While Kansas city tears down their old malls in the name of progress, we continue to pour perfume on our pig. I can't wait to drive by a remodled East Hills mall on my way to the shops up north. They would be better off just knocking that thing down and building an indoor track for mall walkers.

Mr_America - respectfully differ with your thoughts.
The caliber of North Village falls far short of what many look for in department stores. In addition unenclosed malls provide less convenience and as such their draw on the consumer is generally less consistent. Lastly, and probably most significant is the longevity of some businesses in the open style malls. They come, take advantage of the new interest, and then move on. That is why you see such developments sold by their owners within a short period of time from opening.
East Hills, if completed properly, will flourish and the Village will then see a big dent in patronage. The sad reality of expansion beyond actual economic capacity.

dillard's is the only place in town where a woman can purchase a FABulous Age Appropriate outfit. they are the only clinique distributor. two great reasons to back the enclosed mall!!! as usual, masatrangelo is on target, and i am not talking about the cheesy discount store with the red balls out front.

They have remodeled at least two times that I can remember and it has been in a steady state of decline. Why not just leave Dillards and Pennys to stand alone and lose the ghost town in the middle. That's the approach that Metro North is taking with Macys. I guess only Time will tell wether or not this mall will fly.

Oh man-o-man-o-man am I excited about the new mall.

The pictures of the proposed finished product looks really good - how many nay-sayers have seen the plans and seen what the mall will look like?

Reminded me of "Legends" a little -

It's going to blow away a lot of people, I think it will do well.

It will really be the latest shining star for St. Joe, Lord knows we need them.

Mr America....Metro and East Hills are managed by the same company and there is talk they are going to remodel as well. The problems with East Hills turning into a ghost town started way before any other shopping areas were built in St. Joe. The issue is they charge a huge monthly rent to their tenants and other than the large chains, most cannot sustain. My fear is with the improvements they won't reduce rent but increase it to where no one will come back.

Damn comunists any how

I agree with you RH. Higher rent isn't going to draw in new retailers or help keep the stores they have now. I don't see how making it pretty will help.

Does any one know if they for sure have any new stores planned? It doesn't really say on that website. Also, does anyone know what they are building down by Waffle House?

RH & Mr_America: What is the lease rate at the mall?

to heritage: Several families in St. Joseph happen to like Target and do not feel it is a, "cheesy discount store with red balls out front" as you describe it. My only complaint about is it's not a Super Target. It's nice to have a Starbucks inside also.

Target is the only refuge any more from the undesirables that frequent Wal-mart. Because of recent shift in clientle of the S. Belt Wal-mart it has made it unbearable to even step in the door there. I will drive clear across town to go to Target.

It is at least a little higher class than Wal-mart.

that is such a sadly joetown narrow viewpoint, jay and mr, prejudice. why does this crud have to leak into every commentary here? makes me sick to my stomach.

sorry stjomom, i was out of line calling target "cheesy". i actually shop at walmart often. as a matter of fact i have a great pair of seersucker shorts from there which i love. i apologize for the condescending tone, it was a silly thing that just popped into my head when i made the "right on target" comment. you were right to chide me.

I like Wal-Mart, I like their cheapness and the fact that it takes me 5 minutes to get there. Those of us that don't live up north or out east gotta have somewhere to go, right? If I need clothing or quality household goods, I go elsewhere but for everyday living Wal-Mart is fine. I actually went shopping at S. Wal-Mart yesterday afternoon. I thought I was really throwing a coup by going in the afternoon when it should have been relatively easy to navigate. Oh my, I have never been more frustrated in my life. At MORE than one point in time (that is what really gets me) I was the thinnest person in the aisle and I was unable to leave the aisle specifically because of the bulk of the other customers. And all that said, *I* am not a skinny person. But the first time I was gut-blocked into position, that is when I started looking around and noticing, really noticing, the number of extremely obese people in Wal-Mart. I was disgusted and some even had their fat satellite children orbiting around them in chaotic fashion. I just don't get it.

I wouldn't call myself prejudice. I just choose to walk this earth with my eyes wide open, and the nerve to call a spade a spade.

Anoneemus: Who are you to judge? I do not think you need to leave your bubble if you DISCRIMINATE against "Fat" people. For all you know, they may be the ones some day saving your life in a hospital, or in an Ambulance, or a police officer. I agree that Target is a nicer store, but I am sure "Fat" people shop there too! Maybe you just need to shop online!

I as well have switched to Target and Hy-Vee just to avoid the riffraff. I would rather pay the extra 10% and not feel like I am fighting the crowds to be a paying customer.

Geez, Mr/Ms. Mule...

I don't like people that spit, but I suppose I need to be more sensitive to their lack of self-control in THAT arena as well? I also have a mother that is "morbidly obese". I have to help her with the daily tasks most of us take for granted, like tying her shoes, walking up steps and picking things up from the floor. Since I'm so anti-fat, maybe I should just toss her fat ass to the curb and be done with it?

I'm going to suppose that your opinion is okay but mine is not? So please forgive me for having a frustrating moment at the grocery store, which I then shared with others. I'll go back to my bubble of disillusionment where everyone is size tiny. They probably all have blond hair and blue eyes too. And none of them wear threadbare pajama pants and slippers to the store. Damn, now I'm being mean to brunettes and poor people...

Thanks Anoneemus. I needed a good laugh.

I am very excited about the way the mall is going to look! I remember shopping at East Hills when I was just a little kid. You could hardly get into the stores because of all the shoppers. I really hope this upgrade will make everyone realize that East Hills is a good mall!
I love Target, Hy-Vee and Wal*Mart. There is nothing wrong with any of them. Wal*Mart does offer cheaper prices. They just changed their motto to "Save Money. Live Better." And it's true you do save money. But, if you want to spend a little more and go to stores that are less crowed, be my guest. Just remember, I'll be the one Saving money and Living better! :)

I think the new mall plans look good. Some people like indoor shopping, while others prefer places like The Shoppes. We can support both if they are done right.

Also...

I thought I would point out that this story is about the mall, not the clientele at Wal-Mart. Perhaps some of you guys should exchange phone numbers. That way you can carry on your off-topic arguements via text message so the rest of us don't have to read it.

I still have problems spending any money at Target. They are French owned, and I'm still a little miffed at that anti-American attitude they had for quote a few years....

Evian, I used to drink a ton of Evian, no more.

Sad, but true, we decide how to spend our money and where.

The Mall, did I mentioned how excited I was about it?

i excited to have a new mall..from the pictures there will be more outside access and a food court..also they are trying to bring in something like 30 new businesses..it will be great and im glad JCP didnt end up leaving. i like the shops at the Village but its kinda of disappointing, the lay out. It should of been more like Zona Rosa and been set up like a Village with streets and corners. And for me its to far away i might as well go to KC still but the mall is closer and ill will still go there.

StJoeMoe, u might want to go to http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/target.asp and see that Target is NOT owned by the French. You can safely shop there. Great store....run by good people.