New Bern Mall — Local services in New Bern

Mall? By definition I suppose this technically is a "Mall" but those (and most everyone in this area are transplants from somewhere else) that has ever lived or even visited a city with an actually Mall, then you understand why i say this is not a "real mall." I do love Bath & Body Works, TJ Maxx, Hallmark, and Michaels that are located inside...not to mention that those stores are the glue in which hold that "Mall" up. Sadly, we have seen so many stores come and go over the years, we need bigger name brand stores to stay, for it to grow. The "Mall" also lacks quick food choices (though space is very limited) Buffalo Wild Wings, Annabelle's, and Big Apple Pizzeria are located in the front it would be nice to have a Auntie Anne's Pretzel or a Mrs. Field's Cookie kiosk, on either end (or both) of the mall. There are events that take place throughout the year in the "Mall" which do bring in people of all ages and health/walking ablities so offering a quick bite/drink at an inexpensive price would be very appealing and help bring in revenue for the "Mall", the event, and the Kiosk. Another thing lacking in this "Mall" (besides space for my ideas) is a Toy-R-US (kinda goes along with the bigger name brands) folks here can only do so much shopping at Target & Walmart for birthdays, parties, and Christmas'. The closest ones to us are 45 minutes away in either Jacksonville or Greenville, having one right here would allow for growth in our own "Mall", city, and local area/businesses but would keep folks from having to travel on HWY 17 & 43 --- no one likes to drive on them, especially at night. Lastly they need to stop jacking up the rent so ridiculously high making it impossible for stores to thrive and want to come in. New Bern is a growing city we have a strip mall being built about 5 miles down from this "Mall" a missed opportunity for the open spaces had rent not been one of the issues. There are plenty of Malls we can look to for ideas to "grow" like or "fail" like....examples are Kinston, Jacksonville, Greenville, Raleigh, Charlotte,...

Aside from Maurice's, Big Apple Pizza, Belk, Bath & Body Works, The Shoe Dept., and Rue 21 Twin Rivers Mall - yes, that IS the name of the mall here - is a load of ka-ka and I loathe having to go into it almost more than anything else in this world. #Truth

If the stores that I just mentioned were to move out of the mall I'd never go into it again. Once upon a time there were GREAT stores located in the mall: Brooks, Brody's, Just Pants, Foxmoor, Maurice's, Hallmark, Pat Dixon's Shoes, Clinique, Belk, Record Bar, plus a bookstore & a men's clothing store that was TRULY a men's clothing store. They took a boy's/young man's/man's measurements - the PROPER way - and also did their colors (yes, did their colors) and kept those measurements and color palettes on file, so in the event of a birthday, anniversary, Christmas, etc . . . Friends and family could go into the store, give the clerk on duty a name & have them pick something in the correct size and color out OR you could pick something out, give the clerk a name & the clerk would have the garment tailored to fit the individual for whom it was purchased. They even did custom garment dying. That meant you would ALWAYS be able to purchase the style you needed, even if they didn't have it in your color, or the color required or wanted. Unfortunately I can no longer recall the names of those two stores. Now, with the exception of the stores I named in the beginning, the mall is nowhere anyone wants to be. It's almost always abandoned feeling, even at Christmas, so it's apparent to me that I'm not the only person in town who feels this way. They shouldn't call it a mall either. At best it's a...

The New Bern Mall is a slightly dated facility which is to be expected for a slightly dated retail shopping concept. In general malls are facing increasing pressure from both ends of the retail market. On one end stand alone stores that offer greater convenience or deeper discounts are competing for the brick and mortar shoppers. On the other end buyer direct internet shoppers avoid the store entirely.

The days of family outings to malls that were anchored by big department stores on the ends and full of interesting restaurants and boutique shops in the middle seem to be passing. The New Bern Mall shows this trend. There are too many empty retail slots and too few shoppers to feel a buzz of excitement.

Please don't get me wrong. The stores are serviceable. The Belk department store is what you would expect. The main concourse is clean. The structure isn't crumbling. It just feels like the whole facility is a step out of pace.

I recently visited the mega King of Prussia mall outside of Philadelphia. That facility is packed with expensive high end clothing, jewelry and specialty shops and jammed with customers. New Bern simply couldn't support that kind of venture.

What this community is left with is a largely forgettable shopping experience that has to be...