Malls are packed!!!

FinanceDude · 11-19-2008, 01:29 PM

I had a lunch meeting at a restaurant attached to a large mall in the Milwaukee area. I had to drive around for 15 minutes to find a spot 1/4 mile from the restaurant. Mind you, this is Wednesday afternoon, and all the kids are in school.

Where is the recession?

honobob · 11-19-2008, 01:32 PM

The "bail outs" are working!!!

saluki9 · 11-19-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinanceDude

Where is the recession?

When you're done at the mall stop by a car dealer. Then when you're done with that, stop by your local title company and pop in for some coffee, I doubt you will have much of a wait.

**Bestwifeever** · 11-19-2008, 01:34 PM

Then post your resume on Monster.com.

tangomonster · 11-19-2008, 01:38 PM

So maybe Black Friday won't be just a Pale Gray Friday.....

Let's hope....(and to think that once upon a time I didn't respect people who were always buying!!!!)

FinanceDude · 11-19-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saluki9

When you're done at the mall stop by a car dealer. Then when you're done with that, stop by your local title company and pop in for some coffee, I doubt you will have much of a wait.

If I were a true American, I suppose I would buy two domestic cars, a larger house, some investment real estate, and book a couple cruises. Wait a minute, Joe Biden says that it's "patriotic" to pay higher taxes, I guess I'll wait for that instead...........

brewer12345 · 11-19-2008, 01:44 PM

I was quite surprised at the healthy crowd at the Japanese restaurant we went to last night, especially on a Tuesday night.

FUEGO · 11-19-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinanceDude

Where is the recession?

Everyone is running their credit cards up before they file bankruptcy. Their kids deserve nice Christmases after all.

laurence · 11-19-2008, 01:51 PM

We went to Chili's on a weeknight and had to wait 15 minutes to be seated.

bbbamI · 11-19-2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinanceDude

Where is the recession?

People are always gonna want stuff.

I hate going to malls. The only time I do is when someone comes from out of town to visit and wants to go shopping....

**Bestwifeever** · 11-19-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinanceDude

If I were a true American, I suppose I would buy two domestic cars, a larger house, some investment real estate, and book a couple cruises. Wait a minute, Joe Biden says that it's "patriotic" to pay higher taxes, I guess I'll wait for that instead...........

If you were a real patriot you would buy a house in Florida, perhaps one of Lazy's?

FIREdreamer · 11-19-2008, 01:54 PM

I was at the mall yesterday (Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn). Busy as usual, lots of people browsing but fewer people actually buying it seems. Restaurants seem to be doing fine at least at lunch time. Today I had to wait in line behind about 40 people to get seated for lunch at PF Chang. Where is the recession indeed?

FinanceDude · 11-19-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever

If you were a real patriot you would buy a house in Florida, perhaps one of Lazy's?

I lived in Florida once, no thanks. Florida is nice but my northern blood won't allow me to live there........

FUEGO · 11-19-2008, 02:01 PM

I wonder how much of an effect lower gas prices will have on discretionary retail spending. I know our family has an extra $100-150 each month versus 6 weeks ago (now that gas prices have been cut by more than 1/2).

Charlotte Webb · 11-19-2008, 02:33 PM

I was in Best Buy in Crabtree Valley Mall. One of only 4 customers at about 2PM. It was unusual because almost all the salespeople wanted to assist. Big change from just a few months ago. Maybe fear of losing a job might cause some to actual perform their minimal duties. I do not see anyone shopping here in Charlotte. Malls are empty by comparison to last year.

FIREdreamer · 11-19-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlotte Webb

I was in Best Buy in Crabtree Valley Mall. One of only 4 customers at about 2PM. It was unusual because almost all the salespeople wanted to assist. Big change from just a few months ago. Maybe fear of losing a job might cause some to actual perform their minimal duties. I do not see anyone shopping here in Charlotte. Malls are empty by comparison to last year.

Wow, Crabtree used to be "my" mall a few years ago. I didn't realize that Pier 1 had been replaced by Best Buy (don't they already have a Best Buy just a few miles up Glenwood Avenue?). But I agree with you, here too Best buy and Circuit City seem to be emptier than usual.

freebird5825 · 11-19-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbamI

People are always gonna want stuff.

I hate going to malls. The only time I do is when someone comes from out of town to visit and wants to go shopping....

bah humbug on malls. the noise and frenetic rushing just kills me.
if i do shop, and that is rare, i go to the mom and pop stores to help keep them going under from the wally world competition. good deals abound and the service is fantastic. little out-of-the-way antique stores are also a favorite haunt. treasures galore!

DangerMouse · 11-19-2008, 02:45 PM

I have found that the local malls are still packed at lunchtime with the worker bees buying the food, however when you wander around to the other shops who sell other products you will find consumers making purchases very light on. The only exception I have seen is the Apple Store which continues to be busy. The rest of them, well you can probably get better customer service than you ever had.

