[chuckinca]

Most of those places are in the St Augustine Outlet Malls - only a hundred miles away.

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[Patty55]

Originally Posted by chuckinca

Most of those places are in the St Augustine Outlet Malls - only a hundred miles away.

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I'm not driving 100 miles for a pair of shoes-LOL

[rockyisle]

I just did my first road trip to Altamonte Springs yesterday. Shopped till I dropped. They have a Christmas Tree Shop that had me thinking I was back in New England. If you've never been to one, you are in for a treat. Then we did two Marshalls, one Home Goods and finished up at Costco. Now that I've broken through the gravity bubble of TV, I know I can enjoy shopping away from here where the stores are stocked to the gills.
As for Malls - I've never been a big fan of them, so I'd be much happier to see a Home Goods and Costco than a mall...

[HMLRHT1]

Originally Posted by Patty55

I'd like a mall, doesn't have to be huge. I don't think we have to worry too much about the mom & pop stores because we don't have any.

I've never been to Costco and if they opened wouldn't bother going. The place sounds like Walmart in huge quantities with shopping carts filled with ill-behaved children chirping like dolphins.

I'd love an outlet mall, Eddie Bauer, the Gap and of course MACY'S.

Your thinking of Sam's Club which is part of Walmart. Costco is a whole different animal for the most part.

[Mack184]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

In Cincinnati many of our nice Malls have become "trouble spots" where teens who do NOT go to school hang out. Some cases of armed robbery in parking lots are reported. Malls are not as safe and fun in some towns as they used to be.

What is your feeling about this? How are Malls in your old home town? Am I a Dora Doom...or is this somewhat of a concern if a Mall does come close to Brownwood?

Just read this today on current news on the Computer and got me to thinking.

NOT that we could do anything about it.


The future of the American mall- MSN Money

G-Person...
I really don't think you're going to see any sort of large-style mall coming to TV and/or Brownwood. They would have to attract far too many people to keep all the stores happy. I just don't see it. So I don't think that's a worry.

However..with that said..you might see something akin to what's up at the corner of 441 & Rolling Acres where a Macy's or some such anchor will come in to a medium size strip-block.

As far as your concerns about a nearby mall being a home for 21st century juvenile delinquents..I know that when we were living in Baltimore, the Towson Town Center had a strict 18 & under curfew, and I know of other malls that have done the same thing to keep the trouble under control. But if they came around Brownwood..where would the kids come from? Probably some from Wildwood and some from L-Burg, but I don't think it would be something that was unmanageable.

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by Patty55

I'm not driving 100 miles for a pair of shoes-LOL

Just one trip a month and do all your shopping at once. Plus there are 2 Kilwin's stores about three blocks apart.

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[Happinow]

I think the malls, the ones where all of,the stores are under one roof, are sadly an attraction for kids to hang out and sometimes get into trouble. They aren't profitable any longer and some struggle just to stay open. I lived in a small town and Friday and Saturday nights the kids all hung out there and were loud and sometimes obnoxious, making it uncomfortable for the shoppers to be there. Sadly, I don't see many new malls popping up,any time soon. I think the strip malls are the in thing now and they aren't a hang out place for kids. I like strip malls, especially here in FL.

[bluedog103]

Never liked malls. My experience in mall shopping is to park near a Sears entrance, go into the tool section, buy what I want and leave. I just never understood the fascination people had with these places.

[Grannynance]

Wish, wish all you want. I love it when people compare living here as to where they moved from. Some of you moved from large areas where the shopping was establish for years. This is a very large housing area do you really think malls and other stores are going to spring up over night. Within a small driving distance you have all the shopping
Needed. As we grow older our shopping need decline as for the young people arriving in the area I think a day out shopping will be great. I remember when buffalo ridge
Was first cleared the talk was a shopping mall would be there very large with Macy, penneys, and much more hasn't happen yet. Mr Morse has build a large housing
Project and a few thing to lure buyers I think with the amount of homes now and more to come everyone will be traveling to do your shopping.

