Who's filling the Gap

Submitted by Ruby Sinreich on September 24, 2008 - 1:03pm

My favorite absentee landlord, Joe Riddle, has found a tenant for the vacant Gap/Carolina Theater space* at the corner of Franklin and Columbia Streets. However, he's being very tight-lipped about what is going in there. This makes me hopeful, but also nervous. This should be an improvement over the other vacant Franklin Street storefronts and lots that Riddle owns, but then again he doesn't exactly have a record of being terribly concerned about the well-being of our downtown.

The Daily Tar Heel reports that Riddle has signed a lease and begun demolition inside, but hasn't applied for any permits that might offer a clue as to at least what type of use this will be nor who the tenant is. Anyone want to guess?

* Actually, what we now know as The Gap used to be the front entrance of the Carolina Theater, but only us old farts remember that.

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it's going to be a

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 25, 2008 - 3:06pm
it's going to be a Walgreen's.

Hmmm

Submitted by Ruby Sinreich on September 25, 2008 - 4:27pm

Who are you and what makes you say that?

it's not the craziest idea I've heard, especially since the CVS across the street is gone.

my company has a contract

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 26, 2008 - 2:48pm
my company has a contract for designing and building all of the display units in a Walgreens and I measured the space last week.

This makes perfect sense

Submitted by Catherine DeVine on September 25, 2008 - 5:04pm
This makes perfect sense, whether or not Anonymous is legit.  The space is quite well suited to a store like Walgreen/CVS/Kerr Drug, and zero parking would not deter the campus population.  Except for the green neon signage, Walgreen's would be a real asset. 

I agree, and for extra points..

Submitted by jrees on September 26, 2008 - 10:27am

Why not have a modern day 'soda counter' like these kinds of stores used to have.  I envision a coffee/snack counter with wifi hotspot.

To serve the campus population, they need to stay open late, and be smart enough to stock appropriate merchandise. 

John Rees

Signage?

Submitted by djb_rh on September 26, 2008 - 9:41pm

Except for the green neon signage, Walgreen's would be a real asset.

Why is everyone in Chapel Hill always so &^%$# upset about company signage?  Biggest complaint I get from out of town visitors is that they can't find ANYTHING in town.  Heck, I live around here and can't find things.  I understand having a little control so businesses don't go crazy, but Chapel HIll goes beyond that.

 

--Donnie

walgreens

Submitted by penny rich on September 26, 2008 - 11:38am
inside scoop says walgreens

Walgreens

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 26, 2008 - 3:42pm

Just got a confimred Walgreens response from one of their neighbors on East Franklin.

 I wonder if they'll engulf the Sunglasses Hut and Carolina Theater space too?

What do they offer

Submitted by Jake Gellar-Goad on September 26, 2008 - 4:28pm
that Suttons does not?

^Say hi to Yumi for me!

What Sutton's doesn't offer

Submitted by Anita Badrock on September 26, 2008 - 4:52pm

Rent paid to Mr. Riddle :)

 

 

The DTH reported Walgreens

Submitted by Tom Jensen on September 26, 2008 - 5:54pm

The DTH reported Walgreens was going to move in there over two years ago:

 http://dailytarheel.com/2.1392/1.169984

Don't know what the delay was. 

The whole corner?

Submitted by Catherine DeVine on September 26, 2008 - 7:35pm
This includes the former bank space, right?  Top of the Hill sits over the old bank in addition to Gap/Carolina Theater.  There was some talk about the landlord wanting to put another bank there because of previous outfitting. 

No, the Walgreens will wrap

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 26, 2008 - 9:16pm
No, the Walgreens will wrap around the bank space, which is held via lease by Wachovia.

Bank of Walgreens

Submitted by Priscilla Murphy on September 27, 2008 - 9:34am
The way things are going, Walgreens might as well open up its own bank.

Yes, signage

Submitted by Catherine DeVine on September 27, 2008 - 9:51am
The reason visitors can't find anything in town is because there isn't anything in town!  Tasteful signage isn't the problem.  Chapel Hill doesn't enforce an unreasonable vernacular, and I haven't heard of any real sign flaps since Crook's put the pig on top twenty (?) years ago.  The typical Walgreen's storefront is an eyesore; this holds true for pretty much every chain store of its kind.  Driving around in search of one, I don't mind their obvious presence.  But the corner of Franklin & Columbia could do with something more subtle.  We shall see. 

Bank "re-purposing"

Submitted by Catherine DeVine on September 27, 2008 - 10:06am
There' s a precedent for re-purposing banks in this locale.  I can name two others:  WCOM and Grimball Jewelers.  The radio station has a Northern Exposure feel to it (minus the moose), and the jewelry store makes great use of the old vault for private showings.  A vault is a nice thing to have.  Maybe Walgreen's will re-purpose theirs. 

I can think of a third example...

Submitted by Jason Baker on September 27, 2008 - 11:07am
... but it's not so much "moose" as "caribou."

The bank space is not

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 27, 2008 - 11:50am
The bank space is not included in the Walgreens. It remains under lease to Wachovia.
 

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