Butte Plaza Mall Becoming a Ghosttown -One Store at a Time
With the news in today’s paper that Universal Athletics will be moving to its own store on Harrison Aveune and the recent announcement that Sam Goody is pulling out of the mall, Butte residents are starting to wonder if the mall will survive the next few years.
It’s widely discussed that mall space is dispropotionately expensive and mall rents are pushing people out. The old “Stage” store at the south end of the mall has been empty for years (except for the occasional formals, spay/neuter clinics, and Rudolph’s fire sales :-)). The wing that includes The Book Exchange is sparingly empty these days with the closing of the novelty knife store a few years back and the relocation of the wireless store to the old optical store location next to Payless.
What can the mall management do to foster more business within the mall and keep the current stores open? Is it just a matter of out-of-state management or is it just Butte residents following the big-box-stores or going elsewhere (Missoula, Bozeman, or even Spokane) to get the designer clothing they desire?
Is it something local government can do more about or does it lie in the hands of the mall owners?
What would it take to get you back to shopping at the mall?
-Delaney & Marx
tom Said,
April 17, 2006 @ 2:21 pm
The Mall needs to be bought out by Butte Silver bow,,, eminent domain if necessary. The Stage space should be a TOWN SQUARE and FOOD COURT, there is no where to eat in this town.
The good news is
Q. Did you hear Butte is getting a Target?
A. Its out by the rifle range.
Q. Do you know wants going in at the new harrison building?
A. A THREE DOLLAR store, we are trying to compete with Bozeman.
peace
david Said,
April 20, 2006 @ 8:09 pm
Wow — what a view — I can’t wait to visit Butte (sometime in June or July)!
Mark J. Said,
April 22, 2006 @ 8:15 pm
It’s curious how commercial things evolve over time. I was a kid when the Butte Mall was built and started to kill Uptown shopping. Whenever I get back to Butte I wander around the empty streets and shops and think about the old Ben Franklin, the P&O News, the Toggery, Len Waters, Hennessey’s, Paul Parrot…and eating at Gamers! The mall will eventually die and be torn down only to be redeveloped with the latest and greatest version. It’s not about the place…it’s about having something new and different.
Danalee Lavelle Said,
May 11, 2006 @ 11:46 am
What a shame! I’m part of the Butte diaspora…but I have to admit the lack of personality out on the Flat never did much for me. I think my favorite places were visiting St. Pat’s and Holy Cross Cemeteries! I’d like to see the uptown continue with revitalization. Thanks for the great pictures, by the way. With any luck, I’ll be back up there in August for the celebration. I love those mid-summer thunderstorms!
Welcome to ButteTalk.com! » Ponderosa Building No More Said,
May 31, 2006 @ 2:22 pm
[...] We had discussed before the planned relocation of Universal Athletics from the Butte Plaza Mall to a brand new location at 3544 Harrison Avenue, as reported by the Standard’s Erin Nicholes. [...]