Unveiling MacArthur Center's Loss. Closed 9-4-23

Hello everyone. Keith with Dying Retail visting the Dillard's East Coast Flag ship store in Norfolk, VA at MacArther Center Mall. This store, the largest in Virginia had an announcement back in June that it would be converted into an Outlet location, one of 30 they operate around the country.
The location is "restyling" into a Dillard's Clearance store. According to Dillard's, these stores are where you can shop for price reductions from your favorite designers. The top floors would be closed off.
This would be the only outlet store in Virginia. It's also not a good sign when the flagship store at a troubled mall is being converted.
At the time the announcement was made the City of Norfolk had made moves to purchase control of the entire mall complex. They are saying that they wanted control in the redevelopment options for the property. Dillards is known for owning their stores and when it was announced, the city approached Dillards about buying the property from them, which would give the city total ownership and control of the mall. They set aside $4 Million dollars towards purcashing the property. The store is 250,000 square feet and is three stories.
July 14th Wavy TV reported the store would close instead.
Two days after the city of Norfolk's Economic Development Authority voted to buy Dillard's at MacArthur Center, signs have gone up saying the store - which had recently announced a change to a clearance model - will be shutting down.
Dillard's officials have not returned multiple requests for comment.
The sign outside the store says, "STORE CLOSING: Thanks for the Memories," and then points people to other area stores as well as to its website.
Multiple Dillard's employees, not authorized to speak publicly, confirm they have been told by management that the store is now closing, but were given no reason as to why the change in plans. No date is indicated on the signs outside, but they were not there as recently as Thursday.
When they close, MacArthur Center will have no remaining anchor stores.
#dmod #dillards #closing #mall

[@kiandraquinn8238]

I'm from Virginia Beach, and live in Norfolk. I remember when MacArthur Center was the upscale mall in the area. I worked at the Nordstrom that used to be there. It's sad that the mall has declined so much.

[@DyingRetail]

What’s noticeable is when Norfolk finally started policing downtown you hear nothing about any serious crimes there. Unfortunately damage was done. Friday night I’m showing the inside of Pembroke from November. Thanks for stopping by.

[@Vub.]

Man, things change so quickly. I remember Lynnhaven was the main mall my mother would take me but sometimes we would go to MacArthur Mall and i thought it was such an amazing mall, with the little water spouts that shot water and Rainforest Cafe. RIP to all the memories made there

[@DyingRetail]

True. The water fountains you are referring to are where the elevators are.

[@ERA_Productions]

Rest in peace to Dillard’s Norfolk. This Mall honestly seems to be doing awful. Sucks to see it struggling.

[@DyingRetail]

Got worse when city started going after total control.

[@nixbeamish757]

I Know Right

[@diamondd8017]

Wow they opened in 99 to see it go down faster than any other mall in the area is sad actually.

[@DyingRetail]

Sure is. Probably why we won’t see any malls built again soon.

[@brendapatrick3406]

This is really a shame. I live in the Tri-city area, VB, Chesapeake & Norfolk. Have always loved this mall & especially it's garage parking. The employees are friendly, down to earth and helpful - more so than Greenbriar Mall in certain departments. Dillards was the saving grace for an anchor store especially when Nordstrom's moved out. Too bad it cannot become an outlet store like they have in New Orleans. There is a need for more affordable pricing in today's environment. The more upscale anchor stores & shops have been saturated in downtown Norfolk. An outlet store would have been an answer perhaps, to meet the needs of the market. I still miss Macy's at Military Circle, but am pleased to see the many employees who relocated to Greenbriar. Best of luck to the employees who relocate. I do look forward to seeing them in other locations. Thanks for the memories for all the stores who have left McArthur Mall.

[@DyingRetail]

Unfortunately, downtown and the surrounding area can’t support a mall with high end upscale stores. Especially when the city allowed crime to run rampant after 2020.

[@charlieerardi4221]

Congratulations on 1,000 subscribers. You make great and exciting content. My interest on this topic started in 2013 when Wilson Mall in Wilson, nc closed. It was my childhood mall. Your content has deepened my interest even more. Thank you for sharing it with your fans.

[@DyingRetail]

Thanks Charlie. It is good to know the content is worthwhile 😂 I hope to hit some interesting places this year. Have to see how things work out.

[@charlieerardi4221]

@@DyingRetail you’re welcome. Can’t wait

[@DyingRetail]

I’m hoping to hit some spots in North Carolina this year as well as in western Virginia.

[@FlyingCookie13]

MacArthur is done once Regal leaves.

[@DyingRetail]

I don’t think the theater will save it.

[@tjsogmc]

I was at O'Hare Airport in Chicago last month waiting for another canceled flight, and two women sitting next to me were excitedly talking about what they were going to do in Norfolk. They spoke for some time about shopping at MacArthur Mall. I didn't have the heart to tell them. I figured they would find out on their own. I'm certain that in all my life I've never once bought a single thing at Dillard's.

[@DyingRetail]

I’m sure they figured it out. It’s not a good sign when a store closes their flagship store in a mall.

[@tjsogmc]

@@DyingRetail retail in general is an abysmal experience. I was shopping for a mute for my trombone and not a single store in the area had what I was looking for. Not. One. 15 or 20 years ago it was a stock item at every shop. There's really nowhere to go to just lazy shop for stuff except the outlet mall at Lake Wright and maybe Lynnhaven

[@DyingRetail]

Or online.

[@brigetwilson9836]

I miss working at dillards

[@DyingRetail]

I take it you worked at this location? It was a nice store.

