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| These signs are becoming ubiquitous across moribund Montgomery County |
Monday, December 11, 2017
Vitamin World closing at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Photos)
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| These signs are becoming ubiquitous across moribund Montgomery County |
65 comments:
I believe that's the 26th store or restaurant to close, year-to-date?
Vitamin World filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 12, and is closing at least 124 of its 334 stores nationwide, and looking to sell the rest.
In addition to Montgomery Mall, they are also closing stores in Annapolis, Hagerstown (2) and Hanover in Maryland, and Woodbridge in Virginia.
https://www.newsday.com/business/vitamin-world-bankruptcy-store-closing-1.14988909
#LaziestJournalistEver
5:29, I am copying your notes out from your previous post because it violates robert’s
Comment Policy.
Vitamin World filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 12, and is closing at least 124 of its 334 stores nationwide, and looking to sell the rest.
In addition to Montgomery Mall, they are also closing stores in Annapolis, Hagerstown (2) and Hanover in Maryland, and Woodbridge in Virginia.
Closed since January 1, 2017:
Vitamin World
Wilson Leather
Smart Toys
Radio Shack
Bebe
Noodles & Co.
Stride Rite
Marbles: the brain store
Yum Crepes
Smart Toys
Peet's
Core
Sheepskin and Alpaca Too
Chocolate Moonshine
American Apparel
Bistro Sensations
Best Buy Mobile
Freddy
Naples Ristorante e Pizza
Fashion Time
American Classic Clothes
Icebreaker
Wetzel's Pretzels
The Limited
25 in all.
Montgomery Mall is going the way of White Flint and Black Flint (Landover Mall).
"robert’s Comment Policy." TFF.
How many have opened since January 1, hence what is the net loss (or gain) ? Not really fair to only count the closures without reporting the openings. Obviously all malls have some amount of turnover, but it would be nice to know how this compares to others in the area and nationally. I believe that across the country many traditional malls are in decline, in fact all brick and motar retailers, especially large department stores.
I believe a modest return to walkable urban retail and F&B (food and beverage) is on the rise, at least in some urban and exurban areas, despite the large growth in online retailers, at the expense of tradition suburban regional malls, with vast free perimeter parking, ring roads and outlots.
Maybe Robert could prepare a nice analysis for us to review, and not just report individual closures. Maybe a good resource would be the ICSC, the International Council of Shopping Centers.
What do you say Robert ? Are you up for some investigative reportage?
Robert,
This is NOT only happening in Maryland. All around the country the retail market is consolidating their "physical" space or closing completely. This is because more and more shopping is done ONLINE each year. It is that simple. Consumers are still spending more than they did just a few years ago, it's just moved online. If you want to look at the economy you need to look at more than just the retail aspect of it.
6:04: I've done plenty of investigative reporting, unlike the Gazette and Montgomery County reporters for the Washington Post (minus Bill Turque on a few occasions), so save the sneering voice. I exposed the underground fuel spill in Bethesda, illegal use of funds by the Parks Department, countless exposes on Westbard, etc., etc.
Businesses are closing everywhere in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, not just in malls. Urban areas, too. It's partly for the same reason that the County Council has a $125,000,000 shortfall - the folks with the big bucks are leaving, and the Council is bringing in large numbers of new residents with zero-to-low income spending ability. It's not rocket science.
6:17: I have. For example, the retail job losses, the flight of wealth (I even reported on the dollar amounts lost to each competing county where those folks have relocated), the net loss in jobs overall in the past decade, zero large corporations relocating to MoCo, and many other benchmarks. In short, we are in serious trouble unless we change leadership in 2018 (and not just new people, but new people with new ideas **substantially different** from those retiring).
"Montgomery County has lost more than 2000 retail jobs since 2000"
...which represents but a small fraction of those lost nationwide. The economy is changing.
@Anna 5:44 -- Indeed. I've asked Robert to share this imaginary comment policy numerous times.
