Olathe’s Great Mall closing this fall

[stanleychief]

Looks like another mall bites the dust..

http://www.kansascity.com/news/busin...e10464437.html

Olathe’s Great Mall of the Great Plains will close in mid-to-late fall. The 786,000-square-foot mall, at Interstate 35 and 151st Street, opened to great fanfare in 1997.

In a statement, mall officials said: “The decision to close was difficult, but one that was guided by very compelling economic realities. "The development began to face struggles soon after it opened in 1997, and has been unable to recover in the intervening years due to a variety of factors, including the economic downturn and changes in customers’ shopping habits.”

VanTrust, the asset manager for the property, said it has “worked diligently to identify potential uses for the existing development.” But the structure, maintenance costs and layout do not support preservation of the current building. The developer is working with the Olathe Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council to determine the best use for the property, one that is in the interests of both the city and the community.

[Kidd Lex]

First business I ever managed was there. The Eb Games back in the day. Great memories of all the various mall ladies, but now the old shop is a live theater dress up place- didn't think it could get any nerdier than a video game store.

[BWillie]

Not a surprise. It's not kept up anymore. Could possibly of succeeded if done right, but maybe not, kind of in an obscure area. For some reason white people like to shop at strip malls, they don't like to have an easy indoor place where you can get all your shopping done at one time, and walk to all of them. They prefer to drive their car to and from each little store. Too many youths and dark people walking around, not comfortable with that.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Not a surprise. It's not kept up anymore. Could possibly of succeeded if done right, but maybe not, kind of in an obscure area. For some reason white people like to shop at strip malls, they don't like to have an easy indoor place where you can get all your shopping done at one time, and walk to all of them. They prefer to drive their car to and from each little store. Too many youths and dark people walking around, not comfortable with that.

Uh, you apparently have never been to Oak Park Mall, have you?

[Jimmya]

Lol.

[TribalElder]

Is this a radio shack location?

[Chief_For_Life58]

Turn it into an indoor paintball arena

[cosmo20002]

Geez, that was a bust.
It was supposed to be a big deal that drew people in from all over the area. Not sure if it ever met expectation even in the beginning.

[stanleychief]

Last I heard, they moved a DMV office in there, which actually seemed like a good idea. It would give you something to do while waiting for your turn to come up. I'm guessing the store selection is pretty weak though.

A few years back they had some strange Coleman closeout store there for a month or so. Basically had everything Coleman makes (tents, sleeping bags, etc) for super cheap. I stocked up while it was there but went back not long afterwards and they were long gone.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Geez, that was a bust.
It was supposed to be a big deal that drew people in from all over the area. Not sure if it ever met expectation even in the beginning.

Yea, it just never really lived up to expectations. I remember going there not too long after it had been opened. Probably around 1998 and it felt dead or not nearly busy enough.

[Chief_For_Life58]

Or a casino

[stanleychief]

Originally Posted by Chief_For_Life58

Or a casino

Hmmm, there's a hospital across the street. Maybe they could team up and run a promotion to help cover your treatment costs.

[Lonewolf Ed]

I wonder if the movie theater will go, too. I like going there on weekdays as it is easy to drive there since there is little traffic, unlike the big theater over on 119th and Strangline, and I often got the whole theater to myself with no kiddies texting and making noise during a movie. Good times...

[Jerok]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf Ed

I wonder if the movie theater will go, too. I like going there on weekdays as it is easy to drive there since there is little traffic, unlike the big theater over on 119th and Strangline, and I often got the whole theater to myself with no kiddies texting and making noise during a movie. Good times...

Meh. Only time I went there was at 10PM, they didn't refill my large popcorn and they delayed the start of the movie by sending us to another theatre because of some technical problem.

I did have fun at the mini golf course inside, but I'm a sucker for minigolf.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf Ed

I wonder if the movie theater will go, too. I like going there on weekdays as it is easy to drive there since there is little traffic, unlike the big theater over on 119th and Strangline, and I often got the whole theater to myself with no kiddies texting and making noise during a movie. Good times...

I just started to go there, because nobody is there. I can go to any movie that would be packed at the AMC off of 119th, and easily get in at the Great Mall movie there. It's cheap too.