Repurposing a vacant big-box store
This is a real-world problem, but I figured the Heap's brand of silliness could put an interesting twist on it.
Big-box stores are pretty much treated as disposable. When Wal-Mart or Target moves to a shiny new location across town, they have no problem just leaving the old one sit there empty for years and years. Often these properties have deed restrictions preventing any of the original chain's competitors from ever occupying the store, so creatively re-using them becomes a challenge for the community. Some real-life examples of big-box reuse include charter schools, public libraries, and, in one location, a Spam Museum.
So, let's say you're given the task of re-using this vacant store. What would you do with it?
Things to keep in mind:
Big-box stores are pretty much treated as disposable. When Wal-Mart or Target moves to a shiny new location across town, they have no problem just leaving the old one sit there empty for years and years. Often these properties have deed restrictions preventing any of the original chain's competitors from ever occupying the store, so creatively re-using them becomes a challenge for the community. Some real-life examples of big-box reuse include charter schools, public libraries, and, in one location, a Spam Museum.
So, let's say you're given the task of re-using this vacant store. What would you do with it?
Things to keep in mind:
- These stores are usually very conveniently located within their respective communities.
- They almost always have massive parking lots.
- They're called "big-box" stores for a reason...the inside is pretty much a big empty box.
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Comments
There was a former Wal-Mart in Texas that was turned into an indoor go-kart track, so a miniature golf course is probably feasible.
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I've seen warehouses turned into indoor playgrounds before, so that could work.
What restrictions do the deed restrictions place on the use of the property, exactly? Would they stop you from setting up a food court in one?
Also, you could always divide the space--the building is 130,000 square feet and it already has two main entrances. It could become two smaller spaces!
i get so angry sometimes i just punch plankton --Klinotaxis
Wal-Marts restrictions are the follwing:
Grantee Covenants that the property will not be used for or in support of the following: a wholesale membership club or warehouse club. then it bascially says that this does not apply to Wal-Mart stores Inc or any other affiliated company.
So when i read this is think ok, no membership club, but warehouse club? What does this mean? If there is no concrete meaning of this which i have reaserched till my head hurts, how can they enforce such a vague restriction?
I have been working on trying to understand this for what they can actually enforce this property not to be used for. I have called columist and authoritys in the business and they have all told me that this restriction only applies to paid membership clubs...