Opened at Montgomery Mall in 2017
Kia Stinger Salon (holiday pop-up)
Flexy - former Radio Shack
Shilla Bakery
Victoria's Secret RELOCATED
Virtual Reality Experience (kiosk)
Things Remembered (pop-up)
Just Cozy (pop-up)
Bering
MVP Supreme - former Best Buy Mobile
Kung Fu Tea
Sheepskin and Alpaca Too REOPENED AFTER CLOSING
KicksUSA
CocoLaRue
Gusto
The Fix
Ann Taylor REOPENED
Cookie Dough & Co.
Euphrasie
LoveSac
Peloton
Haagen-Dazs REOPENED AFTER RENOVATIONS
Vinci Leather
3D Manaco - former American Apparel
Nespresso
Lovesac
Voorthuis - RELOCATED
Auntie Anne's - kiosk, former Rumi Tea & Spice, Moonshine, Peet's (all just since January)
Menchie's Frozen Yogurt
Brow Art - former American Classic Clothing
Lucky Strike Social
Aeropostale - REOPENED AFTER RENOVATION
Olivia Macarons - kiosk
the same reason that the County Council has a $125,000,000 shortfall - the folks with the big bucks are leaving, and the Council is bringing in large numbers of new residents with zero-to-low income spending ability
More #FakeNews
It was widely reported that the shortfall -- which is something that's happening statewide -- is due to more people postponing filing their income taxes. This reporting was corroborated by the comptroller's office. The issue has nothing to do with made-up reasons like "folks with the big bucks are leaving," a claim for which you have no source.
Your feeble attempts to blame national trends on our local government is laughable, and it's clear your readers ain't buying it.
@ 5:38 AM - I note that after Vitamin World, your next-to-last closure is Wilson's Leather. That closed in the first week of August. It looks like Dyer stopped tagging subsequent articles on closures at Montgomery Mall, with the "closed" label, after the last time a reader made a list of the closed stores. LOL
Correction to 6:33 AM - Dyer started using the tag "closed" instead of "closing after August 2.
Here are the shops and restaurants that have closed at Montgomery Mall since August 2:
Vitamin World (listed above)
Boardwalk Burgers and Fries
Shanghai Bao Kitchen
Sports Zone Elite
Sears Auto Center
True Religion
Wilson's Leather (listed above)
Robert,
The "flight of wealth" is not stopping the development in Bethesda and Rockville is it? The job losses you mention are not affecting are areas negatively. WHY?
wow...our government has a shortfall of $125MM and all the folks involved in this mess want promotions or to come back to their seats?
"Skippy" @ 6:47 AM - Da Fuq does that have to do with a bankrupt retailer closing shops?
5:38 & 6:41 AM - That's 30 closures in 345 days - one closure every 11.5 days. At that rate, the entire mall will be gone in less than a decade.
So -- about that $22,000 surveillance system this blog has been whining about: It's more #FakeNews.
Of the $34,500 appropriation, only $2,500 is for security cameras.
And because I cite my sources: Refer to the last page of this document.
BABA BOOEY
body-slams fake news through coffee table
Any official statement from Roger Berliner?
The main problem with Mr. Dyer's opinions is that he looks at Montgomery County in a vacuum. Yes, malls are failing here, but they're failing everywhere. Yes, we're losing retail jobs, so is everybody else.
He also heavily relies on anecdotal evidence vs empirical data from govt agencies such as BLS or Census. His claim that "millionaires" are fleeing Montgomery County is supported by absolutely no hard data, neither is his oft-repeated claim that the county's economy is "moribund."
In other instances he makes random apples-to-oranges comparisons, cherry-picking examples to fit his narrative. He once compared Fredericksburg to Bethesda. That's akin to comparing Peoria, IL to Chicago.
Montgomery County has numerous weaknesses in its regional competitiveness and a troubling economic outlook (especially if Trump shrinks the govt.), and the current council seems to be aloof. However, going to the other extreme with personal attacks and irrational exaggerations doesn't really do anything to fix the problem.
6:59: That's not the official budget appropriation document, it's just a letter. That's not what the Council voted on, as anyone can see if they watch the meeting. The amount is clearly stated as $22,000 by the Council staff member. Stop lying.
6:47: It's stopping the finances of the County, which definitely will stop growth. Did you know that if the County's debt were a department, it would be the third largest in the County government? Time to wake up.
