A Bon-Voyage to Bon-Ton?

One thing I personally hate seeing is more store closures. So many things lost: another shopping option, memories, and perhaps the most bothersome thing to me, a loss of jobs. So when Bon-Ton announced closures on top of the recent Toys R Us closures, it makes me rather upset. Understandably, Bon-Ton is another perfect example of a store failing to adapt with changing customer habits. But, on the other hand, I can't help but blame society for getting to lazy to go the store. I could go on about this, but obviously that is not what this post is about.

While this portion of news is late, Bon-Ton (and its family of brands) has announced 42 store closures on top of six that were announced last year in an effort to avoid bankruptcy. However, a new bit of news has announced today that that plan has failed and the Bon-Ton family of stores is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. With the latest piece of information, I've decided to take a closer look at the stores closing in the Twin Tiers coverage area and share my thoughts on the matter.

• Watertown, NY (Salmon Run Mall)
• The departure of Bon-Ton here should be concerning to the mall here. This will leave a second empty anchor space with Gander Mountain gone. (I have not seen anything to suggest that this store will or has reopened under the 'Gander Outdoors' name.) Sears is one of the remaining anchors to this mall so there's a worry as well. 
• Dubois, PA
• This store is in a plaza, so it shouldn't be to hard to replace, but that would depend upon the owner's ambition and if any new retailers would be interested.  
• State College, PA (Nittany Mall)
• Not looking good here. This leaves just Dunham's Sports and interestingly a Macy's store as anchors with Sears having closed up last month.
• Erie, PA (Millcreek Mall)
• While this will leave an empty anchor, I don't feel this should impact the mall here terribly. This space will be the only empty anchor.
• Selinsgrove, PA (Susquehanna Valley Mall)
• No doubt a death blow to this mall as it leaves just Boscov's as an anchor.

It's very possible that more stores could close now that they are bankruptcy though.

The Malls of the Twin Tiers.... A Scorecard of Each

This post was something I've been thinking of doing for a while now and with the recent announcement of the closure of 180 Toys R Us stores, there isn't a better time to do it. I'll explain my letter grades based upon a few different factors:

A- Absolute Victory
Minimum vacancy rate of 95%.  All anchors are in excellent or decent standing financially and are filled, or are undergoing construction to accommodate a new one. Possible one anchor with financial issues that manages to hang on for real estate purposes. The mall serves as a regional shopping destination. Surrounding retail (if any) is filled or mostly filled. 

B- Better Be On the Lookout
Vacancy rate of 80% - 94%. At least two anchors in larger malls are decent standing financially. Possible one or two anchors with financial issues or one empty anchor space. Other anchors are filled and in decent standing financially. Surrounding retail (if any) is mostly filled. 

C- Complicated
Vacancy rate of 50% - 79%. At least one anchor is empty, but ideally would have two or more empty anchor spaces. Anchor spaces can range from decent financially to likely to have one or two anchors with financial issues. Possible one anchor in decent financial status manages to continue due to great sales or since owning the store. Surrounding retail (if any) may have empty storefronts. This category is the most unique of all five due to various factors that are unique to each mall.

D- Dead & Dying

Vacancy rate of 1% - 49%. For smaller malls, at least one of two anchors are empty. For larger malls, at least two anchors are empty. Remaining anchor spaces likely to have one or two anchors with financial issues. Possible one anchor in decent financial status manages to continue due to great sales or since owning the store. Surrounding retail (if any) is likely to either be already empty or may have empty storefronts.

F- Failed
Mall itself has either less than five stores or is entirely closed down to the public. Possible that one or two anchors may remain. Surrounding retail (if any) is likely to either be already empty, may have empty storefronts or simply may have been repurposed.


EC (Extra Credit)- 
A mall that has managed to make a comeback from a failed status to either attract a new purpose or reopen its doors. This category is given the name extra credit do the extra steps that were taken to get a shopping complex back up and running either as something else entirely or a "new" shopping plaza that manages to have some of the old mall structure in tact. The catch is the that mall building itself WAS NOT entirely torn down to make room for something new. Surrounding retail (if any) is likely to have either been repurposed or unchanged from before the mall closed its doors.

If I missed a mall below, that is likely due to the fact I've never heard of it. Obviously then, such mall would automatically get an F, unless it manages to fit into the Extra Credit category.

Another thing to note this is not a final grade list, as an anchor leaves a mall it can lead to a free fall effect on the stores inside the mall. The more stores close, the lower of a grade a mall gets. 

