Burlington Coat Factory in Porter Square

[twilight021.livejournal.com]

 I have heard the space is up for sale and Burlington Coat will be gone by the summer.  Has anyone heard about what might be going in in it's place?
Thanks!

Comments

[ron_newman]

No idea, but that has to be the worst-looking retail space I can think of anywhere. I hated shopping at Decelle when they occupied it, just because the place was so ugly and the merchandise so poorly presented. Maybe it would be ideal for a Filene's Basement, though?

[twilight021.livejournal.com]

Having Filene's basement would be great! They at least have shoes.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Decelle had shoes, too. I liked Decelle better than Burlington Coat Factory.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Me, too. I bought a lot of things from Decelle, but I've never once found anything I wanted to buy from Burlington Coat Factory. I agree with Ron -- a Filene's Basement would be ideal!

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Does Filene's still exist? I thought they got bought out.

[beezy515.livejournal.com]

Filene's was bought out, but Filene's Basement is a separate company. They had split off from Filene's many years ago.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Hm, I didn't realize that, but I did mean Filene's Basement -- I thought they were bought recently too. But maybe I just thought that because I was confused when I read the news about Filene's. Huh.

[ron_newman]

Filene's Basement is now owned by Retail Ventures of Columbus, Ohio, which also operates the Schottenstein's and Value City chains. This happened way back in 2000, after Filene's Basement filed for bankruptcy.

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

Gasp! If there was a Filene's basement there I would be there everyday. When I was taking classes at Suffolk, I hit the downtown one on my way to school everyday...yes, it's very sad, but man was I well-clothed back then....

[kimberlymosuq.livejournal.com]

Frederic: Yes, but no one's ever seen it, he never takes his shirt off in public. Mabel: I'll make him take his shirt off.

[georgy.livejournal.com]

That's a bummer... there aren't really any affordable clothing stores in that neck of the woods at all. It's a large space, I wonder what would take its place?

[ron_newman]

There's a TJ Maxx at Fresh Pond.

[ron_newman]

Also, is the whole chain closing down (as Decelle did), or just this location?

One of the space's big liabilities is that it's nearly invisible, due to its basement location.

[twilight021.livejournal.com]

I'm unsure if it's just the location or the whole franchise. I know someone who works at the porter square location, and she clued me in. Apparently Burlington coat wasn't planning on tell employees. They found out becuase the porperty owners wanted to post a sign about the soon to be vacant space.

[lizzielizzie.livejournal.com]

Looks like they did buy 24 Valu-City stores at the end of 2007 and are closing several of those very soon, but other than that I can't find any mention of the chain shutting down.

Bowling...

[pstripe.livejournal.com]

Maybe one of the bowling alley fanatics should open up there. I can see it now.

If Filene's went in there, I'm sure to finally get run down in that lot.

Re: Bowling...

[lizzielizzie.livejournal.com]

Is it multi-level? A multi-level bowling alley and arcade setup could be very cool.

Re: Bowling...

[ron_newman]

I recall it being split-level (as in, you have to walk up or down a few stairs within the store), but not multi-level.

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

it's looked like it's been dying a slow death.

[fefie.livejournal.com]

I used to shop at Decelle's in that location back in the day. I sure wouldn't mind seeing a Filene's Basement there.

[alphacygni]

A Filene's Basement would actually take advantage of dreary subterranean nature of that spot, which has helped to kill all the other stores in there, I bet.

Are they having a clearance sale? I'd be all over that.

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

Decelle's was a much better store than Burlington Coat, although it did go downhill a few years before closing for good. Their name brand kids clothing was especially great! I also think that the space was more visible before the re-do of Star/Shaw's. The way it was re-configured, its entrance is now literally in the middle of Shaw's. That's one of the reasons it's so hidden now. I also think that the parking lot there drives many people away (including me). There is not enough parking, and NONE of the spaces are large enough for an average sized car, and the lanes are also not wide enough. It is just too much trouble to go there, if you have other options.

[blackbamboo.livejournal.com]

You should totally GO to BCF ASAP at Porter!
They are having this mega sale with 30-50% off of their already super low prices. You have to have a discerning eye but I was able to score a BCBG pinstripe blazer, a BCBG tank top, and a Liz Clairborne purse for $17!