7:12: WRONG! My report on the rich fleeing even gave itemized dollar amounts for how many million in wealth those fleeing residents took to each competing jurisdiction.
Fredericksburg is booming in terms of demand for office space and job opportunities. We're many times larger, yet we had a net loss in jobs while Fredericksburg had a net gain over the same period. They have the right ideas about growth and planning, and have added the highway infrastructure our leaders here won't. The difference shows. Bigtime.
The Washington Post and even Hans Riemer's former chief of staff(!) both said the County's private sector economy is moribund.
No, everyone else is NOT losing jobs. Virtually every county around us had a net gain in jobs while we went backwards with a net loss.
Facts.
The longer you excuse the Council's failures, the worse the situation gets.
And Dyer once again confuses retail jobs with total jobs.
Why is there so much NEW DEVELOPEMNT taking place in Betheda and Rockville if ALL the MONEY is leaving? Help me understand.
1) Fredericksburg is a relatively new area for growth. You can't compare it to us since the starting points differ radically. We're starting from gridlock here, they're still partly rural.
2) When did you change it from $120,000 to $125,000?
3) So...you don't have written support your $22,000 amount either. Fake News.
4) Andy - still too shamed to use his real name, but always anxious to puff up Dyer while comfortably cloaked.
The amount of office space opening within a quarter-mile radius of the current and future entrances to the Bethesda Metro station is more than ten times that 86,000 square foot project in Fredericksburg that Dyer has been touting for the past four months.
Anna said:
"Fredericksburg is a relatively new area for growth. You can't compare it to us since the starting points differ radically. We're starting from gridlock here, they're still partly rural."
Counties in which greenfield development predominates are obviously going to have greater retail growth than mature, infilling areas.
7:50: No, I did not. We had a net loss in all jobs combined. The 2000+ retail jobs lost are just one part of that.
7:58: Not "all" the money, just many of the ultra-wealthy who were subsidizing the Council's schemes for all these years. Developers get financing from banks and investors, not from mansion owners in Potomac.
8:07: Fredericksburg is hot, and we're not. That's all you need to know. I didn't change anything - the shortfall is $125,000,000, not $125,000.
Stop lying about the camera expenditure by the Council - WATCH THE MEETING - It was $22000+ spent. That amount is not itemized in the documents the troll linked to here, one of the reasons it was such an explosive development. No one knew they were spending that much, because those documents uploaded before the meeting did not break out the surveillance system total.
8:17: Great, but they beat us in all-around job growth, not just retail. You do realize how small they are vs. 1 million person MoCo? Very impressive defeat of MoCo in that context.
8:14: Wrong! Businessman in Fredericksburg called their office market "hot." JBG Chase executive called MoCo office market "the worst I've seen in 30 years."
If it was real, there would be written confirmation. Period. There's no getting around that fact.
Shall I link to your articles and comments saying $120,000m?
confirmation link
Dyer @8:21. No matter how you package it, these markets are so radically different that comparisons are moot.
For one thing, they are building an area, we are changing an area. BIG difference.
No such company as "JBG Chase".
#Derp
@Dyer 7:13 — Why did you delete my comment? All I said was:
Baba Booey provided a source document for his/her claim while you have not. Can you tell us when during this meeting the appropriation was discussed? If you could provide a time stamp (HH:MM) this would be especially helpful.
I suppose we could watch the whole thing but since you were there, it should be a relatively simple matter.
8:28: It is $120,000,000. I don't know who started talking about $125M. The usual Saul Alinsky tactics.
8:43: You know what JBG Smith is.
8:50: A letter from a non-profit is not a budget document. The $22000+ camera cost was never itemized in the budget documents. Don't you understand that that's why it was such an egregious move by the Council? It wasn't itemized, just stated aloud by staff member and voted on.
The letter was included as part of the official exhibit.
“just stated aloud by staff member and voted on”
So I’ll ask again — at what point in the video? A time stamp would be exceedingly helpful to your readers.
I don't get all the focus on $22k for security cameras. If that's the biggest waste in the County's multi-billion dollar budget, they're doing great.
I know it's not. Why not focus on their "projects" which are costing us millions instead? Those have a bigger impact.
