A new kind of mall anchor

Still thinking about Riverside Plaza, Tarboro's newly renovated but mostly empty mall; I did a little research on the web and came up with some interesting ideas worth sharing.

The anchor store often sets the tone for the entire mall and therefore what goes in that space is is very important. In Tarboro, it is also important that the anchor doesn't just fill the space, it fills a need in the community.  More and more innovative and successful mall developers are changing the way people think of "shopping malls" and I'm hoping that "our" mall developers can do that, too.

How to make a mall "work" in a successful fashion has been a problem faced by many communities.  My web research introduced me to the town of Bellevue, Washington.  Crossroads Bellevue is a mall as a 21st century mall should be. It is a community hub.  It fills the needs of local residents as well as attracting visitors to the area.  It houses an amazing public library (reading, writing & shopping), movie theatre, meeting rooms, stage for music performances, a farmers market, a branch of the local police department, 40 specialty stores and more.

Here in Tarboro, imagine what was once the old Belk's Department Store as our huge and wonderful new library!  Just recently the library submitted a proposal to transform the old IGA building on Trade Street into a spectacular library.  How about at the mall instead?  It's a large attractive building, just a short walk from the high school,  it could be a great !

To have a utilized Farmer's Market would also be fantastic!  In an agricultural-based economy such as we have here in eastern North Carolina, I do not understand why our Farmer's Markets are vitually non-existant.  In other areas, in North Carolina and across the country, Farmer's Markets are a booming success that draw local residents as well as tourists eager to purchase locally produced food and products. 

I am very grateful that Mr Hipper and Mr Schaffer stumbled upon our town and have worked so hard to give a new fresh look to what had been an giant reminder of when things were better in Tarboro.   I hope that with our assistance and knowledge of the area we can work together with these gentlemen to create something that will revitalize our home town and make their investment a success.

Thinking about the mall project.

Looks like the renovation project is nearly complete for the (former) Parkhill Mall (now) Riverside Plaza on Howard Avenue and Western Blvd.  The outside is looking great and I've been wondering what's going to be going on inside the building.

It's wonderful to have the building looking good but I think it's going to take some real vision and creative planning to fill it in the "thinking out of the box",  innovative way that will be necessary to draw people to the space and maintain tenant occupancy.  

I've only been in Tarboro for 3 years but during that time I've learned a lot about the town's recent history and why some things are the way they are right now.  I've also lived in many small economically-depressed towns across the country and in eastern North Carolina for 13 years, so I've developed an understanding of some whys and hows.  I'm hoping that the New York investors and new owners of the property, Harry Hipper and  Ernie Schaffer,  are open-minded and willing to try a truly unique approach to getting occupants for the mall.  Just getting "any" tenants to fill the spots may not do the trick, at least, not for the long haul.  The "concept" of the entire mall space must be considered to ensure continued tenant success. 

The key will be determined by how the 2 large store areas are filled, the former Belks Department Store and the former K-Mart.   Tarboro now has a WalMart.  What kind of large department store will the town support?  What will draw shoppers from outside of Tarboro.

That second part of the question, how to attract people to Tarboro is of key importance.  Many Tarboro residents already work and/or shop in Rocky Mount or Greenville.   What store or stores would be interesting enough or filling unmet needs or priced right to have them change their shopping habits?  What store or stores would people travel TO Tarboro to visit?  How far would they travel?  I may be mistaken, but I'd hesitate to think that the present population of Tarboro residents alone would be enough to support all of the businesses in a mall.

We, the folks at GOT, have often talked about a Whole Foods grocery store and many of us know that shoppers will and DO travel long distances to shop for natural, healthy and organic foods.  The problem is that the Whole Foods people want proof that a store in Tarboro could attract customers from many surrounding towns.  What other things might people travel to?

Start thinking about what might make the Riverside Plaza a MAJOR success story and share your ideas.  Think outside of the box. The property may belong to Harry and Ernie, but the town of Tarboro is our home and if we can help them to make the mall a big success, it will benefit all of us and I think it is our responsibility to do so. 

(I have more ideas on this that I'll share later).

What a difference a day makes.

Although my day started with what appeared to be daunting tasks, I remained hopeful that things would come together as need be to make this month's 2nd Saturday another great event.

While I was busy hoping that donations would pour in to cover the additional costs, an even better solution to our "problem" was in the works.

Sam Noble called me and said that he had read in the morning blog entry how I wished that the town would co-sponsor Tarboro's 2nd Saturday so that the use of the square could be covered by their insurance.  He pointed out to me that I had been misinformed and that what we needed was co-sponsorship by the Chamber of Commerce.  We talked a bit about how that could be accomplished in time for the June 14th event and later in the day Sam, Troy Lewis, and I met with JoBeth Garris at the Chamber office and started the necessary steps to form the co-sponsorship.

This evening, Sam joined a small group of us for the T2S planning meeting.  Together with Charles Alford, Phyllis Talbot, Myra McCall, Peter Heffley, Destin Perrin and myself we discussed what still needed to be done and shared ideas on how to accomplish it. 

I am so grateful!  All along I've hoped that we, the ordinary people and the town officials, could all work together and make this a true town event and it looks like it is coming true!   Tarboro's future looks brighter every day.

Get ready . . . get set . . . oh no!

We've got a meeting tonight for planning the next Tarboro's 2nd Saturday and although the event is still over 2 weeks away,  I have mini-deadlines drawing near.

I received some quotes from various local agencies for the liability insurance we need to use the court house square for T2S and I was shocked.  It seems that we may only need the insurance for one day, but we must take out a year's policy.  

The good news is that a year's policy, at a cost of approximately $1500 is actually less for one month than the $500 we had been told.

The bad news is, we either need the town council to co-sponsor the event so we can be included under their insurance or we need to come up with more money. FAST!   We must have our insurance in hand, the $500 clean up deposit and our completed application to hold an "event" submitted to Troy Lewis, town planner, by this Friday.  This does not include advertising costs, and rental expenses for a canopy tent to protect our musicians from the hot sun and some necessary sound equipment.

I'm sorry that I have to ask for money from you.  I personally just earned another Google adsense check for $255 and added it to the pot but I need your help in comng up with the rest of the insurance cost in 2 days.

I'm not worried. Just getting the word out.  You can come to tonight's meeting at the library, or find me at work on Pitt Street, or use the safe and secure Paypal donation link I've added to this site.  Frank Mehm tried it out and donated $50.  Thanks Frank and thanks to the rest of you who have already donated or will be donating shortly. 

Blow it out your KAZOO!

I mean that literally. I've purchased 72 brand new kazoos and I will get more if they are needed.

On (or before) June 14th, the day of our next Tarboro's 2nd Saturday,  I will be distributing kazoos to those of you who wish to join in the fun as part of the Tarboro Community Kazoo Band.  Absolutely no talent is necessary, just a good sense of humor and enough breath to toot into a kazoo.

Yes, it is a silly idea, but sometimes silly is good.  Silly makes people smile and when you smile you feel good, and that's what it's all about. 

After the kazoos are distributed, we'll get together for a brief practice and then gather on the court house square for our first LIVE Community Performance.  I know I have a vivid and somewhat outrageous imagination but I can see the TCKB as an ongoing project, returning for a brief performance at every T2S event.  

With a little practice we may even play Handel's Messiah (see video below):

Update on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 09:29PM by Grassroots of Tarboro

As I stated in my blog entry, I have 72 kazoos.  PLEASE, if you want to be a part of the Tarboro Community Kazoo Band for the T2S June 14th event, contact me ASAP to RESERVE YOUR KAZOO.