Somerset Collection's reign in jeopardy?

m b v · March-13-13, 11:38 AM

My parents and friends who still live in the B'ham area avoid it like the plague, citing the clientele has taken a drastic shift the past 5 or so years. Crime seems very high. Hyde Park in Birmingham is full, Capital Grille is not. Nordstrom expanded a few years ago into Novi, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Saks or Neiman move into Novi’s JC Penny, since JCP seems to be on the road to bankruptcy. You have Rochester area residents handling a lot of shopping at the Village, and Partridge Creek for Clinton Twp folks. Gilbert seems pretty fixated on a retail hub downtown Detroit. All shopping centers have a life cycle, and a demographic shift and options closer to home can certainly exacerbate that normal decline.

On the flip side, perhaps something can be done to reverse the decline?

**Bham1982** · March-13-13, 11:53 AM

Is it me, or are the threads getting weirder and weirder?

We have a million threads on a supposed Detroit boom, one on a Birmingham bust, one on Pontiac being ideal for the wealthy, and now one claiming Somerset is going bust.

In the real world, Somerset has never been stronger. There are barely any vacancies, and there's even a wait list for retailers to get in the mall.

Some of the newest stores at Somerset are Giorgio Armani [[the highest end Armani line), Emporio Armani, Hugo Boss, Herve Leger and Maxmara. Saks had a significant expansion [[added a floor) relatively recently.

Somerset has the best shopping between NYC and Chicago, and is the dominant retail center for hundreds of miles. It basically eviscerated downtown Birmingham retail, killed Oakland Mall, and stands untouched.

**iheartthed** · March-13-13, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

Somerset has the best shopping between NYC and Chicago, and is the dominant retail center for hundreds of miles. It basically eviscerated downtown Birmingham retail, killed Oakland Mall, and stands untouched.

I'm sure Toronto begs to differ.

Come on, stop trying to make Somerset sound like more than what it is. It's the largest concentration of upscale shopping in Metro Detroit and that's about it. There is nothing extraordinary about Somerset when you compare it to the type of shopping centers you can find in regions of comparable size to Detroit. If anything, Metro Detroit is quite lacking for shopping by that measure.

**noise** · March-13-13, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

I'm sure Toronto begs to differ.

Come on, stop trying to make Somerset sound like more than what it is. It's the largest concentration of upscale shopping in Metro Detroit and that's about it. There is nothing extraordinary about Somerset when you compare it to the type of shopping centers you can find in regions of comparable size to Detroit. If anything, Metro Detroit is quite lacking for shopping by that measure.

I'm not so certain this is accurate.

**caspermi** · March-13-13, 08:22 PM

I know that Microsoft is opening a corporate store at Somerset sometime this summer. For retailers Somerset offers a very high income demographic.

**rb336** · March-13-13, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

.
In the real world, Somerset has never been stronger. There are barely any vacancies, and there's even a wait list for retailers to get in the mall.

Some of the newest stores at Somerset are Giorgio Armani [[the highest end Armani line), Emporio Armani, Hugo Boss, Herve Leger and Maxmara. Saks had a significant expansion [[added a floor) relatively recently.

Somerset has the best shopping between NYC and Chicago, and is the dominant retail center for hundreds of miles. It basically eviscerated downtown Birmingham retail, killed Oakland Mall, and stands untouched.

actually, I know a bunch of people who come from Chicago to shop Somerset. I don't think it had much to do with the death of retail in B'ham, because I don't think retail in B'ham is dead. and the Oakland Mall seems to be doing Ok, and has a different clientele.

**detroitbob** · March-14-13, 02:24 AM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

Is it me, or are the threads getting weirder and weirder?

Agreed...at least in this instance...what was [[is) the purpose of this post/thread?

**Detroitnerd** · March-13-13, 12:00 PM

I'm getting whiplash. Somebody please tell the truth.

**bailey** · March-13-13, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I'm getting whiplash. Somebody please tell the truth.

I'd say it lies somewhere in between. That said,for a region that is supposedly in decline and for a mall that is supposedly struggling.... on Saturday when I went there, I counted 30 cars in the very full parking lot between where I parked my car and the door that retail around [[and above)100k.

