KCRag Forum

I guess you didn't read that I had just left a busy Metro North and went straight to Zona Rosa.

MN had lots of shoppers with bags and merchandise.

ZR was slow, had only lookers and no people with bags of stuff.

Where I was, I could see 2 of the entrances to Dicks.

Nota-- where did you buy merch at at Metro North Mall? The only stores they have are JCPenney, Dillard's, Jones Store, and some repeats of Zona Rosa. Whether you like it or not, Metro North will be eaten by Zona Rosa unless they update tenants and design of the center. Metcalf South also has profitable anchors.

Once again, you are missing my point.

There were few shoppers at Zona Rosa and many at Metro North.

I've never liked Metro North, but I've always found stuff to buy there.

I bought things at Penneys, Dillards, and Jones last Monday.

Things for my grandson.

I'm saying that Zona Rosa is aimed at too narrow a niche market.

When I have been there I have seen lost of people carrying bags of stuff they have just bought. I waited in a long line to spend money at DSW. Tomfooleries always looks completely full, as does the ice cream store. The Cingular store was packed completely full, mostly with adults. Plus, this is just the first phase. There are still more businesses on the way.

nota...give it some time, it just opened.

i dont think there's any doubt that ZR will drive Metro North even further into the ground.

Metro North would be a total ghost town if not for their dept. store anchors. ZR is only going to add to that.

doesn't ZR have things for non-adolescents? like Talbot's and Chico's and Jos. A.Bank and places like that? or is it all Claire's and Buckle and the mallrat stores?

easy.....metro north is geared to older shoppers, ZR to younger shoppers who are either at work at a summer job or waiting for the "wallet" (ala parents) to come take them shopping.


I for one am very pleased the northland is getting some shopping outlets that I can enjoy....it's past time.

nota, I'm going to guess that what you saw was uncommon. I can't remember the last time I saw metro north packed.

I've heard that department stores aren't doing too well. If that is true, Metro North just can't stay afloat when there are several other malls w/ dept stores in the metro. I would like to see Metro North bulldozed to the ground and turn Antioch into the prominent shopping center for the older demographic.

Also, I'm sorry to hear that my fears of ZR becoming a teen hangout may be coming true.

KCNorthlander wrote:nota, I'm going to guess that what you saw was uncommon. I can't remember the last time I saw metro north packed.

I've heard that department stores aren't doing too well. If that is true, Metro North just can't stay afloat when there are several other malls w/ dept stores in the metro. I would like to see Metro North bulldozed to the ground and turn Antioch into the prominent shopping center for the older demographic.

Also, I'm sorry to hear that my fears of ZR becoming a teen hangout may be coming true.

It may be uncommon. But for staying power, I say that ZR is going to have to attract some besides the youthful crowd.

And I don't like MN-never have and don' t have high hopes for them. The department stores are of course hurting, but department stores are hurting everywhere.

I didn' t say it was packed, just that it was busy with shoppers carrying their purchases.

ZR does seem to be pretty teen-oriented. here are the adult places i found.

Ann Taylor Loft
Avalon Spa
Balano Jewelry
Cache
DSW
Helzberg
Kay Jewelers
Lane Bryant
Norwalk Furniture
Perfume Pizazz
Victoria's Secret
Marshall's n More

it is pretty skewed to the teen market, but most malls are these days i guess.

i could have sworn that ZR had Chico's and Coldwater Creek and that stuff. is that going somewhere else up north?

Coldwater creek is across the interstate at Boardwalk...not sure about Chicos

Chico's is at Boardwalk also.

Boardwalk seems to have a decent business going. The parking lot is always full when I go to Lowes. Believe it or not, I'm a Northlander and I've only been to Red Star and Chipotle, none of the stores.

nota wrote:Once again, you are missing my point.

There were few shoppers at Zona Rosa and many at Metro North.

I've never liked Metro North, but I've always found stuff to buy there.

I bought things at Penneys, Dillards, and Jones last Monday.

Things for my grandson.

I'm saying that Zona Rosa is aimed at too narrow a niche market.

You just proved my point exactly. Every store you bought things at were department stores-- of which Zona Rosa has zero. Just like Metcalf South, I anticipate Metro North's anchors will continue to be profitable and busy long after the mall portion closes. Zona's second phase includes a large department store.

There is no doubt about it that Zona Rosa doesn't have much yet. Only 30something stores when it opened. Too much is geared towards teenagers, but that could be said about Independence Center and Oak Park. The Hot Topics, Abercrbombies, and Journeys crowd is a HUGE market and malls just don't have the same type of general clothing as they did in the 80s-- everything is more specialized now. This is the reason that department stores are still so comforting and that is why Zona Rosa needs a major department store.

There are several stores still in Metro North.

The Rave store was packed. The Hallmark store was busy as well.

The Limited was closed getting ready for a big sale.

The phone store was closed. Eyemasters was busy.

The sleep store had customers.

There were several others, but many were gone.

Here's a bit more-

We were at the neighbors' the other evening having a few drinks and snacks on their deck.

Their teenage daughter (18) came out and said that she and some friends were going to meet at Zona Rosa. Which made me remember that I had heard her say this before a couple of times. It was almoust 8PM. I'll have to go up there sometime at that time and see if it is bustling with shoppers then.

Maybe I was there at a normal non busy time.

Zona Rosa will ressurect the large illuminated crowns that once graced downtown KC. They bought two of them that will go up this Wednesday with more to follow each Holiday season. They're trying to play on KC nostalgia I guess.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascit ... 227076.htm

The article is really quite sad. KC lost all of its downtown retail. Just 40 years ago downtown thrived with tons of retail.

But the crowns still had a little life in them. Some of the smaller light-pole crowns went over to Kansas City, Kan., where for several years they brightened mainly Minnesota Avenue, Mann says.

I wonder if KCK still has these decorations around somewhere or if they are long gone.

I saw that Santa at Zona Rosa would be located at the Food Garden and then I saw some pics of Zona Rosa that showed the Food Garden entrance.

Does Zona Rosa really have an indoor food court?

trailerkid wrote: Does Zona Rosa really have an indoor food court?

Yes it does, but many of the tenants haven't moved in yet.