Rumor: Old Virgin Store to Be Turned Into Mini-mall

[Ignohippo]

File this one under total rumor, but one of the long-time employees at Ridemakerz told me that he's been told Disney wants to turn the old Virgin Store into a mini-mall consisting of one entrance and at least four different stores.

When you think about how the escalators are configured, it kinda makes sense. But I wonder if they wouldn't go ahead and convert DisneyQuest as well and make it a larger shopping mall. Do you even think people would really go inside for a trip to the mall when they're at Disney? Especially since there's so much else to do at Downtown Disney (no jokes about Pleasure Island please!).

He said Ridemakerz is staying for the foreseeable future (they've had semi-permanent signs installed recently) but that the plan is to eventually move it to a new building on Pleasure Island. The current building is way too big for their needs and they're anxious to cut costs and get into a smaller one.

On a side note, I'm surprised Build-a-Bear hasn't opened a combo Build-a-Bear/Ridemakerz in that location (maybe even adding some kind of cafe or restaurant). It would seem like a natural fit!

 

[Krack]

It sounds like a completely ridiculous rumor. But I have so little respect for the people running DTD (and WDW management, in general) that I can't just dismiss it out of hand.

 

[chaggy102]

File this one under total rumor, but one of the long-time employees at Ridemakerz told me that he's been told Disney wants to turn the old Virgin Store into a mini-mall consisting of one entrance and at least four different stores.

Key word here is long-time employee at Ridemakers...for a store that's only been around for a year this jumps out at me and makes me think there isn't anyway.

 

[captainkidd]

Key word here is long-time employee at Ridemakers...for a store that's only been around for a year this jumps out at me and makes me think there isn't anyway.

That's what I was thinking.

My kids loved Ridemakerz, but I won't step back in there next trip. WAY too expensive.

As someone else said, DTD has turned into a joke, with the exception of the Marketplace, which still has the Disney feel to it.

 

[71jason]

It sounds like a completely ridiculous rumor. But I have so little respect for the people running DTD (and WDW management, in general) that I can't just dismiss it out of hand.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[joe80x86]

I can definitely see ride makers leaving, heck they only use 1/4 of the available space. However I can't see a mini-mall experience.

 

[Ignohippo]

It seems ridiculous until you really think about it. What else could they use that large of a space for? Retail anchors are hard to come by these days and it sounds like they're really wanting the large new concept restaurants to go into the old PI area. As they demo more and more from PI, retail space is going to become harder to come by. Even though it seems far-fetched, the layout for the building would suit this kind of conversion.

I just don't know of any of these types of conversions actually working. It seems like every instance where a developer has converted a large retail space like this into a mall environment, people just end up walking right by.

 

[hrcollectibles]

Only if they can get this guy to Be the face of the Mini-Mall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vao-IfsMROA

 

[janoimagine]

Only if they can get this guy to Be the face of the Mini-Mall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vao-IfsMROA

I don't even have to look ... its the montgomery flea market guy right? Just like a mini .... mall!

 

[blm07]

Only if they can get this guy to Be the face of the Mini-Mall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vao-IfsMROA

Haha pretty good, but Floridians should know "something exciting, something delighting.."

 

[TomHendricks]

No way, they need to put one of these in...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgxcYz5cLN8

 

[vonpluto]

Sounds like a bold idea to me, new, fresh, even visionary. what did you call it " a minnie mall"? Never heard of that......
:shrug:

 

[WDWfanatic89]

I work in a music store in Canada, last chain in existance which operate in Canada, UK & Japan. Were HMV

I loved the Virgin Megastore and wish that a new music shop would open up down there. When I went to WDW in 2009, the Megastore was the first place I dumped cash into. Probably the best selection of music I've ever seen anywhere.

I know the economy in America sucks and that ALL music store chains have gone bankrupt, but it would be really cool to see a new store open up down there. Nothing that size, but maybe an independant place or something.

or maybe the rumor of Apple moving in might start up again eventually! only time will tell.

 

[ChrisFL]

I work in a music store in Canada, last chain in existance which operate in Canada, UK & Japan. Were HMV

I loved the Virgin Megastore and wish that a new music shop would open up down there. When I went to WDW in 2009, the Megastore was the first place I dumped cash into. Probably the best selection of music I've ever seen anywhere.

I know the economy in America sucks and that ALL music store chains have gone bankrupt, but it would be really cool to see a new store open up down there. Nothing that size, but maybe an independant place or something.

or maybe the rumor of Apple moving in might start up again eventually! only time will tell.

