Many folks have already written the obituary for malls and other shopping plazas nationwide. The general thought is they’re either already dead or they’re dying.

 

Of course, that might be an assessment some have made regarding shopping centers right here in North Central West Virginia. After all, Eastpointe in Clarksburg recently saw K-Mart – one of the oldest retailers and perhaps the oldest – in that plaza close shop.

 

K-Mart has had company.

 

Toys “R” Us is now on the extinct list. Count Elder-Beerman to soon be on that official list. Sears, a staple at many shopping plazas and malls as well as for hunters nationwide, also appears to be heading toward a final demise.

 

You may have noted the last three mentioned were in Bridgeport. As we reported before Toys “R” Us is in Bridgeport, but it is not part of the Meadowbrook Mall. And as reported before, a spokesperson for the company that owns the mall said there had a least been discussion on acquiring that piece of property.

 

So what am I getting at?

 

Right now, at least, Meadowbrook Mall is not dying. It’s taken a few to the chin, but it’s not dying. The blog I recently wrote showing that city’s take in B&O retail dollars actually went up during the financial quarters following the closing of Sears proved that point.

 

That doesn’t mean it’s not susceptible to a big downturn in the future. Understand, however, that most of the mall’s storefronts are still full. Understand, too, that Meadowbrook Mall is roughly 35 years old and still going. That’s roughly 10 years past the date that most malls fade into the sunset.

 

Part of the success is Meadowbrook Mall draws from multiple counties. Part of it is the owners, the Ohio-based Cafaro Company, has re-invested in it and continues to draw new tenants. A big part is that the community of Bridgeport and beyond supports it. 

 

The community support is why this blog is being written. Understand fully, what I’m about to request could be a total exercise in futility. It also could in a very small way be the difference between someone coming here and someone going elsewhere.

 

I’ve done it before with numerous grocery store chains – including several that had an email about where you’d like to see them come. This time, along with a few grocery stores that could fit nicely into a space at the mall or the Toys “R” Us space mall officials have said they’re interested in, I’m going to list some stores that may be possibilities and you can let them know Bridgeport and North Central West Virginia is a place they may want to consider doing business.

 

Will it work? Who knows, but it’s like not asking for that extra slice of pizza. If you don’t, someone else will either ask or take it. My advice, ask for the pizza.

 

I can tell you that after discussions with a trusted friend who understands the commercial business (and considering no one involved with major development groups felt good about going on the record or even responded to inquiry), here’s a few stores you may want to contact.

 

The first is Boscov’s, which has roughly 50 stores in several surrounding states, is one talked about here before. It is expanding with the only real downfall being they prefer two stories to operate out of. The good news is that previously Cafaro’s Director of Corporate Communications Joe Bell informed me that the mall here in Bridgeport could meet that need if necessary.

 

They’re contact information can be found https://www.boscovs.com/shop/CustomerService.bos.

 

How about Duluth Trading Company? You’ve seen the snazzy commercials and probably thought they were only an on-line brand.

 

They actually have brick and mortar locations with a location in Pittsburgh the closest to our area. You can contact them at customerservice@duluthtrading.com.

 

I probably should have prefaced this blog, again, by saying Macy’s is not coming here. They weren’t when things were going exceptionally well and considering they’re actually shuttering locations, they won’t be coming now. However, Macy’s Backstage might.

 

They are Macy’s “outlet store” and more likely to be found in a smaller market offering many of the brand names Macy’s is famous for. And their customer service number is Customer Service 877-876-2297.

 

Field & Stream isn’t just a magazine. It’s a store with similarities to Cabela’s, but on a somewhat smaller scale. The good news is they have a location in West Virginia and one in Washington, Pa. The bad news is you’re more than an hour away from one either way you drive from here, and well over two hours away from the closes one in the Mountain State.

 

Their Web site has a feedback forum. You can go there and tell them all you want about this area by going here. https://dcsg.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0lbxtecnOsIRRAN

 

The rest of these I’m posting you may have heard of and, if not, a quick Google search will get you what you need. Regardless, each one will have the Web site and the contact/feedback option listed.

 

Costco can be found by clicking this link: https://www.costco.com/. Scroll to the very bottom and click “Feedback” that is on the right hand side of the page. Most know about Costco, which is similar in concept to Sam’s Club.

 

How about H&M? It’s clothing and it’s clothing for everyone. If you want to reach them, try their customer service number. The worst thing that will happen is they’ll hang up on you and I’ve had that happen to me hundreds of times Call the toll-free at 855-HNM SHOP (855-466-7467)

 

The others? Look these up as well. You have Round 1 Entertainment that is a bowling alley with a game room with a restaurant with a bar and with, well, all kinds of amusement options. Fire them an email development@round1usa.com. And be sure and mention the mall doesn’t draw from just five miles, it draws from an entire region as Round 1 has some pretty stringent population requirements and might be a stretch to come here.

 

Here’s one you may scratch your head at – Belk. Why, because they’re a department store similar to Elder-Beerman and they recently went out of business in Morgantown. Perhaps they may be sour on the market, or they may find the long-term success of the mall more to their liking. Worth a try? Perhaps. You can call their customer service number at 1-866-235-5443.

 

With a few large anchor spaces open, how about Costco? Most have heard of it, but for those that don’t it’s a membership store along the lines of Sam’s Club. There are three in Pittsburgh and surrounding area. There are zero in West Virginia. The number listed is for memberships, but maybe they can point you in the right direction or will hear you out by calling 1-800-774-2678.

 

Costco will give you a grocery option, albeit a bulk option. As for a new option, how about a grocery chain called Lidl that may fit in nicely at the base of the hill or even at the mall itself.

 

Sounds like Aldi, which like Lidl is also a German discount supermarket chain that has locations in the United States and is expanding.  It’s still relatively new and they can be reached at 1-844-747-5435.

 

Will this work? Again, it could all be an exercise in futility. But it sure beats sitting back and complaining about what is or isn’t coming to town. Take a few seconds to see if you can make a difference.