Life Olathe’s Great Mall closing this fall

stanleychief · 02-16-2015, 02:56 PM

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 · 02-16-2015, 03:07 PM

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 · 02-16-2015, 03:09 PM

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.

Jimmya · 02-16-2015, 03:16 PM

**TribalElder** · 02-16-2015, 03:17 PM

Is this a radio shack location?

Chief_For_Life58 · 02-16-2015, 03:19 PM

Turn it into an indoor paintball arena

cosmo20002 · 02-16-2015, 03:23 PM

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.

Chief_For_Life58 · 02-16-2015, 03:30 PM

Or a casino

stanleychief · 02-16-2015, 03:31 PM

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.

Lonewolf Ed · 02-16-2015, 03:36 PM

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...

stanleychief · 02-16-2015, 03:38 PM

Quote:

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.

Jerok · 02-16-2015, 03:41 PM

Quote:

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 · 02-16-2015, 03:49 PM

Quote:

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.

**Munson** · 02-16-2015, 03:52 PM

That place has been shit since it opened. I'm surprised it lasted this long.

Pitt Gorilla · 02-16-2015, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munson

That place has been shit since it opened. I'm surprised it lasted this long.

Agreed. I went there shortly after opening and didn't really find anything interesting. The prices were fairly high as well, which didn't help.

02-16-2015, 02:56 PM
stanleychief Veteran Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $3876254	Olathe’s Great Mall closing this fall 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.
Posts: 1,223

02-16-2015, 03:07 PM	#2
Kidd Lex Veteran Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $4432608	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. __________________ You are not your job, you're not how much money you have in the bank. You are not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You are not your ****ing khakis. -Fight Club
Posts: 4,160

02-16-2015, 03:09 PM	#3
BWillie Are you ready to Rumble? Join Date: Apr 2006 Casino cash: $-1438759	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.
Posts: 52,818

02-16-2015, 03:16 PM	#4
Jimmya Veteran Join Date: Dec 2012 Casino cash: $10014530	Lol.
Posts: 2,746

02-16-2015, 03:17 PM	#5
TribalElder Arrowhead Trail of Tears Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: KansasCity Casino cash: $-609559	Is this a radio shack location? __________________ Pressure is a privilege, and champions adjust
Posts: 29,553

02-16-2015, 03:19 PM	#6
Chief_For_Life58 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: KC Casino cash: $9925938	Turn it into an indoor paintball arena
Posts: 3,859

02-16-2015, 03:23 PM	#7
cosmo20002 Debunking your bullshit Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: KC area Casino cash: $3630890	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.
Posts: 52,592

02-16-2015, 03:30 PM	#8
Chief_For_Life58 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: KC Casino cash: $9925938	Or a casino
Posts: 3,859

02-16-2015, 03:31 PM	#9
stanleychief Veteran Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $3876254	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.
Posts: 1,223

02-16-2015, 03:36 PM	#10
Lonewolf Ed Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Olathe, KS Casino cash: $10606233	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...
Posts: 3,774

02-16-2015, 03:52 PM	#14
Munson Roy E. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Olathe, KS Casino cash: $8199646	That place has been shit since it opened. I'm surprised it lasted this long.
Posts: 23,420