Some Disney Stores Closing?

[andrewam]

I went to Seattle yesterday and the 2 places where I knew Disney stores where, are no longer there. I thought that was wierd, since both places are very popular and the one location is the biggest mall in Seattle. Does anyone know if they are closing a lot of the stores or does no one in Seattle buy Disney stuff anymore?

 

[deena]

too inside one of our larger malls; it had been around for a while (years) and I didn't even know at all that it had disappeared. Family came back from shopping and said it was mysteriously gone.

So, apparently it is just not limited to Seattle. Also, I heard that there were other closings that had taken place but don't remember the locations. Anyone else have anymore info. out there?

 

[Sarangel]

This has been going on for 5 or 6 months, Disney Stores are undergoing a 'reassessment.' This means that some will close (Disney's concerned about a saturated market), some will be redesigned (into a more modular, 'hip' version), and some will remain as they are (for now). The problem is that the chain isn't making money. They're also 'reassessing' the product line, slanting it back towards kids' stuff & occasionally a gallery store.

Sarangel

 

[donald@home]

The Disney Store at Faneuil Hall in Boston will be gone by the end of the year.

 

[hopemax]

My mom is an Asst. manager of one of the stores in the Seattle market, and she has heard 2 different stories about the closure of the Southcenter store.

1. The ownership wanted Disney to open a store in the mall they own in California. Since Disney is trying to operate less stores not open new ones, Disney refused, Southcenter chose not to renew Disney's lease.

2. The ownership was not satisfied with the new look (Southcenter was supposed to be one of the first stores to be remodeled), and when Disney didn't agree to not remodel the store the mall didn't renew Disney's lease.

In any case, Disney leaving Southcenter wasn't because Disney wanted to leave.

As for Disney leaving Westlake, that was planned by Disney. Westlake was the smallest store in the Seattle area, and after the opening of Pacific Place, Westlake was no longer getting the same amount of traffic thus sales.

Disney was operating 7 stores (Alderwood, Northgate, Bellevue, Southcenter, Westlake, Tacoma, Southhill) within an hour radius of Seattle and at least here Disney Store was no longer the "destination" it used to be. The new plan wants to restore that kind of attachment. Too bad, they haven't realized that they need to stock the stores with things people don't mind driving an hour or two to buy.

 

[YoHo]

The DIsney Store at Woodfield Mall recently removed the travel desk. Everyone with travel plans through them (myself included) were given the CRO 800 number so we could finish it ourselves. all they did was coordinate things with CRO and take the checks, but it was nice to talk to an actual person. Does anyone know if the other Disney travel Desks have been closed?

Chicago seems to still have all its Disney stores which is ludicrous. they have I think more then Seattle. I figure they should reduce to 3 stores Woodfield, Oakbrook and Michigan Ave.





Finally, I'm kind of glad that they've stopped stocking the collectables. Before the Disney Store, my most prized suvonier was a new porceiln figure or two from WDW. Once TDS started stocking them, it became less cherished. Now I have my little tradition back.