Name: Shoe Dept./Shoe Show
Age: 59
Occupation: shoe store
Last Seen: Concord, NC
Bee-otched For: being another Jebus freak operation
-Age: 59
Occupation: shoe store
Last Seen: Concord, NC
Bee-otched For: being another Jebus freak operation
t's no secret that going to the mall is quickly becoming a thing of the past.
In the past several years, dozens of malls have shuttered and many more have been redeveloped into everything from outdoor shopping centers, colleges, churches and hospitals. Sadly, many blame e-commerce on the demise of the mall, though in many cases, malls meet their maker simply because of other factors. Many of them include being too close to other malls and even crime.
Another reason for a mall's failure is its owner. There are some companies out there famous for having a portfolio of dead malls. One is Las Vegas-based Moonbeam Investments. One of their most-famous malls was Century III Mall, just outside Pittsburgh. The mall was closed earlier this year after the local fire department deemed the 1.2 million square-foot structure as unsafe because of multiple code violations. Many in the retail community have criticized Moonbeam and other mall operators for owning them simply as tax write-offs.
But, don't throw Brookfield Properties into the mix.
They own several malls here in Michigan; many of them are quite successful, like Rivertown here in Grand Rapids and Crossroads Mall near Kalamazoo. My childhood mall, Grand Traverse Mall in Traverse City, however, has had its challenges.
The good news is that in the past decade, they've gained many big-name stores, namely GAP, Old Navy, H&M and Dunham's Sports. However, losing Foot Locker, Journey's, Express, PacSun, plus bankrupt retailers Payless ShoeSource and Charlotte Russe have created challenges of filling vacancies in the 27-year-old mall. Losing its nine-screen movie theater when former owner Carmike opened a new 14-screener just down the street was also a blow to the mall.
For years, its biggest embarrassment has been its nearly-empty Target wing. While one side is now filled by the giant Dunham's, there's a line of gated-up shops on the opposite side. Some of those stores like Spencer's have moved to newer stores in other parts of the mall. Others, like Coach House Gifts and a dollar store have long abandoned the mall.
Now, the rolling tumbleweeds in front of the mall's Target will soon disappear, thanks to a new redevelopment.
It was recently announced that a fast-growing chain of shoe stores will remodel 10,000 square feet of space in the Target wing, according to Garfield Township. The Traverse Ticker revealed the developer as Shoe Show, a North Carolina-based chain of shoe stores that also operate under the such names as The Shoe Dept., Burlington Shoes and Shoebilee!
Judging by its size, it is likely that their Grand Traverse Mall location will be a Shoe Dept. Encore. Other shoe stores at the mall include Famous Footwear and Finish Line.
Shoe Show has over 1150 locations including two Shoe Dept.s in Alpena and Gaylord.
Now, as somebody who spent a sizable chunk of my youth at GTM, I should be happy that Brookfield is getting some new stores in there. But sadly, one should steer clear of The Shoe Dept. and its other nameplates.
The reason? They give a lot to several right-winged causes in their neck of the woods. They give to several anti-abortion groups, a Baptist college that has publicly bashed the LGBTQ+ community and even the Salvation Army. The chain is owned by 81-year-old Robert Tucker, who founded Shoe Show in 1960.
Here in Grand Rapids, the area's three indoor malls, the aforementioned Rivertown Crossings, the recently-remodeled Woodland Mall and the ghetto Rogers Plaza all have a Shoe Show or Shoe Dept. As a matter of fact, even though they already have a Shoe Dept., Rivertown gained a Shoe Show recently where Payless used to be. Apparently, Shoe Show is banking on Payless' downfall on their potential growth.
Sadly, I've bought shoes from Shoe Dept. before and they weren't very comfortable. My last pair of shoes from them - Skechers, mind you - had their soles disintegrate not even a week after I bought them! I wonder if they buy their stock dirt cheap.
