Gap store at Chesapeake Square to close Monday

Posted to: Business Chesapeake Consumer - Retail
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By Carolyn Shapiro
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 21, 2012

Gap Inc. is closing its store at Chesapeake Square on Monday, a store manager confirmed.

Gap stores remain open at Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach and Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News. The company, based in San Francisco, also has an outlet store at Williamsburg Premium Outlets.

Once at the pinnacle of U.S. fashion retailing, with stores in nearly every mall in the nation, Gap announced in October that it would close almost 150 more of its self-named stores and outlets in North America by 2013 as it concentrated on expansion in overseas markets, mostly in Asia. It had shuttered stores throughout 2011 under an ongoing strategy to shrink square footage.

The retailer also owns the Banana Republic and Old Navy chains, both of which have multiple locations in Hampton Roads.

Gap at Chesapeake Square has marked down its sale merchandise by an additional 40 percent. The manager there said she expects its employees to get jobs at the company’s other local stores.

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Local??

Submitted by jerryp95824 on Sat, 01/21/2012 at 12:17 am.

The manager says that the employees will be able to relocate to the other local stores. Gap stores? If so, I don't consider Lynnhaven Mall or Williamsburg to be local, especially if the employees are on the low end of the pay scale, which I am sure they are. Hopefully they'll find employment.

The Gap

Submitted by EbonyWisdom on Fri, 01/20/2012 at 8:21 pm.

The Gap reminds me of Tommy Hilfige, Liz Claiborn, and Guess. They were hugely popular in the 90's. The coolest and hippiest wore these brands. Now, their appeal is gone. It was only a matter of time. You've got to keep appealing to the changing fashion scene.

The Gap

Submitted by WhatIknow on Fri, 01/20/2012 at 6:42 pm.

I was in this Gap the other day, knowing there must be a good deal with Gap and Gap Kids going out of business. I left empty handed because the music was so loud and aggravating (some rap about 'kill him now') and there's no selection in clothes. Between the atmosphere and the drab, mourning like clothes, I gladly took my business elsewhere. Ches. Sq is actually a mall I don't mind shopping in, feel safe, enjoy 1 level with clothes that are reasonably priced, a food court that actually has food (MacArth take notes).

Chesapeake Square

Submitted by Leon Severn on Sat, 01/21/2012 at 2:07 pm.

I was just in Chesapeake Square Mall (with Burlington Coat Factory as an anchor?) and it seems like half the stores are closed, there was no foot traffic and it was very late 80's (dark and gloomy on the inside). I had no idea people actually shopped there.

CHESAPEAKE SQUARE

Submitted by WBC040 on Fri, 01/20/2012 at 4:02 pm.

Is a dump and has been for a long while. People in general do not feel safe walking into any of the mall entrances due to the thug like atmosphere in the parking lots. If they think that this new movie theater is going to save it they are wrong, there are no restaurants to go to unless you are willing to walk across the street through mall traffic and in most cases it's a fairly long walk. Anytime that you see a Burlington Coat factory come in it's almost a death sentence. What's next? Big Lots moving into Sears?

As far as thug atmosphere at

Submitted by dv6707 on Sun, 01/22/2012 at 3:06 pm.

As far as thug atmosphere at entrances? That's a stretch. It doesn't have any more of a problem than the rest of them do. Wondering where you shop.

I assume you took a bus to

Submitted by dv6707 on Sun, 01/22/2012 at 3:02 pm.

I assume you took a bus to the mall, if not you can easily drive the short distance to any of the restaurants you want to dine at. It's set up the same way the rest of the malls are other than McArthur. McArthur's set up is unique in that it is a downtown mall. Do you walk to the restaurants surrounding Greenbriar, Patrick Henry, and Lynhaven? Last time I checked none of those malls had any better choices inside for a sit down restaurant meal than Ches Sq.

Yeah

Submitted by EbonyWisdom on Fri, 01/20/2012 at 8:15 pm.

Chesapeake Square is still a nice place to shop. I think it will be around for a long time, considering the nearest option is in Norfolk. The movie theatre is great. It is as nice as Harbour View's. Burlington Coat Factory is a great place to get children's clothing, cheaper than the Gap. Adult wise I prefer JCPenney. The only mall 'dying' in the area is Military Circle, and even then I still shop there as well. Get out more

Chesapeake Square = Coliseum Mall

Submitted by psysdb on Fri, 01/20/2012 at 3:27 pm.

Mall's are not the "in" way to shop - given the success of the stores outside of the mall itself (Wal-Mart, PetSmart, Bj's, Best Buy, etc.), as well as the restaurants (Red Robin & Lobster, Olive Garden, Golden Corral, Chili's); it seems more likely that the mall will ultimately get a Coliseum Mall make-over: Bull-dozed to make way for a phony downtown shopping experience.....