[@SuperShepard1]

Norfolk's city council sucks! They could've saved that mall! We should have had a Neiman Marcus and a Saks Fifth Ave, as anchors, then other stores would come and they would get more traffic. Now, we have to go to Virginia Beach to shop! All Norfolk does i build apartments. There are cities with far less money than Norfolk, who do quite well with high end malls!

[@DyingRetail]

I doubt they could have. The mall itself probably shouldn’t have been built. Leaders were all excited about proposed tax revenues while acknowledging malls were falling across the country.

[@JDubKillinKicks]

Such a nice looking department store too with the way they did the ceilings and lighting. Crazy this place will still look so new when it gets scrapped and repurposed in a few years.

[@DyingRetail]

I love Taubman malls. The attention to detail is obvious all over the mall.

[@SeaBassTian]

Thanks for the update! Obviously having a Dillards Clearance center would be better than having no Dillards at all so I feel like this is an L for the city of Norfolk. However, I'm going to be in the Hampton Roads area on Friday and will definitely check out the sale!

[@DyingRetail]

You’re welcome :) they had some good deals as I walked through for the video. I’m sure you will find something good.

[@ashextraordinaire]

Friend of mine worked there and about a month ago got transferred to another area Dillard's. Kinda had a feeling this was coming. Still feels a little shocking. Thanks for this look at the current state of things!

[@DyingRetail]

You’re welcome. It’s sad seeing stores close up like this.

[@nixbeamish757]

It's Sad To Hear That MacArthur Center Is Having A Lot Of Store Closings And It's Losing Dillard's 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@DyingRetail]

It’s been bleeding stores for sometime now. When Apple leaves due to employee safety concerns that says something.

[@drkmagneto]

That's a real shame. When a mall loses all anchors, it does not bode well for Macarthur Center Mall, which held great promise. Now, not so much! Hope your mom is doing well!

[@DyingRetail]

Macy’s never built on to the mall. I wonder how that would have changed things, especially with Nordstrom leaving several years ago.

[@SearsOutlastsBedBathAndBeyond0]

Wellington Green is facing struggles and redevelopment, Also hit with a Nordstrom closure the same time as MacArthur, Taubman built the mall and sold the mall to Starwood as well, I think Wellington Green may die off during the next 10 years

[@DyingRetail]

That’s sad to hear. MacArthur center probably should not have been built. City was only looking at projections of tax revenues and not what might work best for the area.

[@thefloridianman]

@@DyingRetailSpinso owns both malls too, The mall opened 2 years after MacArthur

[@DyingRetail]

They are the management firm I believe. Starwood Capital took over the mall not long ago. Now it appears city is the owner

[@CoolCatProductions-365]

I guessing the of Norfolk bought the store and wants Dillards out of the picture as it would make redevelop easier without having to construct any new development plans around a pre-existing anchor store. Dillards will most likely be gone by late September/ early October to be my guess. Once regal leaves, this malls days numbered. The city wants the mall gone if couldn’t tell already 😢.

[@DyingRetail]

Oh, I am pretty sure Dillard’s accepted a deal. Only reason I can think of switching from going to an outlet to closing.

[@norrisangle3678]

Only been gone 5 years and the whole place has changed. Crazy

[@DyingRetail]

It’s surreal that’s for sure.

[@nicholasmarshall9128]

It is ashamed MacArthur mall is now dead. Mom mom was one of the first shoppers at the mall when it opened, and while i have a lot of good memories there the only thing left to go see there is Johnny Rockets (which will probably close soon). If MacArthur Mall wasnt closing, i bet we wouldve had the region's 1st Lego Store which i would love to go to. I wonder where they would put that in the region if they ever decide to put one here?

[@DyingRetail]

Probably Richmond or Northern Virginia.

[@UnknownOfSubs]

Hi!

[@DyingRetail]

Hello

[@UnknownOfSubs]

How is your day going

[@HejranBiki]

Is the store closing for good or becoming a clearance Center?

[@DyingRetail]

Closing for good. They announced it was going to go to an outlet. Then changed after that announcement.

[@HejranBiki]

@@DyingRetail oh ok they still have the re styling to clearance Center signs on the doors

[@DyingRetail]

Signs say Dillards Outlet. Store closing. Thanks for the memories.

[@nixbeamish757]

I Hate How Dillard's Decided To Close The Largest Store In Virginia.

[@DyingRetail]

Don’t think they had a choice. Dropping sales and with the city taking full control over the rest of the mall I believe they felt this mall is done.

[@StargazerLily82]

They only got 4 million for it, too.

[@DyingRetail]

That’s not a bad number.

[@iamcedricpowell8051]

I am from Norfolk. I had been noticing a lot of socialist candidates running from office. Well, the city buying the mall and running it sounds like Communism to me. I moved away years ago. But I have been watching the news lately. Sounds like the whole 7 cities is going to crap with crime. It is sad to see. Because the 7 cities is a good place to raise a family. Well it was.

[@DyingRetail]

That’s an interesting take on what’s taking place with the mall. I wouldn’t care so much if Norfolk owned the mall as long as they would put a management team in place that knew how to operate a retail operation. I don’t know if that’s going to happen. I am thinking members on council want to remake the mall into something that won’t work. Time will tell. The crime problem at the mall changed after the shooting and the city took the downtown area seriously with proper policing of the area but the damage was already done in terms of people not feeling safe going. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed the video. I have videos on all the local malls here if you did not see those.

[@iamcedricpowell8051]

@@DyingRetail I get you! I hope you are correct. I am just speaking to the way our nation is sadly going. Politicians trying to orchestrate the economy. And that does not go well. The Norfolk City Council is not known for their great character. So I would say that their decision making process will not fall far from that tree.

[@DyingRetail]

@iamcedricpowell8051 oh yes. Everything is upside down. Hopefully some common sense will show up.