The point is, I really don't trust businesses that put false morals in front of their customers. Hell, I'm almost shocked that Shoe Dept.'s stores are all open Sunday! Nonetheless, they are the Chick-fil-A of the shoe world, and that's not a compliment.
I think my next pair of shoes will come from DSW, which thankfully supports the Democrats. I'll use those shoes to kick Shoe Dept.'s ass.
Another reason for a mall's failure is its owner. There are some companies out there famous for having a portfolio of dead malls. One is Las Vegas-based Moonbeam Investments. One of their most-famous malls was Century III Mall, just outside Pittsburgh. The mall was closed earlier this year after the local fire department deemed the 1.2 million square-foot structure as unsafe because of multiple code violations. Many in the retail community have criticized Moonbeam and other mall operators for owning them simply as tax write-offs.
But, don't throw Brookfield Properties into the mix.
They own several malls here in Michigan; many of them are quite successful, like Rivertown here in Grand Rapids and Crossroads Mall near Kalamazoo. My childhood mall, Grand Traverse Mall in Traverse City, however, has had its challenges.
The good news is that in the past decade, they've gained many big-name stores, namely GAP, Old Navy, H&M and Dunham's Sports. However, losing Foot Locker, Journey's, Express, PacSun, plus bankrupt retailers Payless ShoeSource and Charlotte Russe have created challenges of filling vacancies in the 27-year-old mall. Losing its nine-screen movie theater when former owner Carmike opened a new 14-screener just down the street was also a blow to the mall.
For years, its biggest embarrassment has been its nearly-empty Target wing. While one side is now filled by the giant Dunham's, there's a line of gated-up shops on the opposite side. Some of those stores like Spencer's have moved to newer stores in other parts of the mall. Others, like Coach House Gifts and a dollar store have long abandoned the mall.
Now, the rolling tumbleweeds in front of the mall's Target will soon disappear, thanks to a new redevelopment.
It was recently announced that a fast-growing chain of shoe stores will remodel 10,000 square feet of space in the Target wing, according to Garfield Township. The Traverse Ticker revealed the developer as Shoe Show, a North Carolina-based chain of shoe stores that also operate under the such names as The Shoe Dept., Burlington Shoes and Shoebilee!
Judging by its size, it is likely that their Grand Traverse Mall location will be a Shoe Dept. Encore. Other shoe stores at the mall include Famous Footwear and Finish Line.
Shoe Show has over 1150 locations including two Shoe Dept.s in Alpena and Gaylord.
Now, as somebody who spent a sizable chunk of my youth at GTM, I should be happy that Brookfield is getting some new stores in there. But sadly, one should steer clear of The Shoe Dept. and its other nameplates.
The reason? They give a lot to several right-winged causes in their neck of the woods. They give to several anti-abortion groups, a Baptist college that has publicly bashed the LGBTQ+ community and even the Salvation Army. The chain is owned by 81-year-old Robert Tucker, who founded Shoe Show in 1960.
Here in Grand Rapids, the area's three indoor malls, the aforementioned Rivertown Crossings, the recently-remodeled Woodland Mall and the ghetto Rogers Plaza all have a Shoe Show or Shoe Dept. As a matter of fact, even though they already have a Shoe Dept., Rivertown gained a Shoe Show recently where Payless used to be. Apparently, Shoe Show is banking on Payless' downfall on their potential growth.
Sadly, I've bought shoes from Shoe Dept. before and they weren't very comfortable. My last pair of shoes from them - Skechers, mind you - had their soles disintegrate not even a week after I bought them! I wonder if they buy their stock dirt cheap.
The point is, I really don't trust businesses that put false morals in front of their customers. Hell, I'm almost shocked that Shoe Dept.'s stores are all open Sunday! Nonetheless, they are the Chick-fil-A of the shoe world, and that's not a compliment.
I think my next pair of shoes will come from DSW, which thankfully supports the Democrats. I'll use those shoes to kick Shoe Dept.'s ass.
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Bee-otch of the Day is a production of Chuck69.com, Grand Rapids' site for Stern, politics and more!
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