If you want some to start:
- Taxpayer-funded campaigns
- Bag tax (how is the money being spent?)
- Small business loans
- Student loan relief
All those are millions.. Who cares about $22k of cameras?
I actually think if the cameras including installation and service, $22k is not totally crazy. I had cameras installed at my house, with a high-end system, for about $12k. Most of the cost was labor.
JBG Chase executive called MoCo office market "the worst I've seen in 30 years."
Where is this executive quoted as saying that?
@ 9:13 AM - Nowhere, because there is no such company as "JBG Chase".
If one of the reporters at Bethesda Beat had made a howler like that, s/he would have been fired, and a correction and extensive apology published in real time.
Dyer @8:56 - "8:28: It is $120,000,000. I don't know who started talking about $125M. "
You did. @6:19.
Why is there so much NEW DEVELOPMENT taking place in Bethesda and Rockville if ALL the MONEY is leaving? Help me understand.
And again @8:18.
Anna, this is my real name :) Unlike you I post who I am and don't wait for my "hubby" to reign me in.
So "Robert Dyer" is the fake name, and "Andy Van Slyke" is the man behind the curtain?
It is embarassing that the comment section is plagued with troll(GGW Gang) continue to tear dow this blog site with lies and personnal attacks against Mr. Dyers blog posting credability. I wish he would challange the possible Fact that the Majority of the trolls do not reside in Montgomery County and more than likely are Tax payers from Virginia with discriminating hate towards the Maryland Suburbs which is why they are pushing to damage any form of Business and Economic Growth for the Maryland Suburbs which also explains why they raise pure ugly hell at the thought of Suburban Maryland building new Highways and Upscale Retail Indoor Shopping Malls.
"I actually think if the cameras including installation and service, $22k is not totally crazy. I had cameras installed at my house, with a high-end system, for about $12k. Most of the cost was labor."
Robert Dyer considered only the cost of parts, not labor. What a dunce. A master electrician can charge up to $80 per hour, more per year than a Montgomery County Councilperson.
10:55, no my name is Andy Van Slyke and Robert Dyer is the author of this blog. We are not the same person and we both choose to use our real name. Why don't you?
I am Andy Van Slyke and the only thing I like more than giving Robert Dyer Attaboys, is eating my own poop.
HI AGAIN,
Why is there so much NEW DEVELOPMENT taking place in Bethesda and Rockville if ALL the MONEY is leaving? Please help me understand, I need an explanation.
@11:10 I need to know the name of your electrician if they charge only $80/hour. I never end up paying less than $125/hour. Is that the "Bethesda premium" in play?
11:02 —How do you know who the trolls are and where they live? You have no idea do you? So why lie?
Reminds of when the Downtown Bethesda Plan Design Survey responses were dominated by urban planners based in Arlington and DC, rather than limiting the online survey to county residents.
No wonder people are getting a strong Ballston soulless high rise feel from some of the recent proposed Bethesda development.
Re Ballston - it depends on which street you're talking about. Fairfax Drive is kinda like Crystal City - buildings set back too far from the street, no mixed use, street poorly activated. Wilson Boulevard is the opposite of that.
But I'd certainly take Fairfax Drive over River Road in Westbard.
Why do you have such a difficult time believing who I am? So you make fun of me, bully me, tell lies about me?
How sad for you.
I'm a normal professional woman who's upfront, logical, outspoken
and not with the BS. My mantra in life? "If you see somebody
without a smile,give them yours." That's my real name up there.
I ask a local blogger to prove his outlandish claims. (Same thing I do in the tax field, ask for a confirming cite.) Chaos ensues. Attacks begin.
How very sad for you.
I figured Mr. Dyer would respond with a hysterical, rambling response, and he certainly met my expectations.
"WRONG! My report on the rich fleeing even gave itemized dollar amounts for how many million in wealth those fleeing residents took to each competing jurisdiction."
Your so-called "report" was nonsensical and misleading. The number of individuals making more than $200K or more increased 65% between 2006 and 2016 (44,000 to 72,800) according to reputable Census data. You're either willfully ignorant or a liar.
