Birmingham Development News - Page 106

SpawnOfVulcan · #**2101** Posted **Sep 1, 2013, 3:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

avondale is another hot area right now:

http://www.al.com/entertainment/inde...l#incart_river

wish someone would do something with that abandoned 2 story building right across from avondale park next to parkside.

Something I haven't been hearing many comments about is the fact that these food trucks always have the potential to set up permanent locations like Melt is doing. In many cases, people don't have the money or resources to start up a brand new restaurant and a food truck is a cheaper, more "agile" method to get things going. I'm glad that the city, as far as I know, hasn't tried to reign in the food truck biz.

TimCity2000 · #**2102** Posted **Sep 2, 2013, 4:41 AM**

have you guys checked out the newest google maps recently? the 3D imagery of downtown birmingham is awesome!

TimCity2000 · #**2103** Posted **Sep 3, 2013, 10:36 PM**

nothing specific, but still good news:

Redmont to invest up to $50M in Bham in 5 years

SpawnOfVulcan · #**2104** Posted **Sep 4, 2013, 5:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimCity2000

nothing specific, but still good news:

Redmont to invest up to $50M in Bham in 5 years

Great news, though; I'll be interested to see the details.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**2105** Posted **Sep 4, 2013, 4:34 PM**

Michael Kors, Cathy Jean to open in the Galleria

By Ryan Poe
Birmingham Biz Journal
9/3/2013
LINK

Quote:

Two retailers, Michael Kors and Cathy Jean Shoes, have leased space in Hoover's indoor mall, Riverchase Galleria, according to a news report.

The Michael Kors will take space in the former bebe space next to Coach while the Cathy Jean will take the former, 1,500-square-foot Strom Jewelers spot near Skechers, AL.com reported today.

The Cathy Jean, the first in Alabama, will open in mid-October. the report said. The Michael Kors opening date wasn't disclosed.

The leases are a testament to the reinvestment in the Galleria, including the opening of a new department store, Von Maur, in the former Macy's building Nov. 2.

Belk to add more than 50 jobs, launch renovation project at Riverchase Galleria store

By Dawn Kent Azok
AL.com
9/4/2013
LINK

Quote:

HOOVER, Alabama -- Belk is planning to add more than 50 jobs to its store at the Riverchase Galleria, and early next year the retailer will launch a renovation project that's aimed at bringing the location up to full flagship status.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based company will hold a job fair Friday and Saturday for applicants interested in 55 new positions, which include 30 seasonal jobs and 25 full-time and part-time jobs.

The 25 full-time and part-time jobs include new positions created for the store's operational team, said store manager Keri Jones. That team is tasked with handling new merchandise, how it is displayed in the store, pricing and other duties, she said.

............................

The job fair will be held on the Galleria's lower level in front of Belk near the shoe department. It will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, Belk is preparing to kick off a renovation project at the store early next year.

The work will include a makeover of the cosmetics, shoes and accessories departments, as well as other updates throughout the store, Jones said.

"We'll start the renovation toward the end of January, and they usually last about nine or 10 months," she said.

.........................

Belk flagship stores are designed to show off the retailer's upscale, elegant side, with high-end designers and visual presentations that highlight certain labels.

..........................

The Galleria store is technically already a flagship store, based on the volume of business it does, he said. But the renovations will bring it in line with other flagship stores.
...................

This Belk renovation will give Birmingham its second Belk flagship store and Alabama its third (the other is in Huntsville).

Tourian · #**2106** Posted **Sep 4, 2013, 9:44 PM**

They backed out on making the Huntsville store a flagship. Birmingham will have the only two in the state so far.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**2107** Posted **Sep 4, 2013, 10:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tourian

They backed out on making the Huntsville store a flagship. Birmingham will have the only two in the state so far.

Where did you read that? Everything I've seen online says nothing about them backing out of those plans.