[cquick]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

What is your feeling about this? How are Malls in your old home town? Am I a Dora Doom...or is this somewhat of a concern if a Mall does come close to Brownwood?

[/URL]

No, I don't think we need a traditional mall. Shopping is great. Stores we are familiar with are great. But not an enclosed traditional mall. Outdoor shopping centers seem to do well.

[anarick]

Wife and I went to a mall in Conn yesterday where the kids were having a field day in the food court. Yelling, throwing food at each other, etc. You can see the faces on the persons. They were not enjoying themselves. No security personnel to control this.
We decided to eat elsewhere and left.
Never going to that mall again.
I don't think a mall is a good idea in TV.

[vicaroo]

Seminole Town Center is at I-4 and 46.It is about a one hour drive. It has Macys,Dillards,Penneys and Sears.Plenty of outparcels around it on Rinehart rd heading toward Lake Mary,full of places to shop.

[Dafoe]

Trader Joes and Home Goods get my vote and then a super Target here or there for good quality groceries and every other item one could ever want. I never do mass quantity shopping at Cosco or Sam's club, so see no need for that. Throw in a minute clinic and some good coffee and we've got it made!

[John_W]

I found going to Oaks Mall in Gainesville is about the same about of time as Florida Mall in Orlando. Oaks has Macys, Belks, Penny's, Sears and Dillards, it's only lacking a really good food court like the Florida Mall. However, except for December, going there on a weekday there is almost nobody there. To reach Oaks Mall just head north on I-75 and get off at the third Gainesville exit, Newbury Rd. Since I often have to go to the VA Hospital, I just tie the mall in with my VA trips.

Florida Mall on the otherhand, is almost always packed anyday or month of the year and I feel almost like a foreigner since a large portion of the shoppers and employees speak in Spanish. It's usually a strange mix of Orlando tourist, retired seniors and Spanish Americans. Oaks Mall in Gainesville is almost all locals in comparison, very few tourist. If you're a Gator fan you'll feel even more at home in Gainesville.

Seminole Mall in Sanford is good size, in fact it is two story and on a weekday there is almost no one there. The only problem is traveling through Leesburg, Tavares, Mt. Dora and then the 2 lane route 46 twenty miles through the middle of nowhere before you reach Sanford. If you're coming or going on the Autotrain, the mall is about 5 miles before the train station.

Another option is Mall of Millenia near Universal Studios in Orlando. However, there you will find mostly high priced stores that are geared toward the young professionals and not retirees. Also, if you get lost leaving that mall, it's not too far from some very bad areas east of the mall.

If you're down in Tampa, especially the Seminole Hard Rock Casino, take I-75 four miles south of I-4 to the next exit and go east toward Brandon. The Brandon Mall looks to be no more than a couple of years old, and unlike most newer malls, it's still a one story mall but has many stores. I found Tampa to be a much more hospitable town than Orlando. It's probably at least a 90 minute drive, especially since I-75 has a lot of construction north and east of Tampa.

Not a mall, but close by is Clermont. Almost everything there is new within the last 3 to 5 years. They have a Penny's in a shopping center, a Belks, a Target with a very large grocery section, and two Walmarts. In front of Penny's is a World of Beer, a Buffalo Wild Wings and a Red Lobster. Also six miles before Clermont on US 27 is the Lakeridge Winery, you can take a tour just like Miles and Jack in 'Sideways'. It is rather small, but they have wine tasting of their 10 or 12 wines and you get a discount in the store. If you like the wine, they sell it in TV at Publix and Sweetbay.


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[applesoffh]

Gracie, the malls in Orlando are great, and they're good enuf for me. That said, I wish we could get stores and restaurants other than the same old same old in Brownwood and the surrounding area. For whatever reason, this area can't seem to attract a Costco, Home Goods, Christmas Tree Store, Trader Joes, etc. IMHO, we don't need another Sam's Club, Walmart, Home Depot, etc. I'm guessing that within the next few years Main Street (301) in Wildwood will change dramatically as TV build-out is completed with more independents. I really hope that happens...