Shollin · March-13-13, 12:06 PM

How can Somerset be dead on arrival when it arrived quite some time ago?

**Strohs Brewery** · March-13-13, 12:10 PM

Every time I go there, it takes me 15 minutes to find a parking space. The place has never been more popular.

**Islandman** · March-13-13, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by Strohs Brewery

Every time I go there, it takes me 15 minutes to find a parking space. The place has never been more popular.

Yep, it's annoying going to the Apple store there.

MBV, what in God's name are you talking about?!?

**southen** · March-13-13, 12:14 PM

its always packed and im still bombarded with pretentiousness when i walk in the door. its doing fine.

**rjlj** · March-13-13, 12:20 PM

You sound as if you are a child who got a hold of your parents computer. Where are your facts?

Originally Posted by m b v

My parents and friends who still live in the B'ham area avoid it like the plague, citing the clientele has taken a drastic shift the past 5 or so years. Crime seems very high. Hyde Park in Birmingham is full, Capital Grille is not. Nordstrom expanded a few years ago into Novi, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Saks or Neiman move into Novi’s JC Penny, since JCP seems to be on the road to bankruptcy. You have Rochester area residents handling a lot of shopping at the Village, and Partridge Creek for Clinton Twp folks. Gilbert seems pretty fixated on a retail hub downtown Detroit. All shopping centers have a life cycle, and a demographic shift and options closer to home can certainly exacerbate that normal decline.

On the flip side, perhaps something can be done to reverse the decline?

**Detroitnerd** · March-13-13, 12:22 PM

I'm confused, trying to read between the lines. Is the OP saying that there are too many black people at Somerset?

**DetroitPlanner** · March-13-13, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I'm confused, trying to read between the lines. Is the OP saying that there are too many black people at Somerset?

Bingo! Time to move... Didn't you hear? Its the new Northland/Fairlane/Eastland!

**iheartthed** · March-13-13, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I'm confused, trying to read between the lines. Is the OP saying that there are too many black people at Somerset?

Haha. This should be good.

**iheartthed** · March-15-13, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Haha. This should be good.

Glad you guys didn't let me down.

**jcole** · March-13-13, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I'm confused, trying to read between the lines. Is the OP saying that there are too many black people at Somerset?

Possibly not Blacks that they are referring to, but another ethnicity?
You don't need to be WASP to be rich anymore.

**Scottathew** · March-14-13, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I'm confused, trying to read between the lines. Is the OP saying that there are too many black people at Somerset?

Ding.

Somerset is alive and strong, regardless of the color of people that shop there.

m b v · March-14-13, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

I'm confused, trying to read between the lines. Is the OP saying that there are too many black people at Somerset?

Your comment reminds me of the Chris Rock joke, "Every town has two malls; the white mall and the mall white people used to go to."

**Downtown Lady** · March-13-13, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by m b v

the clientele has taken a drastic shift the past 5 or so years.

Be direct. What are you trying to say?

Originally Posted by m b v

Crime seems very high.

Crime "seems" very high based on what?

**wolverine** · March-13-13, 12:36 PM

I have to agree. This thread is not only subjective, but just weird and strangely written.

**TexasT** · March-13-13, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by m b v

My parents and friends who still live in the B'ham area avoid it like the plague, citing the clientele has taken a drastic shift the past 5 or so years. Crime seems very high. Hyde Park in Birmingham is full, Capital Grille is not. Nordstrom expanded a few years ago into Novi, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Saks or Neiman move into Novi’s JC Penny, since JCP seems to be on the road to bankruptcy. You have Rochester area residents handling a lot of shopping at the Village, and Partridge Creek for Clinton Twp folks. Gilbert seems pretty fixated on a retail hub downtown Detroit. All shopping centers have a life cycle, and a demographic shift and options closer to home can certainly exacerbate that normal decline.

On the flip side, perhaps something can be done to reverse the decline?

I just went there for the first time this past Saturday and it was absolutely packed. It took twenty damned minutes to get out of the parking garage. It reminds me a lot of the Galleria back home in Houston.

I was actually surprised at how diverse the clientele was - but I considered it a good thing.