Tuesday, February 17, 2015

PI Update: Transition To Mall

Drive on over to beautiful Pleasure Island to check out the latest shops to open as PI is transitioned from a club district to a shopping district.
The Sanuk flip-flop store has opened directly in front of what was 8TRAX.
And the Havaianas flip-flop store opened a few minutes after this picture was snapped!
The overhead sign had not arrived yet but the name is printed on the windows.
Sound Lion opened this past week in a spot where the Apricot Lane store used to stand.

On the corner at the Hub where PI Live Bar once stood, Erwin Pearl Jewelry is slated to occupy this deep retail spot.
Across from Havaianas is Bakery Valentine aka Babycakes.  They are opening this Sunday afternoon and will feature gluten-free baked goods.
These shops join the already open Chapel Hats, Apex by Sunglass Hut and Art of Shaving.  Shoppers are excited.

6 comments:

  1. I've not even seen the finished Disney Springs project yet, but officially, to my friends and family, am already in the rut of calling it the "Disney Springs Mall." I honestly cannot think of another way to describe it -- it's a mall. I don't describe City Walk in that manner because it's a shopping and entertainment complex. Disney Springs lacks the entertainment aspect, so it's clearly and very definitely a mall. I just don't get it -- Disney really believes this will be a grand and splashy attraction? Seriously, I continue to remain puzzled and unimpressed, and I don't think it's related to my mom having dropped me on my head when I was a kid.

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  2. In October, 2013 I ran an article about stores in the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas that had very few locations in the United States and would seem to be ideal for Disney Springs. One of those stores was DESIGUAL, a Barcelona-based clothing store. Well they're opening a store in the Florida Mall so a second Orlando-area store in Disney Springs seems unlikely.

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  3. That's interesting, Bob. I still can't help wondering if I just don't get it with Disney Springs. I walk past shopping venues very quickly, and from what I have seen, I fully expect to do the same at Springs. I will be looking for the "nuggets," but if there aren't any "nuggets," then very little will be found there to draw money out of my pocket. But then later I will also have Pandora to look forward to. That new development in Animal Kingdom has been kept very quiet, and if it's really like the movie Avatar, then it is also looking like it's going to be very low on my "wow" meter...

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  4. The whole point I'm sure is to keep people on property--currently there is very little in the way of shopping at Disney. Busloads go to Florida Mall and Milennia every day. I tend to think that will still happen, but obviously Disney is banking on this being an attraction to those that have traveled here from far away and get them to spend more time/money at Disney. It will be interesting to see if they can get stores that are new to the area, as King Bob said--so far nothing here is impressing me, but if they can get Uniqulo, SuperDry, other "foreign" stores that aren't in the area yet they will be in good shape. Seems they already lost one though! If that keeps happening, YAWN for sure! Like we need another L'Occitane??

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  5. Anon, there will be some convenience making purchases while staying on Disney property. But it's not going to be an outlet mall and it's unlikely to have the most sought-after brands. I think it will likely do well.

    FN, you're likely not their targeted demographic.

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