What's the use of a music store anymore? Everything is electronic these days

 

[TP2000]

What's the use of a music store anymore? Everything is electronic these days

I'm surprised at that too. Who knew record stores still existed?

As for Virgin Megastore, I'm not surprised that the location hasn't been demolished or at least properly repurposed. The management of WDW's DTD seem to be moving at a snails pace to refresh and revitalize that aging and dying mall.

RideMakerz is wildly popular at Disneyland's DTD, but they have a modest sized storefront that looks very snazzy and attracts a lot of attention from passersby. The place is always packed with kids and dads, and teens and college aged guys too. It's a nice option in the world of sticky sweet princesses and cuddly teddy bears and glittery and trampy Disney Channel pop star makeovers that Disney mainly seems interested as they pretend their entire market has both an X and a Y chromosome.

WDW management needs to buckle down and get serious with setting up DTD stores for the new decade. It's not 1999 any more, and they need to stop pretending it is there at WDW's Downtown Disney. No one is going to set up a massive music store selling CD's and tapes again, so just tear the thing down and start over.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I don't know that it needs to be torn down--the space could be useful. Where the Virgin Megastore used to be in NYC, there are now about 4 stores (including the new Disney Store). It's a nice space, there just isn't any need for a store of that size. Boutique stores are where it's at right now.

 

[Horizonsfan]

While these rumors sort of came out of nowhere, the idea of gutting and subdividing the former Virgin store seems very plausible. Outside of your typical department store and World of Disney, there are very few stores out there who want/need all that space.

I could very easily see WDW modifying Virgin into a "mall" with an eye towards DQ being an expansion pad for the "mall" down the line.

 

[slappy magoo]

This sounds borderline evil, but it also seems so perfect for today's WDW exec, I'm surprised they haven't tried it:

Convert the area to a writ-large version of Fairy Godmothers. Supervised play areas so parents can enjoy an adult meal or night out at DTD (which would've made more sense had Pleasure Island still been a thing, but whatever). Break the floors and areas within the floors to different activities and age groups (with even a quieter, better-lit area for kids who area autistic or otherwise sensitive to bright lights or loud stimuli. Serve meals and drinks. Have movies or karaoke. Kids can only go in if brought there by parents, and they're each given pagers when the parents return. All seems relatively benign...

However...

If kids and the parents agree, the kids can be opted-in to be test marketers for new games or toys, new movies or TV pilots, new music or books. It'd be a marketer's nocturnal emission - rather than have to hire outside companies to hit malls all over America, in one location, you'll get about as cross-representative of Young America as you could possibly get. Heck, Disney itself would probably use it more than anyone, and gauge the reactions of the kids to determine if certain things are worth selling or releasing, or how best to market it. All within the confines of a supervised play area, for people who are either staying at resorts that don't have such a supervised play area, or aren't staying onsite, or who would like the kids closer to them in the event of an emergency, while still giving them time to something apart from mom and dad.

 

[jmuboy]

LOL....tear down the Virgin building? Are you serious? That would require WDW to spend money. The same company that can't even replace the MK parade in 10 years.

I'm sorry to say but DTD is just a joke! I have little faith DTD will be remade or even modestly improved anytime soon. Partly because of the economic climate. Partly because TDO had become an out of touch and uncreative organization which will always take the cheapest cop-out route they can these days.

I'm surprised at that too. Who knew record stores still existed?

As for Virgin Megastore, I'm not surprised that the location hasn't been demolished or at least properly repurposed. The management of WDW's DTD seem to be moving at a snails pace to refresh and revitalize that aging and dying mall.

RideMakerz is wildly popular at Disneyland's DTD, but they have a modest sized storefront that looks very snazzy and attracts a lot of attention from passersby. The place is always packed with kids and dads, and teens and college aged guys too. It's a nice option in the world of sticky sweet princesses and cuddly teddy bears and glittery and trampy Disney Channel pop star makeovers that Disney mainly seems interested as they pretend their entire market has both an X and a Y chromosome.

WDW management needs to buckle down and get serious with setting up DTD stores for the new decade. It's not 1999 any more, and they need to stop pretending it is there at WDW's Downtown Disney. No one is going to set up a massive music store selling CD's and tapes again, so just tear the thing down and start over.

 

[thelookingglass]

It seriously needs an Appliance Direct to go in that space! You could have meet & greets with the crazy spokesman guy!