PA Malls:

• A
• Millcreek Mall
• Viewmont Mall
• B
• Clarion Mall
• Downtown Meadville Mall
• Dubois Mall
• Laurel Mall
• Nittany Mall
• Wyoming Valley Mall
• C
• Clearfield Mall
• Cranberry Mall
• Mall at Steamtown
• D
• Lycoming Mall
• Shenango Valley Mall
• Susquehanna Valley Mall
• F
• Columbia Mall
• Harborcreek Mall
• Meadville Mall
• Warren Mall
• EC
• Bradford Mall
• Pittston Mall
• West Side Mall

NY Malls:

• A
• Destiny USA
• Eastview Mall
• Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls 
• The Mall at Greece Ridge
• Walden Galleria
• B
• Chautauqua Mall
• Marketplace Mall
• Salmon Run Mall
• The Shops at Ithaca Mall
• C
• Arnot Mall
• Boulevard Mall
• Eastern Hills Mall
• McKinley Mall
• Oakdale Mall
• Olean Center Mall
• Triphammer Marketplace
• D
• Finger Lakes Mall
• Great Northern Mall
• Main Place Mall
• Shoppingtown Mall
• F
• Batavia City Center Mall
• Irondequoit Mall
• Pyramid Mall (Geneva)
• Thruway Mall
• Tri-County Mall
• University Mall (Binghamton)
• EC
• Cortlandville Mall
• Camillus Mall
• Fairmount Fair Mall
• Fayetteville Mall
• Midtown Plaza Mall
• Rainbow Mall
• Penn-Can Mall / Driver's Village

Do you agree with my assessment of the malls? If not, I'd love to hear why in the comments below.

A Sneak Peek of Future Photos

Time for another random assortment of photos that have no description as to where they were taken or when. I did a similar concept back in 2015, so it's time for another.

Thanks for 10,000 Views!

The Twin Tiers blog has reached the milestone of 10,000 visitors. This in thanks to a record 500+ views today so far, and it isn't even noon here yet. A big thanks goes to the Dead and Dying Retail Facebook page for the shout out on my 'Whole Lotta Awesome' decor package post! Also a big thanks goes out to fourstarcashiernathan for taking the pictures in the first place.

For reaching this milestone, I will be doing a post of a very special Kmart in Belle Vernon, PA. These pictures will be uploaded first to the blog. You can expect this post on Friday.

Thank you everyone who has read and/or commented on any of my posts in the past!

Bluelight News Flash: No Need for Stockrooms

This news makes feel better about the Kmart situation, though I can't say the same for the employees. I referenced an article in the past week about Kmart's demise seeming more likely, and while that it still a very good possibility, the basis of the article was somewhat misunderstood. My suspicion about moving product from the stockroom and to the sales floor is now confirmed via my latest visit to my local store and this article. Kmart will no longer have any need for stockrooms. This is also supposed to ease checkout line wait times and by having more employees to assist customers.

I've already come across this just this past Tuesday. We are currently in the season where new LEGO products get added to store shelves. Well, as you can see below, boxes for these newer sets were found near the toys department just laying around open for customers to browse. If one wasn't open, than customers should ask an employee for assistance. Having spotted a set among these boxes that I was interested in I did just that.

Let me be clear by saying these new products do have spots on shelves for them. Employees just hadn't gotten around to stocking them yet.

This still doesn't exactly help the situation by having even more product added to the top shelf. Some of these products on the shelf here can no longer be found elsewhere. 

Hope this works out well for Kmart. Apparently Costco and Home Depot already use this same strategy, so it is not nothing new. This will also likely lead to less square footage being needed for each store.

A Year of Retail in the Twin Tiers

Today officially marks one year that the Twin Tiers Retail Blog has been giving you coverage of both area retail and restaurants, along with any new developments that have come to my attention. I just want to thank every reader and person who has left a comment on my posts over the past year. I look forward to bringing you additional posts in the future. Now since this anniversary falls on July 11th, or otherwise known as 7-11, make sure you get out and get yourself a free Slushie from your local 7-11!

Thanks again and look forward to more posts in the future!

Thanks for 3,000 Views!

Thanks everyone for continuing to visit my site time and time again. Look for a special post coming this weekend as my way of saying thanks.

A Sneak Peek of Future Pictures

While you're waiting for part two of the Warsaw Walmart remodel, I thought I'd wet your appetite for some photos I've taken that have not yet been uploaded to Flickr. These will be random with no description telling you were they were taken or what store they are. It will be possible that you may see some of these pictures again in the future here on this blog. Some pictures may be more obvious where they were taken at than others, but nonetheless I'm not saying anything more about the pictures beyond this point.

I wonder if anyone can guess where any of these pictures were taken! I may possibly do another post like this in the future. Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek.