Plans detailed for 2 restaurants proposed for Briarwood Mall parking lot
Briarwood Mall wants to build two restaurant buildings east of the Macy's department store.
AnnArbor.com file photo
The restaurants — which have not yet been announced to the public — would be constructed on the parking lot just east of the Macy’s department store.
“Until leases are signed, we are not at liberty to disclose that information,” Curt Tappendorf, Simon Property Group’s senior civil engineer, told attendees of the citizen participation meeting on Thursday evening.
An aerial photo of Briarwood Mall shows the proposed restaurant buildings outlined in blue east of the Macy's department store.
Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group owns Briarwood Mall, which is located at the corner of Interstate 94 and South State Street. Macy’s anchors the mall on its north end.
About a dozen people attended the 30-minute public meeting, asking only a few questions about the project. A citizen participation meeting is required before Simon Property Group can move forward with its plans. The company intends to submit a site plan to the city of Ann Arbor this month.
Plans call to construct two side-by-side restaurant buildings, which would each total roughly 6,500 square feet. The restaurants would be separated from Macy’s by about 10 feet, said Hubbell, Roth & Clark’s Gary Tressel, a consulting engineer for the project.
The project requires that Simon Property Group purchase some land east of the department store from Macy’s. It would be rezoned from P (parking) to C2B (business district).
“On the east side of Macy’s there was (permissible building area),” Tappendorf said. “Macy’s came to us and said, ‘We are not interested in expanding Macy’s.’ That gave us the opportunity to backfill that area with another use.”
Added Tressel: “Restaurant and retail go together.”
One meeting attendee asked if the public has an opportunity to offer feedback or suggestions on the restaurant tenants that are chosen. A mall representative said those negotiations are being done privately.
Another attendee asked whether there would be an impact to the traffic flow once the restaurants open.
“Basically, (the traffic study) shows these two restaurants will have no impact on the general surrounding roads,” Tressel responded.
In addition to the restaurant construction, parking in that area would be reconfigured to face the restaurant buildings. Landscape islands and LED lighting would be installed, along with new pedestrian walkways. Macy’s also plans to reorganize some of its parking and pedestrian walkways.
If the project is approved, Simon Property Group hopes to begin preliminary site work in the fall. The restaurants have a tentative opening date of November 2014.
Tressel and Tappendorf said the project is complicated because issues with utilities will need to be worked out. Various power lines run underneath that portion of the parking lot to electrical and gas rooms outside Macy’s.
“This is one of the main electrical and gas rooms; it serves the entire mall,” Tappendorf said. “There is also the sanitary line that comes out (in that area). So, as part of this project, because the restaurants are proposed on top of those, we’re required to relocate those."
Added Tressel: “Some of these utility relocations we are going to do yet this year, in order to accelerate the schedule for next spring.”
Tressel said construction would temporarily disrupt parking in the area, and there could be temporary traffic control systems. He doesn’t expect Briarwood Circle — the road surrounding the mall — would close.
He said there would be designated parking outside the restaurants for carryout orders, along with handicapped-accessible parking spaces close to the restaurant entrances.
Briarwood Mall is the city of Ann Arbor’s biggest taxpayer. The mall has a 2013 assessed value of about $38.3 million.
The restaurant proposal comes as the 40-year-old mall undergoes a series of renovations, including energy efficiency upgrades and new entrances with automatic entry doors. The last time the mall was renovated was a decade ago. (Read more about the renovation.)
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
Pete Szerszen
Wed, Sep 4, 2013 : 3:38 a.m.
This is cookie-cutter to the two restaurants developed adjacent to Fairlane about a year ago. While Briarwood is no longer a Taubman mall, it still retains a similar mix of tenants as other Taubman malls, so I would gander this is likely the footprint of a P.F. Chang's and a Bravo!, whatever they are.
Anthony Clark
Sun, Aug 18, 2013 : 7:28 p.m.
What, there aren't enough vacancies around town? We really need more retail construction?
JB SHOOTER
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 5:14 p.m.
I am thinking Blimpy Burger and Knights.
Pretty Gritty
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 4:37 p.m.
If you shop at briarwood and eat at chain restaurants please just leave A2.
Boo Radley
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 9:29 p.m.
I do ... and I did.
joanne
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 11:28 a.m.
Two more outside restaurants, even if they are in the Briarwood parking lot, would be nice. However, I still say Briarwood Mall needs a decent food court and/or more moderate-to-lower priced dining options inside the mall itself. The few restaurants inside the mall itself (Olga's, Panda Express, Chipolte, California Pizza Factory, and the deli on the second floor of Macy's) are spread out and can be hard to find. I'm not even going to count Wetzel's Pretzels or Pinkberry or Cinnabon as restaurants, either.
joanne
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 11:32 a.m.
I meant to say California Pizza Kitchen, of course.
nunya
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 2:01 a.m.
Dang, that is my go to parking spot area.
huh7891
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 1:24 a.m.
How about y'all go home and cook your own meal, then you'll have nothing to complain about...on second thought....
Spyker
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 12:16 a.m.
So where will they place the garbage dumpsters for these restaurants? Next to Macy's entrance? Next to the North-east Mall entrance? Between the shopper's parking and the Mall. The 10 feet of clearance between the restaurants and Macy's stated in the article (assuming it is not a typo or mis-quote) is insufficient for fire truck and other emergency vehicle access. Oh well, there are no stores left within the Mall that are worth shopping at, and the interior has been transformed into a hideous grotesque mess of competing colors, palettes, and textures. The Mall owners/managers may as well destroy the exterior too.
ThinkingOne
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 11:46 p.m.
Lizzy (or whoever is responsible), Thanks for changing the picture taken from an airplane. The previous one was not zoomed enough to show usable details. This one is much better. And the labeling of the stores is very helpful also.
MWink31
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 11:42 p.m.
Are there really complaints about the distance one may need to walk to enter the mall? It's called walking folks, and most of us could use the extra steps. My suggestion for those worried about an extra 50 feet, shop the Internet.
Doug
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 9:37 p.m.
What's with all the calls for PF Chain, Cheesecake Factory, and other bland, overpriced chain establishments?? Want that crap? Go to Canton.
Doug
Mon, Aug 19, 2013 : 1:05 a.m.
Well, then call up [insert bland chain establishment here] and ask it to open a branch where you live, be it Dexter, Chelsea, Whitmore Lake, Manchester, etc. AA should retain the little individual character it has left, lest it become the next Canton, Farmington, or Southfield and, thus, lose its destination status.
Boo Radley
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 11:16 a.m.
Many of us already drive to Ann Arbor from Dexter, Chelsea, Whitmore Lake, Manchester, etc. to eat out. Maybe I don't want to have to drive even further to Canton.
The Eyes of Justice Team
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 8:50 p.m.
Rumor has it IHop is taking one of the spaces.
Mike
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 8:42 p.m.
I think just about any GOOD restaurant will be a welcome site. I rarely go to Briarwood because there is no decent place to sit down and have a meal. But the next thing that will keep me away is the fact that there is a GOOD restaurant and the wait is over 20 minutes to get in. Guess that is why I eat at home most of the time. Nobody's food is worth waiting an hour for, especially mine. We need a "Rain Forest restaurant close by. I really think that the entire mall would need to be made over to attract places like that tough.
Nic F.
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 7:17 p.m.
Gimmie a P (P!!!!) gimmie an F (F!!!!) gimmie a Chang's (CHAAAAANG'S) Yes, they're an over priced chain but I LOOOOOVE there fake Chinese food!!!!!
jpala21
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 2:36 a.m.
I don't think they're over priced. Their portions are quite generous.
Nic F.
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 7:20 p.m.
*******their
A2K
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 4:24 p.m.
Briarwood needs a 2nd level...all that space going to waste, go upwards not outwards :O) In defense of Briarwood's parking exits: not nearly as bad as Arborland or 12-Oaks - during the holidays it's 45-60 minutes just to get out of the parking lots at either of those places! Ugh!
Susanne Brace
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 6:07 p.m.
That is an exaggeration.
JBK
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 3:06 p.m.
Is it just me or is this a very misleading Title to the story? The story offers nothing more than we already knew........ I am scratching my head!:)
Brad
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 12:06 p.m.
Yeah, what importance is there to the ACTUAL RESTAURANTS going in there?
johnnya2
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:07 p.m.
Umm, no, they gave location and what they planned to do for parking and everything else,.The ONLY thing not given is the name of the restaurants going in, which quite fankly should not matter since those may change in 10-20 years anyway, the same as the current Red Robin used to be a Bennigans
southsiderez
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 2:27 p.m.
More chain restaurants in South Ann Arbor. Food and sauces in bags out of Sysco trucks, sky-rocket sodium levels, same menus from the '80s. Call me a pessimist, but I'm with the "discerning palate" commenter.
Susanne Brace
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 6:03 p.m.
Don't eat there then! Problem solved.
smacks
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:34 p.m.
Yeah, facts. That would be good. Sysco is not a locally-owned company. Sysco headquarters is in Houston, Texas, and it's stock is traded publicly on the NYSE.
johnnya2
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:06 p.m.
Well let's take a look at facts Main Street Ventures largest supplier is SYSCO. A locally owned company If you name an INDEPENDENT restaurant in this city I can pretty much guarantee you that they buy from a SYSCO or SYSCO-like company. The reason to by from these companies as opposed to a local guy is simple. FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY. I am sorry, but any fool who drives to Eastern Market to think they are getting fresher produce has no idea of proper food handling techniques and when they start killing people, will watch their business die as well. You do NOT have a discerning palate, you have an attitude and speak about things you know NOTHING about.
M-Wolverine
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 3:31 p.m.
So what restaurants do you like? Just so everyone can tell you how overrated they are and what's wrong with them.
Brad
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 3:05 p.m.
How about we see what actually goes in there before getting the vapors?
aamom
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:52 p.m.
The article said they have to purchase some land from Macys to do this. Do the anchor stores own the land they are on? I assumed Simon owned everything and all the stores were just tenants. How does this work?
Pete Szerszen
Wed, Sep 4, 2013 : 3:30 a.m.
It appears the state does not have all of the plat pages up, but you can see evidence of it by the "interested parties" being Sears, Roebuck, & Co., J.C.Penney, and Dayton-Hudson (Macy's). The sheets that the state has up were amended in 1980, 7 years after the mall was completed, and I believe that's when Lord & Taylor (now Von Maur) was erected.
Pete Szerszen
Wed, Sep 4, 2013 : 3:18 a.m.
This is a unique situation and goes back to the late-1960s when the mall was being planned by A. Alfred Taubman. Taubman had a unique financing arrangement where he legally created a "subdivision" and sold land to anchor retailers who own their respective buildings and parking lots. This generated additional financing to construct the mall. All of Taubman's malls in the 1970s were done this way. Whereas Sears owns most of their buildings anyway, Taubman malls had all of their anchor store plats subdivided out. Simon acquired the mall, and you can't easily change it once it's done, so it stands today. There have been some instances where Taubman has bought back the anchor property (The Saks at Fairlane for example), but by and large, the anchor tenants own their buildings, property, and parking lots at Taubman-developed malls. I don't think I can post links, but if you search for the Michigan Statewide Subdivision Plat Search and search for Briarwood (or any of the Taubman malls, like Twelve Oaks), you can see the property lines as they were filed with the state. PS
Mike
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 9:14 p.m.
