, Reno, NV.

8. 201,000 sq. ft. - Coddingtown Mall, Santa Rosa, CA.

9. 200,000 sq. ft. - Sunrise Mall, Citrus Heights, CA.

10. 199,000 sq. ft. - Hilltop Mall, Richmond, CA.

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Source: JC Penney Investor Fact Book 2010.

Note: When comparing JC Penney-published square footage to mall-published square footage, discrepancies occurred in every instance.

Emporium-Capwell Valley Fair Directory 1986

Back in the day, department stores used to print store directories so you could easily find the department you wanted. This scan is from Emporium-Capwell at the Valley Fair mall, shortly after the rebuilt mall opened in 1986.

Among the interesting departments, you'll find not one, but two gift wrap stations. Gift wrapping at departments stores is now extinct. You might get lucky if you can get a box at the holidays, but certainly not have someone wrap the gift for you. Now that's service.

In 1986, department stores like Emporium-Capwell and Macy's were also in the business of selling electronics and TVs. Least until the Good Guys and Circuit City came on the scene. Interestingly enough, those stores are also gone.

Extinct services at department stores included watch repair, culinary advising, flower arranging, and travel agents. We all could use a little culinary advisement now and then.

Who remembers buying tickets for the Thompson Twins concert at the Emporium? It was a Ticketron outlet, too. Department stores sure have changed.

Enjoy!
Scott

Neiman Marcus Poised to Open in Walnut Creek in 2012

The swanky new Neiman Marcus in Walnut Creek is set to open on March 8, 2012.

The addition of Neiman Marcus to Broadway Plaza is considered the pièce de résistance of the shopping center and downtown Walnut Creek. The site originally hosted JC Penney, giving way to McCaulou's, and then David M. Brian.

Neiman Marcus has selected four charities to benefit from its grand opening gala:

• Diablo Regional Arts Association - An organization that supports artistic enrichment and the arts at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek.
• Junior League of Oakland-East Bay - An organization of women who promote volunteerism and improving communities.
• Monument Crisis Center - A food pantry that helps low-income residents and at-risk families.
• Taylor Family Foundation - An organization that helps children with life-threatening and chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities, and at-risk youth.

Nearby Nordstrom has already geared up for the opening by renovating its own tony store, operating since 1984.


Enjoy!
Scott

Foothill Square Finds Fate By Flattening

One of only two mall's left in Oakland, Foothill Square between MacArthur and Foothill Boulevard is destined to be flattened by wrecking ball this year.

Foothill Square utilized the latest in shopping center design: a pedestrian mall down the center. Designed by world-famous Welton Becket & Associates (Ground Breaking Tomorrow, 1961), designers of the wildly successful Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo, Foothill Square was conceived on a smaller scale. Instead of a Macy's or Capwell's anchor store, Foothill Square relied on the stalwart of community shopping centers: Lucky Stores, Thrifty Drug Store, and an S. S. Kresge Co. five-and-dime store (Ground Breaking Tomorrow). The pedestrian mall landscaping was designed by another world-famous landscape architect: Lawrence Halprin & Associates (Ground Breaking Tomorrow). These two amazing architects have been revered for their ingenuity and creativity, but Foothill Square has been a mostly forgotten creation.

Considered an eyesore by its neighbors, Foothill Square has not been updated since opening in 1962. The graceful sign adorning the MacArthur Freeway is suffering from rust and neglect. However, this year, the shopping center is being redeveloped. The front of the mall is to be demolished, new pads constructed, and the rear of the mall is to be given a new facade. Although the Foothill Square Redevelopment project promises to revitalize a once proud shopping center, one can be saddened by the loss of a Welton Becket design.

The demolition of Foothill Square comes on the heels of another recent Oakland mall demolition, MacArthur/Broadway Center (aka, M/B "Center"). Oakland will currently be host to only one remaining mall, Eastmont Town Center. Although, Eastmont Town Center is considered a mixed-use center and not devoted entirely to fashion-oriented shopping. Oakland could be the only city of its size without a significant regional or superregional shopping center.

Goodbye Foothill Square.
Scott

Reference
"Ground Breaking Tomorrow." Oakland Tribune. Nov. 7, 1961. p. 12-D. Retrieved July 18, 2011 from Ancestry.com online database.

South Shore Center is Back

On Friday, Alameda Towne Centre announced on Facebook that it has changed its name back to the familiar South Shore Center.

The renaming of South Shore Center to Alameda Towne Centre by the mall's former owners, Harsh Investment Properties, never gained acceptable by Alamedans. This was evident in the purposeful mispronunciation of the mall name (phonetically), "Alameda Townee Centray." When the mall recently sold to Jamestown, the name regression idea resurfaced in commentaries and local opinion columns.

Apparently, Jamestown agreed and the mall has been officially renamed Alameda South Shore Center. Jamestown next task is to replace the signage for an undisclosed cost.

Gray Reid's - Nevada's Fine Store

A vintage newspaper advertisement from the Reno Evening Gazette announcing the opening of Gray Reid's department store in Carson City.

Anchoring the new 31-store enclosed Carson Mall, Gray Reid's was a Reno-based department store founded by Joseph H. Gray and Hosea E. Reid in the early 1900s (O'Driscoll, 2006). Gray Reid's began in downtown Reno, expanded to Carson City, then closed its downtown location in favor of Reno Town Mall (O'Driscoll, 2006). Gray Reid's lasted until 1986 when the chain ceased operations (O'Driscoll, 2006).

The old Gray Reid's in Carson City recently housed the Fresno-based Gottschalk's until that department store folded. The building current is empty.

Enjoy vintage Gray Reid's!
Scott


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Reference
O'Driscoll, B. (2006, March 11). From Gray Reid's to the Summit Sierra: 100 years of department stores in Reno. Reno Gazette-Journal.

Solano Mall Gets Sassier Before It's Sold

Westfield Solano Mall recently celebrated the grand opening of a food court near JC Penney on the upper level. Westfield has been gradually renovating the 30-year old shopping center. Over the past few years, new flooring has been installed, railings were replaced, and new sky bridges were added. Finally, the mall seems comparable to other Westfield malls in the region.

Boasting 169 retailers, Solano Mall opened in 1981. The mall was attached to an existing JC Penney that opened 9 years earlier. Emporium-Capwell joined the mall in 1983 and Macy's in 1985. When Emporium-Capwell closed in 1996, Sears moved from its original location to the old Emporium-Capwell building. The old Sears building was renovated into Edwards Cinema and Best Buy.

An interesting feature in Solano Mall is the skylights. Similar to Taubman malls, artificial lighting in Solano Mall emanates from lighting groups set in skylights. Shoppers are given the impression that it's daylight outside, even though the sun has long gone. Originally, these triangular lighting groups had colored panels in them.

Although Westfield has been upgrading the mall for years, it recently decided to put Solano Mall, as well as Sacramento's Downtown Plaza, on the market.

Read my review of Westfield Solano Mall.

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