Tourian · #**2108** Posted **Sep 4, 2013, 10:55 PM**

One of the latest AL stories about it. They mention that it will have similar inventory to the Parkway Place location but in a smaller footprint and that the PP location will still be the premier Huntsville location. Band the new store will have a unique freestanding two story layout not a flagship on a national scale like the summit store.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**2109** Posted **Sep 4, 2013, 11:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tourian

One of the latest AL stories about it. They mention that it will have similar inventory to the Parkway Place location but in a smaller footprint and that the PP location will still be the premier Huntsville location. Band the new store will have a unique freestanding two story layout not a flagship on a national scale like the summit store.

I'm assuming we read the same article, which stated that Parkway Place was a flagship. Confuses me since I'd never heard of it referred to as a flagship. Maybe they were just referring to PP location as a flagship because it's the "premier" location in North Alabama?

EDIT: From Belk's website.

New Belk at Bridge Street Town Centre in Huntsville, AL will Reflect Latest in Modern.Southern.Style.

Additional EDIT: August 22, 2013
LINK

Quote:

Two-level, 170,000 square-foot store, opening in fall 2014, will become first department store anchor at area’s premier lifestyle center
Bridge Street store will feature latest retail design and decor, premium brands; joins Parkway Place store as second Belk flagship in Huntsville

Tourian · #**2110** Posted **Sep 5, 2013, 11:52 AM**

Yeah, that article throws the word flagship around too liberally. The parkway place location is a flagship for Huntsville but not flagship on a national level for the whole chain of Belk stores.

*BRAVO* · #**2111** Posted **Sep 5, 2013, 12:23 PM**

Flagship or not... they all stink. Literally.

OCA REP · #**2112** Posted **Sep 5, 2013, 12:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by *BRAVO*

Flagship or not... they all stink. Literally.

Spot on!

Y'all can probably smell the stench from the former Parisian location down here at Eastdale Mall in Montgomery. Such a shame...

Tourian · #**2113** Posted **Sep 5, 2013, 3:29 PM**

That's why I avoid the cosmetics areas.

SpawnOfVulcan · #**2114** Posted **Sep 5, 2013, 3:30 PM**

I'll agree that Belk stores suck, every Parisian store was just as good as any Belk flagship, but is a nasty Walmart store branded as a Super Center not still a Super Center?

Tourian · #**2115** Posted **Sep 5, 2013, 6:39 PM**

From what I understand the Galeria store once it is upgraded, will be a flagship in its truest sense of the chain. On the level of its Charlotte store. It is big enough to achieve that status. The Summit store is also a flagship but doesnt have the gross square footage to match the Galeria to hold every product in every category. Birmingham is the HQ for belks western division.

the huntsville store was built because (i think) they see the writing on the wall that MSM is a dead mall walking and that BS has the hotter hand. It is also built with extra storage for more shoes because they were running out of room at their PP location.

*BRAVO* · #**2116** Posted **Sep 9, 2013, 1:34 PM**

I hope VanMaur tears Belk a new one...
There is definitely a void since Parisian was acquired.

Tourian · #**2117** Posted **Sep 9, 2013, 4:50 PM**

We went to the Galeria yesterday and the changes theyve made have improved the look I think. Von Maur looked good from the outside at least. My oldest kid enjoyed riding the refurbished carousel. Overall the mall is still the premier shopping destination in the state and is starting to act like it again.

TimCity2000 · #**2118** Posted **Sep 10, 2013, 7:12 PM**

same group doing LIV Parkside:

http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingha...partments.html

wonder where this one will go??

also buried in that article... apparently the Inland American 245-unit, $33 Million complex will be called "The Venue"....

Tourian · #**2119** Posted **Sep 10, 2013, 8:37 PM**

Thats wild. Havent even broken ground on the first one and already planning a second just as big. Im hoping some firm decides to build a highrise condo or apartment building next.

TimCity2000 · #**2120** Posted **Sep 10, 2013, 9:00 PM**

^ i was wondering why that same group wouldn't decide to build a single, taller complex instead of 2 separate ones. i asked the BBBJ reporter and he speculated it was due either to financing or trying not to flood the market all at once with that many units.