The article also said that "Simon Property Group owns Briarwood Mall, " Not knowing all the legals I would say that Macy's as well as the other anchor stores lease a square footage of the properties, If they choose to expand their business they have the extra footage to do so. Macy's has stated that they had no intentions of expansion at the Briarwood Mall. Simons Property group could purchase back the lease agreement for property that is not being used by Macy's. This would free up the property to be leased to another business. Currently I would say that Macy's has the ball in their court. They can continue to lease the property if they do not want that type of business outside their store. But, a good restaurant just outside Macy's would probably be a good thing.
Lizzy Alfs
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:42 p.m.
I have confirmation from Denise Murray of Briarwood that the anchor stores own portions of the land.
aamom
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:35 p.m.
I think you might be right halflight. But, if Simon doesn't own all the land, maybe that is why they can't do a better, more thorough, remodel.
halflight
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 2:43 p.m.
aamom: I have experience in real estate development and this also struck me as an odd arrangement. Most mall "anchor stores" have long term leases, but do not have actual title to the property. Perhaps what is meant is that Simon is buying Macy's right under the existing lease to occupy that part of the mall property.
Lizzy Alfs
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 2:35 p.m.
@aamom: Each anchor store owns portions of the land, although I'm not sure where the exact land divisions are between the stores and Briarwood.
Elijah Shalis
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:29 p.m.
PF Changs please
Doug
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 9:35 p.m.
PF Chain? Really?? With so many excellent, locally owned Chinese restaurants in the area??
LaMusica
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 7:12 p.m.
That's what I'm hoping for!
cdfa2
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:25 p.m.
I hope the interior renovations flattens all those stupid level changes in the middle of the Mall. For a City that thinks it's progressive, this is the opposite of handicap accessible. Dodging the kiosk hawkers may be the next big fitness trend. Who needs expensive trainers/CrossFit/fancy yoga, when you can be chased by these folks for free?
Susanne Brace
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 6:01 p.m.
The word NO works great. :)
thehawk
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:39 p.m.
To make those kiosk hawkers backpedal, you just have to develop your "screw with me and you won't walk out of here" look. My kids call it "the mom look". LOL Works every time.
zeeba
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:17 p.m.
Isn't the old bar/restaurant space at the southwest entrance still vacant, and has been for years? Seems that if they can't fill that, they're going to have trouble generating enough traffic for two more mall restaurants.
Barb
Mon, Aug 19, 2013 : 7:05 p.m.
Oh, Los Amigos is open and has great stuff. Go there a lot. :)
Brad
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 12:05 p.m.
My mistake. I never go to that corner of the mall.
Ann English
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 11:34 p.m.
The last times I've gone into the mall to buy anything, I went in through the southwest entrance, for MC Sporting Goods moved there from Oak Valley. If that bar/restaurant space is still available, let's see if the new motel across Briarwood Circle from Von Maur's brings in enough people looking for a such a bar/restaurant, that they can get to without having to drive halfway around the mall to reach it.
Usual Suspect
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:34 p.m.
Southwest, across from the (former) movies, I think he means. It was a restaurant/bar for the longest time, but I can't remember the name. It was Farrell's, originally.
rm1
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 4:40 p.m.
You mean southeast, not southwest. I think Los Amigos is there; at least Lizzie said so in this July 17 story: http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/don-juan-mexican-restaurant-to-open-on-ann-arbors-west-stadium/
Brad
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 3:04 p.m.
Road Runner/tres amigos/El Camino Real ... Not sure what's there now or if it's open.
Barb
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.
I'm having trouble figuring out what you're referring to - as far as I know, there is no vacant bar/restaurant and there is no southwest entrance. Can you be more specific?
zeeba
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:16 p.m.