"Fredericksburg is booming in terms of demand for office space and job opportunities. We're many times larger, yet we had a net loss in jobs while Fredericksburg had a net gain over the same period. They have the right ideas about growth and planning, and have added the highway infrastructure our leaders here won't. The difference shows. Bigtime."
Since you persist in making this idiotic comparison, then here are some real numbers: Fredericksburg's office vacancy rate is 12.2%, Bethesda's is 10.4%. Bethesda has nearly 700,000 SF of office space under construction, with another 1.5 million SF to break ground next year. Fredericksburg has less than 10,000 SF.
"The Washington Post and even Hans Riemer's former chief of staff(!) both said the County's private sector economy is moribund."
And? Is "Hans Riemer's former chief of staff" supposed to be some economic expert? And I'm pretty sure Bill Turque wouldn't appreciate you twisting his comments about a specific region of the county. Everyone from the WBJ to Moody's to MWCOG to JLL to GMU's CRA say the regional economy is far from moribund.
"No, everyone else is NOT losing jobs. Virtually every county around us had a net gain in jobs while we went backwards with a net loss."
Reading comprehension clearly isn't your strong suit. I was responding to your inane claim about RETAIL jobs. Show me one large county in the country that is rapidly gaining retail jobs. And please cite a local govt or BLS, not your usual misquotes and anecdotes.
"The longer you excuse the Council's failures, the worse the situation gets'"
The county council has failed in many areas for sure, but blaming them for every negative situation under the sun isn't the least bit constructive.
Believe me when I say that nobody, except maybe you fellow your Trump lovers and your NIMBY friends in Westbard, consider this blog to be a credible source for political or economic commentary. Most visitors just skip over the story straight to the comments to see you lash out when proven wrong.
7:17: My report was based on hard numbers. In contrast, you focus on people making "$200,000 and up." Those aren't the ultra-rich who are fleeing Montgomery County. That's basically two spouses in many MoCo neighborhoods, and hardly considered "ultra-rich."
It is universally accepted (outside the walls of the Council building) that our County economy is moribund. Look no further than the $120,000,000 budget shortfall, proving stagnation and flight of wealth, as tax rates are higher than ever before!
No wonder you have to cite the "regional" economy - that NOT MoCo's economy. And DAMN, look how close Fredericksburg is to our office vacancy rate, despite being so far away from the powerful city we BORDER ON! LOL When the final set of Express Lanes are completed south of Stafford, they're really going to hand the MoCo cartel their collective [briefcases].
Readers are here to get the real story and hard-hitting analysis, which no other local outlet currently provides. they're too busy receiving attaboys, and even actual ****ing award certificates, from the politicians they're supposed to be investigating. LOL
What was that again about "credible source?"
LOL
This is why we need Dyer and Ficker on the council. Cleaning up the trash the current council has created. We don't need crooks on it.
""That's basically two spouses in many MoCo neighborhoods, and hardly considered "ultra-rich."">
Your reading comprehension is still lacking. From my comment:
"The number of individuals making more than $200K."
"It is universally accepted (outside the walls of the Council building) that our County economy is moribund"
I'll reuse you're daft response: LOL
From Moody's: "The county's outlook is stable.The long-term Aaa general obligation rating reflects the county's large, diverse tax base, affluent demographics, and manageable debt burden."
"What was that again about "credible source?""
Let's see...in all of my comments I've backed up all of my numbers with well-respected sources [office data is from CW]. You, as entirely expected, have continued to spout unverified absurdities. Just because you think that you are a "credible source" doesn't it make it the case.
Thanks for posting as me! No idea what you're talking about though.
"DAMN, look how close Fredericksburg is to our office vacancy rate, despite being so far away from the powerful city we BORDER ON! LOL"
Well, that's a pretty meaningless statement there.
The person posting as me is doing this to irritate me and make me seem irrational :) Readers of this blog know I am myself and the troll is pretending to be me.
"When the final set of Express Lanes are completed south of Stafford, they're really going to hand the MoCo cartel their collective [briefcases]."
That stretch of I-95 is the worst bottleneck on the east coast because of its location between the river and Quantico Marine Base. The new lanes will fill up in no time at all.
I concur
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