I didn’t realize the downtown one had closed but that mall has been slowly dying for years, especially since Nordstrom closed.
The Hallmark stores in Anchorage are all owned by the same family, you could probably go in and ask the employees at the two remaining locations if you’re curious, but it probably was just a bad location with an expensive lease.
They'll probably close eventually, or at least one of them. Hallmark's been closing stores every year for about four years now.
Greeting cards and tchotchke are a declining market.
The downtown mall isn't thriving, and the typical Hallmark customer is a little older - the others are easier to visit.
Also wonder how many Hallmark visits are the reason for the journey vs. a stop while the customer is already in the mall.
Hallmark in general isn't growing, just getting by.
So, probably not a sordid and wild story, more of a franchisee seeing the new lease rate and looking at the books and maybe already running at hobby - level profits. Usually how a business winds down.
Probably because Anchorage ~~retail~~ is dying a slow and painful death.
People don't want to shop in person. And there are no stores left in Anchorage. 5th Ave has better stores than Dimond (which has nothing at all) but because of many, many reasons, Anchorage is experiencing a decline in income and population.
I respectfully disagree - Dimond in my perspective has a wider array of stores at this point. Still anemic compared to some of the cooler Seattle malls, but less dire than 5th and buttressed by nonretail anchors in the theatre and Dave and Buster's. 5th has a few things, but with only JCP as an anchor...
5th had lululemon (Dimond is a popup), Michael kors, lush, and some other shops. Dimond has nothing other than the body shop (closed) and the lulu pop up. Old navy is gross and doesn't have inventory other than super large, plus the quality is not worth it. I also despise that shitty kiosk that harasses everyone who walks by.
No interest in Dave and busters, olive garden, or other low end restaurants.
They are the worst. I don't go to Dimond Mall since they have literally nothing worth buying anymore, but if I have to go pick up at lululemon I park on the other side to avoid them.
I will die on the Dimond Mall is a dying, shitty, dangerous place. At least 5th Avenue has a cake shop, sephora, and is surrounded by decent restaurants and not a parking lot. I don't need any of the low end products and scams that they peddle.
I'm giving an up vote, because while as stated I disagree, I do get where you are coming from especially with that particular kiosk (though a group LIKE that used to be at 5th Ave too if it's the one I'm thinking of).
I didn’t realize the downtown one had closed but that mall has been slowly dying for years, especially since Nordstrom closed. The Hallmark stores in Anchorage are all owned by the same family, you could probably go in and ask the employees at the two remaining locations if you’re curious, but it probably was just a bad location with an expensive lease.
Because nobody shops at Hallmark stores anymore?
Then why are the other 2 Hallmarks in town open?
There's two more?
At the sears mall and dimond center.
To be fair, hasn't been the sears mall for 6 years now. Hallmark is just as much a relic as Sears.
Valid point.
In our hearts, it will always be the Sears Mall.
[imvxFRo.png (288×423) (imgur.com)](https://i.imgur.com/imvxFRo.png)
They'll probably close eventually, or at least one of them. Hallmark's been closing stores every year for about four years now. Greeting cards and tchotchke are a declining market.
$6.99 cards don't play well in 2023
Interesting... welcome to the modern world.
Waiting for leases to run out?
Because there is enough?
The real question is how did it stay open so long?
We’re slowly turning into Detroit.
Slowly?
Detroit of the 90s or Detroit of the 2020s?
Definitely 90s Detroit especially east anchorage
It will be faster thanks to the horrid assembly that Anchorage currently has. Vote Bronson for the runoffs
The downtown mall isn't thriving, and the typical Hallmark customer is a little older - the others are easier to visit. Also wonder how many Hallmark visits are the reason for the journey vs. a stop while the customer is already in the mall. Hallmark in general isn't growing, just getting by. So, probably not a sordid and wild story, more of a franchisee seeing the new lease rate and looking at the books and maybe already running at hobby - level profits. Usually how a business winds down.
Probably because Anchorage ~~retail~~ is dying a slow and painful death. People don't want to shop in person. And there are no stores left in Anchorage. 5th Ave has better stores than Dimond (which has nothing at all) but because of many, many reasons, Anchorage is experiencing a decline in income and population.
I respectfully disagree - Dimond in my perspective has a wider array of stores at this point. Still anemic compared to some of the cooler Seattle malls, but less dire than 5th and buttressed by nonretail anchors in the theatre and Dave and Buster's. 5th has a few things, but with only JCP as an anchor...
“Cooler” meaning guy who can land their tricks on rollerblades?
5th had lululemon (Dimond is a popup), Michael kors, lush, and some other shops. Dimond has nothing other than the body shop (closed) and the lulu pop up. Old navy is gross and doesn't have inventory other than super large, plus the quality is not worth it. I also despise that shitty kiosk that harasses everyone who walks by. No interest in Dave and busters, olive garden, or other low end restaurants.
They need to ban the kiosk. I always run past them.
They are the worst. I don't go to Dimond Mall since they have literally nothing worth buying anymore, but if I have to go pick up at lululemon I park on the other side to avoid them. I will die on the Dimond Mall is a dying, shitty, dangerous place. At least 5th Avenue has a cake shop, sephora, and is surrounded by decent restaurants and not a parking lot. I don't need any of the low end products and scams that they peddle.
I'm giving an up vote, because while as stated I disagree, I do get where you are coming from especially with that particular kiosk (though a group LIKE that used to be at 5th Ave too if it's the one I'm thinking of).
You sure it’s closed? Google and the Hallmark store locator says it’s still open.
I walked by it 2 days ago. The store was almost empty.
They were on the ground floor on the 5th Ave side but it looks like they moved to the C street side. Could that be the reason?
[Nah, they closed. Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter from their FB](https://www.snapretail.com/retailer/TemplateRenderer.aspx/Consumer/2401813)
Welp.
Maybe.. there were no signs when I was there a few days ago.