They're going to wedge them right up against Macy's? Oh great - it's hard enough finding a parking spot near an entrance as it is and this is going to eat up a ton of the better ones. Christmas is going to be an even bigger nightmare than it already is. If they're going to do this, they should stick them in one of the big empty areas, such as where the garden shop sets up tents occasionally, so they're not consuming parking. I have to think that would be better for the restaurants as well, as tying them physically to the mall makes it much less likely people will seek them as a dining destination. Instead, they'll be almost totally reliant on mall traffic. Almost nobody heads to a mall when they're going out to eat, but they do stop at separate places in the outlying areas.
obviouscomment
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:32 p.m.
@Crono When I go to the mall I'm going to I can walk around inside...usually because it's not nice enough to be walking outside (raining, windy, cold, snowing, blizzard). It is nice to not have to walk from the outside edge of the parking lot, past two restaurants, pushing a stroller with 2 children, to get into the mall in that kind of weather.
Tano
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 2:17 p.m.
@Crono I am going to take a wild guess here and say that zeeba probably meant "the Christman shopping season", not Christmas day. Y'know, its a mall...Traffic and parking probably ain't so bad on Christmas day.
Lizzy Alfs
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:46 p.m.
@zeeba: I asked the question about why here, right outside Macy's? It's because that area of the lot was "permissible building area" as mall representatives called it. Plus, they said restaurants gravitated to that location because it is so high traffic.
Crono
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:28 p.m.
"Oh great - it's hard enough finding a parking spot near an entrance as it is and this is going to eat up a ton of the better ones." You're about to go walk around a gigantic mall for an hour or so and you're complaining because you won't be able to park close to the door? Wow. "Christmas is going to be an even bigger nightmare than it already is." Yes, let's design and build a parking lot for 1 day out of the year. Sounds smart.
aamom
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:52 p.m.
Repave the parking lot!
Sparty
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 7:42 p.m.
Repave Briarwood Circle, and each of the exits !!!
cfsunlet
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:51 p.m.
sigh...there goes my favorite place to park! Was hoping that the restaurants would be a little farther away from the building in an area of the parking lot that isn't used as much.
aataxpayer
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:44 p.m.
Did the traffic study really not find a problem exiting onto North Main?
Brad
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 12:04 p.m.
I was referring to the fact that North Main is the part of Main north of Huron, hence the really long exit.
Ann English
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 11:19 p.m.
You're right, Brad. A long line of cars, actually T-shaped, with traffic from two directions waiting to turn onto a SHORT exit, shorter than the one closest to I-94.
Brad
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 3:01 p.m.
That would be a really long exit.
Lizzy Alfs
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:43 p.m.
@aataxpayer: Once the company submits its plans to the city, I will have access to the traffic study. That should be in the next two weeks or so.
Tom Teague
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:39 p.m.
This isn't an anti-Cheesecake Factory comment, just an observation: Wherever I visit a mall that includes a Cheesecake Factory, the adjacent parking lot is slammed. At one mall near Houston, an adjacent CCF and PF Chang create parking lot gridlock like I've never seen. So I wonder if these two new restaurants will include valet parking, which I've always found to be strangely lacking in Ann Arbor.
Jessica Webster
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:31 p.m.
Didn't Jacobson's used to have valet parking? Did that go away when it became Von Maur?
Lizzy Alfs
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:42 p.m.
Good question about valet parking. The representatives did not address that last night - just the to-go parking and the handicapped parking. I'll ask that question.
JRW
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:29 p.m.
Briarwood is outdated and the roads around it are crumbling. The renovations they are doing are not going to attract more people. Get rid of the kiosks and the aggressive people running them. These restaurants won't get people to go to an outdated, irrelevant mall.
Ann English
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 11:14 p.m.
The last time I went into the mall, I saw a temporary, Easter holiday-themed kiosk, selling hand-sewn flowers, sewn right there. I don't know how many kiosks are permanent compared to temporary holiday-themed, like this one was. Putting two restaurants outside might free up some space in the Grand Court (called Central Court today) for performances and exhibits; the next-to-the-last time I went into the mall, food was sold at one corner of the Grand Court, nearest Macy's. But years earlier, musical performances (such as Celtic Pipes and Drum) were held there, and an exhibit of lifelike figures from Charles Dickens characters, and one of Charles Dickens himself. More recently, UM personnel served mall patrons by checking their blood pressure and measuring their body fat there in the Grand Court, attempting to serve more people than OSU was at the same time (another way for U-M to compete against Ohio State) . The examinations were free. Events held in the Central Court could draw people in, even if the stores themselves don't.
