JCPenney in Lakeforest mall is closing

[Anonymous]

Oh no! I just read that JCPenney in Lakeforest mall will be closing most likely by July 5th. Sad because that is where I have taken my family and kids birthday pictures for years.

https://patch.com/maryland/gaithersburg/jc-penney-closing-maryland-store-29-other-locations

[Anonymous]

That’s really the end of that mall. Not that JCP is end all, be all, but it’s already so empty and devoid of chain stores. To lose an anchor store is probably too much. Sad, that was our family mall when I was a kid, and I was shopping there regularly even 7-8 years ago. But the mall was horribly mismanaged and couldn’t keep chains.

[Anonymous]

what's even left at that mall anymore? they really need to just raze the whole thing and put something else in.

[Anonymous]

So not shocked ... Lake Forest Mall is a sh t hole, has been for a very long time.

[Anonymous]

First it was Gymboree. Sears is on its last legs - there are customers but no one to attend to them. JCpenney was good for kids clothes and portraits and store seemed busy. If JCP goes, that is pretty much the end of that mall and we will see more housing there.

I would rather have a renovated mall nearby than a housing development. Yes, there are people who still like to shop in store.

[Anonymous]

I had no idea the mall was even still there. I thought they closed it years ago.

[Anonymous]

I live nearby and have thought for years that the mall just had terrible management. The area has its issues, but shopping centers can still thrive if they are well-managed (look at Wheaton Plaza, or PG Plaza), Providence adequate security, and understand their customer base. But regular stores kept disappearing and independent junk stores took their place. There are very few chain there anymore—even the McDonald’s closed. If you can’t keep a Mickey D’s in business, there are issues!

[Anonymous]

We used to skate at the ice rink there in the 80s 4 nights a week!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live nearby and have thought for years that the mall just had terrible management. The area has its issues, but shopping centers can still thrive if they are well-managed (look at Wheaton Plaza, or PG Plaza), Providence adequate security, and understand their customer base. But regular stores kept disappearing and independent junk stores took their place. There are very few chain there anymore—even the McDonald’s closed. If you can’t keep a Mickey D’s in business, there are issues!

The McDonald's was always busy. I think it must have closed for reasons other than revenue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live nearby and have thought for years that the mall just had terrible management. The area has its issues, but shopping centers can still thrive if they are well-managed (look at Wheaton Plaza, or PG Plaza), Providence adequate security, and understand their customer base. But regular stores kept disappearing and independent junk stores took their place. There are very few chain there anymore—even the McDonald’s closed. If you can’t keep a Mickey D’s in business, there are issues!

Exactly. People who say malls are dying haven't been to Montgomery Mall or the mall in Tyson's on a weekend. Those places are packed. It's just that malls need to be updated--like anything else--or they can't survive.

Didn't they totally redo the mall in Springfield? I remember driving by there a few years ago and it was creepy empty, but I think it's all totally revitalized now.

[Anonymous]

Columbia mall is thriving too, and so is pentagon city. Where people are coming malls are thriving. Shopping at a variety of stores under a roof is a good concept that will be around.

[Anonymous]

It seems that one of the wealthiest regions in the country can support a number of nicely updated shopping malls in 2019. But not all the malls and Lakeforest is probably not going to make the cut. Not enough people really wanted to go there on a regular basis and spend money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used to skate at the ice rink there in the 80s 4 nights a week!

The big pond in front of the Toys R Us that would always freeze during winter?

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised Lord and Taylor is still open and of course Sears too.

[Anonymous]

There’s a mall in Ann Arbor that looks like a one level version of lake forest