The shoe store chain Journeys has closed its store in Denver Pavilions after more than 15 years.
Mark Sidell, president of Denver-based Gart Properties, which owns the downtown mall, said Journeys decided not to renew its lease and closed earlier this month as part of a company effort to reduce its store count.
“It made the list to get cut because in recent years, like a lot of things downtown, it has been suffering,” Sidell said.
Nashville-based Genesco said in a news release that it plans to close more than 100 “underperforming stores” in 2024. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
According to its website, Journeys has 15 stores in Colorado, about 11 of which are in the metro area. The closest is in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
Sidell said Journeys had been in the 1,500-square-foot space in the Pavilions long before Gart bought the mall in 2008. He said Journeys was “a good tenant” and the store had done well until recently.
“Between COVID, return to work lagging and the construction on 16th Street Mall, it … became one of their lesser performers,” Sidell said.
Sidell said the mall’s occupancy rate is roughly 75 percent, but the shoe store joins a growing list of tenants that have closed since the pandemic. Notably, Hard Rock Cafe closed in July after operating in the Pavilions on the corner of Glenarm Place and 16th Street for 25 years. Banana Republic closed in 2022 and Japanese apparel company Uniqlo closed the year before.
“We’re at the point of the curve on downtown Denver and the 16th Street Mall renovations … we’re in the pain that comes before the gain,” Sidell said.
Sidell said Gart invested $7 million in the Pavilions late last year to “keep the property fresh and relevant.” That included things such as painting, and adding seating and planters. Sidell thinks that, combined with the millions Denver is investing in the 16th Street Mall, will help downtown bounce back.
“I’m highly confident the best days of downtown are still ahead of us,” he said.
The shoe store chain Journeys has closed its store in Denver Pavilions after more than 15 years.
Mark Sidell, president of Denver-based Gart Properties, which owns the downtown mall, said Journeys decided not to renew its lease and closed earlier this month as part of a company effort to reduce its store count.
“It made the list to get cut because in recent years, like a lot of things downtown, it has been suffering,” Sidell said.
Nashville-based Genesco said in a news release that it plans to close more than 100 “underperforming stores” in 2024. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
According to its website, Journeys has 15 stores in Colorado, about 11 of which are in the metro area. The closest is in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.
Sidell said Journeys had been in the 1,500-square-foot space in the Pavilions long before Gart bought the mall in 2008. He said Journeys was “a good tenant” and the store had done well until recently.
“Between COVID, return to work lagging and the construction on 16th Street Mall, it … became one of their lesser performers,” Sidell said.
Sidell said the mall’s occupancy rate is roughly 75 percent, but the shoe store joins a growing list of tenants that have closed since the pandemic. Notably, Hard Rock Cafe closed in July after operating in the Pavilions on the corner of Glenarm Place and 16th Street for 25 years. Banana Republic closed in 2022 and Japanese apparel company Uniqlo closed the year before.
“We’re at the point of the curve on downtown Denver and the 16th Street Mall renovations … we’re in the pain that comes before the gain,” Sidell said.
Sidell said Gart invested $7 million in the Pavilions late last year to “keep the property fresh and relevant.” That included things such as painting, and adding seating and planters. Sidell thinks that, combined with the millions Denver is investing in the 16th Street Mall, will help downtown bounce back.
“I’m highly confident the best days of downtown are still ahead of us,” he said.