Salbolal
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 11:13 p.m.
If kiosks are so profitable, how come Twelve Oaks and Somerset don't have them? Because they want a pleasant shopping experience for their patrons, maybe? PS, my teenager daughter hates this mall (not all malls, just this one)....and that is big trouble if you are a mall.
ThinkingOne
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 11:05 p.m.
Johnny I was making a point. I am glad you think it is not possible to measure something that does not happen. That is exactly what I said. I am not telling anyone how to run their business. I was suggesting that there are consequences for their actions (installing kiosks) that may be difficult to measure, and therefore might outweigh the things they can measure. I did not suggest they should change anything - except possibly try to find a way to figure out their 'lost opportunity cost' of non-shoppers. I also don't feel that I was complaining. I rarely go to the mall (and not just recently) because I rarely need to buy anything there. Most of the stuff I need can readily be supplied by Target ' Meijer or Kohls or Best Buy or Staples / Office Depot. And as someone else pointed out, I am not really their target shopper. So the mall owners and I are even on the 'who cares' scale. I actually go 'downtown' fairly frequently (for someone on a limited budget), especially if you are one of those that classifies the campus area as downtown. And while I prefer to - and do - park for free when I can, I don't really complain about it when I have to pay. Ever tried to park in downtown Chicago? Now that is worth complaining about! Lastly, your defense of business is absurd. If businesses knew as much as you think they do, no business ever would have had to close. Business owners do make mistakes. But I appreciate the fact that, having read a post of mine, you now know more about me than I do. I guess I have wasted my entire life trying to figure me out. I should have just called you, so that you could tell me my 'type', and I could therefore live up to it.
Usual Suspect
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:31 p.m.
Likewise, johnnya2, if comments here upset you that much and you can't avoid whining and complaining about them, don't read them. To me, ThinkingOne made a reasonable post. I've wondered about it myself. The kiosks do contribute to my absence from the mall, among other things. So there is one data point showing it does happen.
johnnya2
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 4:59 p.m.
@ Thinking One, It is impossible to measure something that does not happen. Businesses measure in the REAL WORLD. If a small business (which most of the kiosks are) can make a profit, pay rent AND the mall is pretty much 100% leased, that would tell me that THEY know how to run their business better than a whiner who complains about everything. You are the same type who complain about going downtown and having to pay for parking or not going to Liberty street because of beggars. Funny that Knights could look past that and think they could make a go of it, while other businesses seem to whine instead of making people want to come there. If you dont like the mall, DONT GO. You are lying if you say that you would start going if there were no kiosks.You would just find some other trivial thing to whine about. It is what your type thrives on
djacks24
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 4:57 p.m.
I avoid the mall at all costs. So, I probably will avoid any restaurant outside the mall at all costs.
ThinkingOne
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 3:18 p.m.
The problem with kisosks is that you can only really measure one thing: are THEY making money? If they are making money and paying ridiculous rent for a few square feet of space in the aisle; then you can say they generate money and are successful. What you can't measure is how many people DON'T GO there in the first place. And it may not be just the kiosks, but perhaps they were the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. If the retailers are constantly changing, access is awkward, roads are bad, AND the aisles are more crowded than ever, filled with aggressive sales people - well, that's just one more reason. Until you can measure that 'final straw' effect, you will have the bean counters saying how successful they are, while other people say they keep them away.
CLX
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 2:49 p.m.
Completely agree with you - the kiosks, poor design, and lousy stores keep me out of the mall. If I am desperate, I run into an anchor store and straight out -- there is no good reason to go any further.
