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Virgin Megastores, including Disney location, will shut down this summer
- Thread starter speck76
- Start date
Lee
Adventurer
I'm taking up a collection to get the funding started. Got $4.67 so far.
WDW1974
Well-Known Member
Well, I guess this is good news (even though many of us knew it was coming last year) for any DisneyQuest fans out there (are there any? maybe one?) ... because DQ was slated to be replaced by ESPN Zone two years ago ... now, there's no way Disney's going to close it and have two huge boxes sitting empty ... along withe The Dead Zone Formerly Known as Pleasure Island.
And anyone who thinks Disney's going to have an easy time filling the Virgin space really should pay attention to the real world realties.
That baby could sit empty for a very long time ... you hear about all the tenants Disney has signed up for TSFKaPI as well as the Flamingo Crossings Dirt Pile? You could cut all your toes off in a lawnmower accident and still come up with the right answer using said digits.
Oh ... and count me amongst those old farts who actually are proud we don't own I-pods or MP3s and have never downloaded music in our lives. I like a CD ... something real and tangible ... of course I also read newspapers (not online) ... and I hate texting too.
~Pass the Pixie Dust~
And anyone who thinks Disney's going to have an easy time filling the Virgin space really should pay attention to the real world realties.
That baby could sit empty for a very long time ... you hear about all the tenants Disney has signed up for TSFKaPI as well as the Flamingo Crossings Dirt Pile? You could cut all your toes off in a lawnmower accident and still come up with the right answer using said digits.
Oh ... and count me amongst those old farts who actually are proud we don't own I-pods or MP3s and have never downloaded music in our lives. I like a CD ... something real and tangible ... of course I also read newspapers (not online) ... and I hate texting too.
~Pass the Pixie Dust~
Hummer1676
New Member
That is a large space to fill! I agree with Lee's idea.
Maybe they could turn it into the blue sky cellar like at DCA, or turn it into a DVC preview center. They could push the hawaii project! Just a thought.
It would be great if they could turn it into a modern bowling center/bar. The new chain of Lucky Strikes are great and would be a great way to draw families to this section.
Maybe they could turn it into the blue sky cellar like at DCA, or turn it into a DVC preview center. They could push the hawaii project! Just a thought.
It would be great if they could turn it into a modern bowling center/bar. The new chain of Lucky Strikes are great and would be a great way to draw families to this section.
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
JD Witherspoons pub chain in the UK became a major player from next to nothing, by going in and taking over retail units and converting them. One of the biggest pubs in Edinburgh is the old main branch of the Bank of Scotland. The bar is acualy the old tellers counters. So its a fairly standard buisness model and Id guess that the required electrical infrastructure would be already in place given the stores current use.
Dont care either way didnt use Virgin and I wouldnt use a sports bar. No football (and Im not talking about rugby in pads)
yankspy
Well-Known Member
Well I am sorry to see it go for those who liked it. IMO, I am glad to see it go. I go to Disney for a unique experience and I would not count going to record store a unique experience. I think that is why I and many others liked the AC so much. It was something that I could not see any where else.
Honestly, I have seen the downtown area go through so many changes over the years so it does not seem as big a deal any more.
Honestly, I have seen the downtown area go through so many changes over the years so it does not seem as big a deal any more.
EpcotServo
Well-Known Member
Oh I thought we were beyond Thunderdome.
Ashitaka
Active Member
Yep, you're right. I did a quick bit of research online and found that the real estate companies Vornado and Related bought Virgin chain in 2007. The Times Square space will be closed for about a year while it is converted into a Forever 21. I had missed the announcement about who would be leasing the space.
That raises the question for me about the one at DTD - Who owns the actually property, that is the store, not the land it sits on, at DTD? Who makes the decision what goes into that space, Disney or Vornado?
Disney owns it. They would want control over what businesses are in Downtown Disney, which they wouldn't have if they didn't own the buildings or property.
WDW1974 said:
That has nothing to do with the closure of Virgin. The firms that now own the Company want to use the property for something else. They are closing all the stores, even the ones that they don't own the buildings. I know that the Virgin Megastores in New York are HUGELY profitable...so it's clear to me that they really didn't want the stores when they bought them, but the property. Which would explain the closure of stores in buildings they don't own.
jonnyc
Well-Known Member
I can just see a certain company pitching there thoughts now...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAAIQpUgwjM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAAIQpUgwjM
Hummer1676
New Member
I like this idea. I am not sure they would want to compete with Cirque on shows though.
I am always down for Dave and Busters too! Shoot, for the locals they could move the Ale House over there and it would draw TDO. :lookaroun
GothMickey
Active Member
Cirque is sold out every night. People who cannot get tickets to Cirque can get tickets to the broadway styled show.
Huck
Active Member
Hummer1676
New Member
I agree, it would provide more work for the entertainment department and drive revenue. But, the size is quite small for that style of production; they would have to expand it out.
Scooter
Well-Known Member
This is Misleading. Cirque is sold out sometimes in the busy seasons ie Spring Break, Summer, holidays etc but it's rarely sold out in the off seasons. My wife and I went to see it in May once and about 2/3rds of the seats were empty.
jt04
Well-Known Member
I think a more likely scenario is that Cirque may someday decide to move on. How long is their contract for anyway?
Then I think Disney would retrofit the theater and rotate in their own shows. It would be a great addition to the Orlando entertainment scene if they did that.
csm
Well-Known Member
Cirque just recently signed a long-term renewal of their contract. They're not going anywhere. They're about the only one Disney doesn't need to worry about on Buena Vista Drive, it seems these days!
Someone else suggested making one of those large buildings a Broadway style theater. That would be very cool, and seems like a license to print money for them. All I'll say though is don't ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever wish for The Little Mermaid to make a stop there as someone mentioned. That show is JUST AWFUL. Really? Skating around on HEELIES? JUST AWFUL!
WDWFigment
Well-Known Member
This is really, really misleading. Related and Vornado purchased Virgin while the company's profits were steadily declining because of the low rent at the NY location. The rent there is $54/square foot compared with an average of $700/square foot in that area. It's likely that the only reason that location is profitable (and that's the only profitable Virgin store) is because of the insanely low rent.
It's not an issue of greed on the part of the new owners, it's a matter of practicality and good business sense. Although Virgin doesn't release revenue numbers (so really it's just speculation on both of our parts, although Virgin's CEO has said that's the only profitable location, so I think my speculation is pretty well grounded in reality) I would wager a good amount that if you replaced the $54/sq ft number with $700/sq ft., that location would not be profitable, either. Why continue to operate a business that has lost viability, and is really only profitable because of low rent? The decline in tangible audio has everything to do with this closure.