Twice in the last week I have been to the Target and Home Depot Expo Design Center in the new Metropolitan development near uptown. The stores opened last fall. But last week was my first time over there and I was impressed. Aside from New York, I've never lived anywhere that has this kind of retail so close to the center city.
Metropolitan is a $225 million, 16-acre project replacing Midtown Square between Kings Drive and Kenilworth Avenue.
Best Buy, Marshalls and Staples are opening there soon. And Trader Joe's -- what I really can't wait for -- is slated to open a store in the second half of this year.
Have you been? What do you think?
And what stores do you wish were close to uptown?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Shopping near uptown of all places
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13 comments:
have you, uh, ever been to chicago? they even have big retail *in* the loop (i.e., "downtown"). there's a target just outside the loop, at randolph red line. there are gianormous marks & spencers smack in the middle of london, as there are huge moniprix in the middle of paris. most real cities have big retail mixed in with residential and commercial development.
Can you take the light rail there? No, not without a bus. Are those stores all over Charlotte and most towns? Yes. And we should get excited....?
I think the point is that center city residents and people who live in in-town neighborhoods no longer have to drive to the University Area or Pineville to go shopping. I think it is a big deal - it shows how Charlotte is maturing as a city and I think it is pretty cool. I am looking foward to the greenway, park, and restaurants that will open underneath the new condos.
Now all we need is an H&M!
To anonymous 11:31 a.m.: Yes, I have been to Chicago and to San Francisco, Portland, Ore., Paris and Barcelona. I said that New York was the only city I have ever LIVED where there's retail so close to the center city. I can't say that about Dayton, Ohio; Lexington, Ky. or Birmingham, Ala.
Since SouthPark is maxed out with high-end retail for the most part, I would love to see a Saks Fifth Ave or some type of department store. Maybe a Filene's Basement or Nordstrom Rack outlet store. Oh, and an H&M would be awesome too!
I haven't driven to Pineville in months. I look forward to extending that streak. *giddy*
I've contacted Nordstrom Racks about opening uptown. They plan to open in Charlotte very soon. But you will never guess where .............. SouthPark !
I know, pretty lame since they are located downtown if every other market. Like SouthParkers are going to be caught dead shopping at the Rack.
Can't wait for Trader Joes. Then I don't need to go anywhere. Bus to SouthPark, train to work, walk and bike around uptown. Nice, becoming a real city.
Where is there room to open a Nordstrom Rack in SouthPark? I would love to have one, I don't care where it is, haha, just wondering where it would go???
What is H&M? Who gets all excited about shopping anyway? It is a chore.
AMY -
Regarding: To anonymous 11:31 a.m.:
And you're PAID to be this insolent, obnoxious and rude ... ?
Maybe you should haul your big and wide back up to New York, OF ALL PLACES !!
AMY -
Regarding: To anonymous 11:31 a.m.:
And you're PAID to be this insolent, obnoxious and rude ... ?
Maybe you should haul your big and wide back up to New York, OF ALL PLACES !!
And this year's 'Ignorance in Local Journalism' Award goes to --
To know what's new, one must study the past. Such sloppy journalism and transparent portrayal of your topic. Charlotte has - and has had - urban shopping throughout its history. It came to be as a trading crossroads. Not too many years ago, most of us remember Belks and Iveys Uptown. ...waiting for Trader Joe's?? currently you have assess to Reid's and Harris-Teeter in uptown. Our local stores not good enough for you??
It would seem what you're looking for is 'big box, suburban mass market retail' in Uptown. Perhaps there is a demand for it - but not in All Places.
I think it's great that these stores are near Midtown, because you need retailers near uptown. Charlotte is maturing as a city, let's just hope the traffic doesn't bury the forward progress. Re: the top 10 traffic cities, I'd say Charlotte is in the second 20 (worst) but for a newcomer to the city, it's just a matter of discovering alternate routes. Today 77 and 485(near Ballantyne) were a mess, I come in from Johnston Road, and just took Park Road inbound, and it was fine.
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