Re PF Changs - have you ever noticed how they keep people waiting even though there are plenty of free tables - I think it is a ploy to make people want to crave to eat at a place where everyone else does.

Dawg54 · 11-19-2008, 02:49 PM

One of my golf buddies is the manager of our local Belk's dept store. For those outside the south, it is a dept store very similar to Dillard's. He is singing the blues big time. Says they are way off YTD and does not expect a very good Holiday season. In fact, they have already slashed prices. Good for us, bad not for them. Restaurants appear to be holding their own. Most of ours are located close to the interstate and so they get a lot of stop off business.

FinanceDude · 11-19-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebird5825

if i do shop, and that is rare, i go to the mom and pop stores to help keep them going under from the wally world competition. good deals abound and the service is fantastic. little out-of-the-way antique stores are also a favorite haunt. treasures galore!

Wally World is where I shop a lot. However, I have grown quite weary of Home Depot and Menards, where noone knows anything, so I am starting to frequent a local ACE hardware............

11-19-2008, 01:29 PM	#1
FinanceDude Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 7,727	Malls are packed!!! I had a lunch meeting at a restaurant attached to a large mall in the Milwaukee area. I had to drive around for 15 minutes to find a spot 1/4 mile from the restaurant. Mind you, this is Wednesday afternoon, and all the kids are in school. Where is the recession? __________________ Consult with your own advisor or representative. My thoughts should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results (love that one).......:)

11-19-2008, 01:32 PM	#2
honobob Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 905	The "bail outs" are working!!! __________________ It's slowly dawned on me that we've won the real estate lottery!

11-19-2008, 01:38 PM	#5
tangomonster Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 583	So maybe Black Friday won't be just a Pale Gray Friday..... Let's hope....(and to think that once upon a time I didn't respect people who were always buying!!!!) __________________ A wise woman should have money in her head, but not in her heart---Jonathan Swift

11-19-2008, 01:44 PM	#7
brewer12345 Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 9,365	I was quite surprised at the healthy crowd at the Japanese restaurant we went to last night, especially on a Tuesday night. __________________ “When you realize that you are one of the rare few who observe moral principles in their relationships with others, there is a temptation to sink into amorality, not out of conviction or pleasure but simply to avoid further pain, because there is no greater suffering than being an angel in hell, whereas a devil feels at home wherever he goes.” – Martin Page, How I Became Stupid

11-19-2008, 01:54 PM	#12
FIREdreamer Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,490	I was at the mall yesterday (Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn). Busy as usual, lots of people browsing but fewer people actually buying it seems. Restaurants seem to be doing fine at least at lunch time. Today I had to wait in line behind about 40 people to get seated for lunch at PF Chang. Where is the recession indeed? __________________ "Fortune favors the brave" - Virgil

11-19-2008, 01:34 PM	#4
Bestwifeever Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,243	Then post your resume on Monster.com.

11-19-2008, 01:51 PM	#9
laurence Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,826	We went to Chili's on a weeknight and had to wait 15 minutes to be seated.

11-19-2008, 02:01 PM	#14
FUEGO Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 783	I wonder how much of an effect lower gas prices will have on discretionary retail spending. I know our family has an extra $100-150 each month versus 6 weeks ago (now that gas prices have been cut by more than 1/2).

11-19-2008, 02:33 PM	#15
Charlotte Webb Confused about dryer sheets Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2	I was in Best Buy in Crabtree Valley Mall. One of only 4 customers at about 2PM. It was unusual because almost all the salespeople wanted to assist. Big change from just a few months ago. Maybe fear of losing a job might cause some to actual perform their minimal duties. I do not see anyone shopping here in Charlotte. Malls are empty by comparison to last year.

11-19-2008, 02:45 PM	#18
DangerMouse Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 660	I have found that the local malls are still packed at lunchtime with the worker bees buying the food, however when you wander around to the other shops who sell other products you will find consumers making purchases very light on. The only exception I have seen is the Apple Store which continues to be busy. The rest of them, well you can probably get better customer service than you ever had. Re PF Changs - have you ever noticed how they keep people waiting even though there are plenty of free tables - I think it is a ploy to make people want to crave to eat at a place where everyone else does. __________________ I be a girl, he's a boy. Semi-FIRED July 08. Mid 40s, no kidlets.

11-19-2008, 02:49 PM	#19
Dawg54 Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 3,338	One of my golf buddies is the manager of our local Belk's dept store. For those outside the south, it is a dept store very similar to Dillard's. He is singing the blues big time. Says they are way off YTD and does not expect a very good Holiday season. In fact, they have already slashed prices. Good for us, bad not for them. Restaurants appear to be holding their own. Most of ours are located close to the interstate and so they get a lot of stop off business. __________________ Full time golf bum.......

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode