The Observation Deck

A new J.C. Penny store will soon be opening in Avon. It will be located in a new strip mall.

Would a J.C. Penny store make sense in Lakewood? I think so. As an anchor store located on Detroit it would support existing retail rather than compete with it.

Even though Northern Ohio has too many retail stores, given the population density of Lakewood I think some new retail could thrive in Lakewood even as it fails elsewhere. Detroit and Warren Road would be a perfect spot.

Oh Bill, why would we want to be able to purchase things we need in town. That's just silly.

Home accents sale alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JCPenney (clicky)


It would be nice to have either a JC Penney or Wal-Mart or Super K in Lakewood..

The department store model is dying. I wouldn't want a JC Penny here. Their days are numbered honestly IMHO.

Remember the JC Penney and Sears Christmas catalogs...

Heck, I remember having catalogs like those out back in the outhouse.

When the toilet paper ran out, it was either those, or corncobs!

Disclaimer- The outhouses that I recall were not in Lakewood.

Gary Rice wrote:Heck, I remember having catalogs like those out back in the outhouse.

I never know what course one of my posts will take. All I know for sure is that eventually they all end up in the toilet.

I don't think the department store is passe. The market is certainly changing. I still think that a major department store in the center of town would be a net plus.

Bryan Schwegler wrote:The department store model is dying. I wouldn't want a JC Penny here. Their days are numbered honestly IMHO.

wow

sanity prevails


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Gary Rice wrote:Heck, I remember having catalogs like those out back in the outhouse.

When the toilet paper ran out, it was either those, or corncobs!

Disclaimer- The outhouses that I recall were not in Lakewood.

I am sure some one from the building department will verify that fact very soon.

My parents got me my first Rock n' Roll record in Baileys. (Warren and Detroit) It was "Meet The Beatles".

Boy did THAT change my life!

Then we got Paul Warfield's autograph down there.

Oh yeah! Good memories.

It was nice to have a department store in town.

Actually, according to my research, relatively few outhouses existed in Lakewood. By the time our building boom started, indoor plumbing was the order of the day.

Still, without waste hauling, nearly every home had a mini-dump somewhere in the backyard for awhile. Archeologists interested in 1900-1910 artifacts would probably have a field day around here.

Disclaimer- Not a good idea to dig though, as surprises like gas wells and the like, are also around these parts...

Double Disclaimer- I was researching Lakewood history, not outhouses!

Jim O'Bryan wrote:wow

sanity prevails

Not if I have anything to say about it!

Now I need to know. If the department store model is dying then what is replacing it? Catalog/internet sales? I would be surprised if it was boutique specialty shops. While there may be challenges with particular franchises, are individual shoppers not still making their purchases at one stop retail stores? Everyone is still wearing clothes and buying new items so where on earth are they coming from. I need to know.

Shawn Juris wrote:Now I need to know. If the department store model is dying then what is replacing it? ......I need to know.

In the future everyone will shop in small street level store front shops that sell used clothes.

Or, maybe, as gas gets more expensive people will shop in larger retail outlets close to where they live. Like Crocker Park, Legacy Village, the new shops in Solon or in Downtown Cleveland.

The only thing we know for sure is that since Lakewood is 15 minutes from everything there is no need to have anything here.

I do a lot of my shopping online or at resale stores, Target, Tuesday Morning.

I hate malls and would rather do almost anything to not go to one.

J.C. Penney is a marketing display nightmare. If you can make it past all the high margin stuff they have on the obstacle court of each floor, sometimes you can find what you need.

Just not worth it.