Friday, August 22, 2008

New tenants for Columbia Mall?

It's been a while now since I uncovered GK Development's preliminary plans to redevelop the old Target space at Grand Forks' Columbia Mall, but so far no plans appear to be set in stone. Although it appears that a large bookstore may be headed for a portion of the space, even that has not yet been officially announced and no other potential tenants have been listed.

I've been doing some thinking about what stores and restaurants may possibly be headed for the new spaces that GK Development will likely lease out in the near future. I've come up with some tenants that I consider to be almost a "sure thing" and some other tenants which are more likely "possible" tenants or even just "long shots."

I'm thinking about stores that are located in other regional malls (think West Acres, Kirkwood, Dakota Square, Crossroads, Empire, etc.), but currently are not at Columbia Mall. It seems logical that if a chain has a location in Fargo and Bismarck (or even just in Fargo) that it is fairly plausible that they might be interested in an expanded and renovated Columbia Mall.

Below are a few thoughts that I have on potential tenants. Let me know what you think about these. Am I being realistic here? What other chains would you consider to be likely additions to Columbia Mall?

Almost a sure thing

Barnes and Noble
Abercrombie & Fitch
Hollister
Coldwater Creek

Possible
Chico's
New York and Company
Yankee Candle
Williams and Sonoma
Pottery Barn

Longshot
Crate and Barrel
Cheesecake Factory

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like the list, but if these stores wanted into the mall, wouldn't they already be here? almost a sure thing? What is this based on, a guess? Do you have any info that any of these cos are actually looking at GF or the mall?

Anonymous said...

a toy store would be really great!

Anonymous said...

There are sure are dragging this process out....start the construction already!

Lynsey said...

I'd say the only "Almost a sure thing" is Barnes and Noble, which would be a lot like the one in Minot, where I can enjoy a nice sampling of Cheesecake Factory products. It's not Cheesecake Factory, I know, but it's still pretty nice.

I just don't see Abercrombie & Fitch or Hollister opening in Grand Forks. Stores in GF would likely mean Canadian shoppers might not bother to go to Fargo, and GF shoppers who had been driving to Fargo for these stores would no longer need to, cutting the Fargo stores shopping population base.

Anonymous said...

It's gonna be a payday loan shop.

Anonymous said...

or maybe a Sturgis Souvenir Shop run by greenglass

Anonymous said...

How about a miniature golf course?

Anonymous said...

I tend to agree with the list for shoe-ins. Those stores would be popular with Canadians and college kids (especially Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister). The CVB often gets requests for A&F, so that seems like a good match.

Anonymous said...

Am I missing something? The links from the posting are old news.

Anonymous said...

I know what is going in the space, but not at liberty to say.

growingupartists said...

Before SuperTarget was built, my family went to the mall for two reasons...Target, and KB Toys. So, my vote for the old Target space is ToysRUs. I think it would be a perfect fit.

Anonymous said...

Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma in Grand Forks?!? Not a chance in hell.

Anonymous said...

Why not an Outback Steakhouse? There was one in Fargo but its closed now. Texas could survive the competition...why not a Chili's or a Macaroni Grill?

Macaroni Grill is even better than Olive Garden...which I love by the way but I hate the drive to Fargo

Why aren't there more things for the kids to do here other than play in germ infested tubes?

Anonymous said...

Join the YMCA. Play sports. junior league bowling. Martial arts. Music lessons. Summer performing arts. Swimming lessons, available at UND or YMCA. in line skating. ice skating. Biking. Movies. Red River Valley Gymnastics. Grand cities childrens choir. Dance school (Nancy Paisley, ND Ballet, DanceETC). Public library story hour. Northern lights figure skating. Tennis lessons.
If none of these appeal they can simply listen to adults complain about the lack of an Olive Garden.