Ben Freed
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:48 p.m.
JRW, Usual Suspect is right on this one. If the Kiosks were not profitable, they would likely disappear very quickly. However, mall spokespeople have told me that they are trying to include more small businesses using kiosks as "trial stores"
Usual Suspect
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:42 p.m.
I have a feeling the kiosks make a lot of money for the mall and will never go away, unfortunately. On the other hand, being over 20 years old, I'm not the target audience for the mall.
Alex Swary
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:08 p.m.
I second the desire for a Cheesecake Factory! And I'm fully prepared to get voted down by the "no chains" snobs.
Barb
Mon, Aug 19, 2013 : 7:09 p.m.
CF = Cheesecake Factory.
Pretty Gritty
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 4:36 p.m.
I I lacked the ability to think critically I would eat at chain restaurants too.
djacks24
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 4:55 p.m.
"The food is good, no doubt but it'll kill you." Too weak willed to make your own decisions about where to dine?
JBK
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 3:12 p.m.
Barb - What is CF?
Barb
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:34 p.m.
I voted you down and am a "no chain snob" absolutely. But I've eaten at CF and those servings are big enough to feed a starving nation. The food is good, no doubt but it'll kill you.
Usual Suspect
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:07 p.m.
Not complaining this time, just pointing out.... I noticed myself getting sea sick looking at the aerial photo, and then realized I think somebody rotated it 180 degrees. Since satellite images are (usually at least) taken from the south looking north at out latitude, it makes me feel like I'm upside down. Either that or the Boy Scout in me wants north to be on top, and that picture is the other way, so my mind is telling me I'm upside down.
Kyle Mattson
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 6:12 p.m.
That would be amazing Jack.
Usual Suspect
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:40 p.m.
So, the one time when I say I'm not complaining is when you actually change a graphic. Now I know you're taunting me.
Jack Gladney
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:07 p.m.
Suggestion, Kyle: AnnArbr.com NewsCopter 4000 with ariel imaging .
Kyle Mattson
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 3:37 p.m.
I gave the Simon Property Group image some tlc to make it easier on the eyes. Unfortunately in situations like this our reporters are working with photos they have to take at meetings which is never the best scenario, but they have to work with what's presented.
Lizzy Alfs
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:48 p.m.
@Usual Suspect: Here's another (not great) image of the site layout. http://imgur.com/GnETWxe
fjord
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:42 p.m.
It's a really terrible photo. Rotating it only made it worse.
Lizzy Alfs
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:42 p.m.
Haha, I see what you're saying @Usual Suspect. That image was provided by Simon last night at the meeting.
tdw
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.
Suspect....Google maps are all ways oriented to the north ( it throws me off too )
Usual Suspect
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:40 p.m.
The second image of the article, not the map. But I guess that one is North up, too, and it's not a satellite image but one from an aircraft. It was taken from the west and then turned 90 degrees, so my sense of balance is being throw off. Obviously, if my mind insists on such things, I don't have what it takes to be a fighter pilot.
snark12
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:27 p.m.
North is at the top in the map.
ordmad
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:07 p.m.
Said no one witha discerning palate ever.
applehazar
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 11:57 a.m.
A cheesesteak factory would be great.
fjord
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:38 p.m.
I think a cheesesteak factory is a fantastic idea. Cheesecake Factory, not so much.
snark12
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:49 p.m.
BTW, a CheeseSTEAK Factory would be awesome, too! :-)
snark12
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:31 p.m.
A Cheesecake Factory did just open in Novi this week. Not saying they couldn't still have one in AA but it would seem a little quick.
Elaine F. Owsley
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:08 p.m.
Isn't that cheeseCAKE factory?
Gworty
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 10:56 a.m.
with a rezoning involved there is no way they are going to start work this fall. Out of town developers just have no idea of how long it takes to get through Ann Arbor's entitlement process!!