*Below are the beginnings of my ideas to save the Columbus City Center and radically change the face of Downtown Columbus, OH. I love my city, and this mall has held a very special place in my heart. More than anything, I want to restore its name and presence to the splendor it once held and be one of the crowning jewels of the city.
--V.
Right now, the idea of an "Anchor Store" typically assumes the name of some department chain (Nordstrom's, Macy's, Sears, etc.) whose name seems synonymous with high dollar fashion, furniture and the like. I'd like to challenge that notion all together, going the more "unconventional route" and foregoing the anchors that say little more than, "I'm somebody because I shop here!"
As Columbus has repeatedly shown, we're a fickle town (except when it comes to the Bucks!), hot on the heels of something new one minute and finding it ever so nonchalantly "blah", like it was always here, the next. We're very modern in that way (I think), forever looking for the next big "WOW!" It's this mindset that makes me draw a parallel to that "City that Never Sleeps" and our humble metropolis. And like this city we so wish to be, we have to be ready and willing to throw out the old ways in favor of something bold and new. At its core, that's what City Center has always seemed to be -- that first bold new move from the malls with "land" in their titles from the 60's. City Center was fresh, it was provocative, but in the 20yrs since its opening day, that grandiose flare has fallen to fresher Polaris and the fresher still Easton. But all hope is not lost. City Center is not completely dead and its full revival is but an innovative stone's throw away.
There are only two remaining anchor store posts, one of which currently houses a Macy's (one of more than four in the city) and the other being Jacobson's, which has been closed for nearly six years. The latter has been a constant eyesore since closing due to company bankruptcy, with its placement at the heart of communal "pit" area. This space needs a drastic gear shift (read kick in the pants) that would open up the area to more commerce driven traffic and multiple entertainment opportunities. I posit that a tri-level Virgin Megastore would bring just that.
The first Virgin Megastore was a media blitzkrieg, offering the latest in books, games, music and movies, the latter two long since lacking a presence in City Center. And like that first Virgin Megastore, this store's profitability would soar from being the only site here in the city. Virgin has since expanded their brand name, breaking into the cellphone market and other such industries, making this a one-stop shop for all things Virgin and more.
Keeping in line with the bold edgy concepts mentioned, I suggest having a portion of the store (preferably within the confines of the music dept) be outfitted as a music hall, capable of housing small concerts. Operating behind the Virgin commercial machine, it should be easy to line up top name acts. This would add yet another venue of revenue for City Center, as well as give another face to Downtown's (proper, not the Arena or Brewery Districts) presence for live entertainment.
To be continued...
**Unfortunately, since beginning this opus, Virgin Megastores has shut all of its major locations, with plans to liquidate its further holdings by the summer of 2009. As this was such an integral part of my overall plan, I felt an addendum was in order to to make up the difference.
In place of Virgin Megastore, I offer a deluxe version of the Apple Store, currently only found at Easton Towne Center. This tri-level monolith, bathed in white will be a tech-Mecca, carrying within it the whole bevy of Apple/Macintosh library. Ranging from desktops, laptops, iPods, accessories, programs and games, anything and everything a tech-junkie could muster the need to have is there.
Establishing the first ever Apple Studio, patrons can tryout, learn about and utilize products ranging from movie editing programs, music production or art and design. The perfect amalgam between the Apple Store and C.O.S.I., here is where the heart of the creative faculty comes alive for all to explore and exhibit.
The crowning piece is christened the iTunes Amphitheatre, where visiting djs can put together custom playlists for Daylight iPod Raves (where concert goers sweat heavy, but QUIETLY, grooving to digital masterpieces pumped thru their earbuds) or rock the evening hours with custom light shows that bank wickedly off the pristine walls.
While not my original plan, I think this would serve as a more than significant replacement for the unoccupied Jacobson's space.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I've also thought about the Virgin Megastore being a good "anchor" type store for a revamped city center. I recall them making a statement that they were looking to relocate after Easton bought them out of their lease and kicked them out to make room for the Crate and Barrel.
My one problem with them though was that music sales are dropping and video sales are expected to do the same as people switch to online media purchases in the next few years. But I guess you pretty much address that fact by mentioning that Virgin could offer more products as they've expanded their lines recently.
And I really love your idea of adding the concert/live music aspect to the store. I think the City Center is definately going to have to give people as many reasons as possible for visiting, and this type of dual-purpose thinking is exactly what I love to see.
Can't wait to read more!
Easton Town Center did have a Virgin Mega store for years and the place was always empty. The prices were much higher than Best Buy and other retailers. I can't imagine how you think a Virgin Mega store would help draw people downtown, a place where no one wants to shop, if it could not survive in the busiest shopping center in the state!
I think that viewing Virgin Megastore in the singular sense of a media outlet store is limiting in the scope of what VM actually offers. Understandibly, there has been a huge spike in the cost of CDs and movies over the past few years and I agree that VM has been one of the highest - I think that that price will eventually wane. I believe that both the music and cinematic industries are going to respond to the influx of "illegal reproduction and distribution" with lower prices attached to guaranteed quality product. In addition to that, despite the similarity of most products, VM is a step above stores like Best Buy or Barnes & Noble, because they can touch each of those media outlets at once and even crossove to some degree. Taking it even a step further, the concert aspect is one that crushes the similarity point because its an outlet that those retailers just can't host. I do appreciate the feedback and hope to hear even more!
Post a Comment