Uncertainty is sad.

"MountainCommand" (MountainCommand) 11/21/2013 at 22:53 • Filed to: work

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Before i go on about an unfortunate off topic situation, have some De Tomaso.

Gotta love this all happening right before the holidays. Truly unfortunate.

I suppose i should give you all some context. I work in a 'strip mall' type environment with outlet stores and small business stores in a small town just off a highly trafficked main route. For years this mall (ill use that term from now on) has been up and down. And as of 2 years ago the owners walked away from this investment resulting in bank ownership, until recently. Now we have some stand in owners, but its not looking good. And its not unlikely for this mall to fall back into the banks hand. After ~20 positive years of the operation of this mall, no one is wanting to fix or update anything.

So the story is set. I wont mention the name of my store, nor confirm even if you guess it, for certain reasons.

I work as a stockroom manager at my store. My store is a part of a major parent company that owns 5 top name sub-brands. (like Cocacola owns sprite, dr pepper, fanta, etc...). Our mall has 3 of the 5 stores nestled into this location. They ARE the anchors that keep revenue into this entire mall. If these stores were no longer present, this mall area would have no significant income.

Just recently, in the past month, without any notice, hints, or sneak peeks, our parent company (A) sold my store brand to parent company (B). They sold over 200 stores, and im assuming all of their assets. 50 million. Parent company (A) paid 70mil back nearly 20 years ago. Its was a loss. Parent company (B) has no affiliation with (A) and no longer are apart of the 5 main chain stores.

The changeover to the new company is slowly being implemented until they can cut the safety cord.

Fast forward to today.

I was told that Parent company (A), is totally getting rid of 1 of the 3 anchor stores in our mall. Leaving our mall center with only 2 main anchor stores. Now owned by two separate companies.

The closing of that store is happening soon. Plans are being made to move managers to other stores, and the rest of the employees, i have no idea of their fate. I dont even know if they know at the moment.

I worked with nearly all of them at some point, and some were even my managers before they rotated to different stores within our previously shared company.

To light off another fuse, 4 more main stores in our mall center are closing as of the end of this year (or the fiscal year, im not sure). 3 of which would be the other main attractions for this mall center. So in total, 5 money making stores will be gone.

This scares me. More so than previously. Stores have always come and gone in our mall, but the level of the ones that are leaving tell me something different. They arent mom and pop shops.

With this new company owning my store, my managers are worried of 'cleaning house'. Which is legitimate i suppose since 3 of the 4 of them have been there for 10-16 years.

Couple that with the fact when this new company sees that our store is one of 2 main attractions, they could simply pull the plug for our outlet if they dont think we make enough money.

Now im not worried about losing the job. I am confident i could find something else if needed. But i feel terrible for everyone else not in my position. Its tough watching all this unfold, because for one ive never seen this first hand. And two i know they (employees) are going to be coming to me for answers and i wont know how to respond. Not that id have any control anyways, but how do you keep everyones focus away from this imminent peril lurking close by. i suppose ill figure it out.

Its just a sad situation. If these 2 anchor stores go out. Then without a doubt, this whole mall center will close. I can almost guarantee it. My store makes profit of around 1.5-2mil a year. id be shocked if any of the smaller stores made 200K. And if the mall goes out, that means no more tax revenue. Which means our small towns taxes will become exorbitantly higher. We just lost 2 huge companies elsewhere in our town that helped keep our taxes down, and its already had an impact. Couple that with our town being anti business, you can see where its going.

So much uncertainty. But that is life i suppose. What vibe are you guys getting from this ordeal?

I just had to get that one off my chest guys.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > MountainCommand 11/21/2013 at 22:59

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Wow, that sucks...some things you just can't control and that is the worst feeling, isn't it?

Nibbles > MountainCommand 11/21/2013 at 23:03

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I read the whole thing.

I don't have any input for you as to how to deal with that type of situation. However I will keep you, your peers, and the employees of the other stores in my thoughts, whatever that may do.

MountainCommand > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur 11/21/2013 at 23:05

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It sucks. Normally my very logical stance behind life can mask emotions rather well. But this, its a weird feeling i cant simply deny. Because sadly, its logical as to why its happening.

I feel worse because even though i wont be severely impacted if this all comes to fruition, its everyone else who depends on these jobs that get the short end.

aquila121 > MountainCommand 11/21/2013 at 23:07

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You have my sympathies. Also, the lead-off image has my attention o_0.

MountainCommand > Nibbles 11/21/2013 at 23:08

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i didnt mean for this to make everyone feel sad for me. I just had to get this out to someone else. Because the people around me wouldnt really cares so much. And its helped me clear my mind a bit by writing it all out.

Corey CC97, MAZDA DPI IS STILL BAE JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV VISIT FLORIDA RACING LIVES FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS > MountainCommand 11/21/2013 at 23:10

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Dat Lancia Beta...

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > MountainCommand 11/21/2013 at 23:13

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punch 'em in the dick.

I don't know who. but it'll help.

MountainCommand > aquila121 11/21/2013 at 23:13

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De Tomaso's always make me smile.

Nibbles > MountainCommand 11/21/2013 at 23:13

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Just hoping that things turn out for the best is all

MountainCommand > Nibbles 11/21/2013 at 23:14

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thanks, me too.

Squid > MountainCommand 11/21/2013 at 23:22

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Reminds me of the end of my career as a technician at a Lincoln Mercury store. I was just about to finish the ASSET program back in 08, that year Ford shut down 8 dealers in my area that were close enough to drive to for work. The owners and managers knew about the dealership being shut down on us for about 2 or 3 weeks before it happened, but when they decided to pull the plug it was the middle of the day and they basically told everyone to stop working and that tools had to be out of the dealership by the end of the next day. . . Guys were in the middle of big jobs and I was called in from class to pick my tools up. It really sucks when shit just closes down on you. I don't know if it is better to know what is coming or being ignorant about what is to come. Best of luck with your situation and hopefully it all works out for you but it may not hurt looking for a new job to get a head start before the shit hits the fan.

Sn210 > MountainCommand 11/21/2013 at 23:52

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Sounds like you need more smiles

Agrajag > MountainCommand 11/21/2013 at 23:56

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I have no sage advice. Your title pretty much sums it up.

rabbitman > MountainCommand 11/22/2013 at 01:26

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Sad, I hope you fair well.

Retail sucks, get out of it. Before you are the Manager running a place for 50K a year and hiring (teens) people that make close to you wage.

I applied to a retail place one time after being out of it for years and their offer made me laugh. Then I realized I would be making more then their store manger...

timateo81 > MountainCommand 11/22/2013 at 08:55

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I'm guessing this mall is the late-20th century (indoor) model? They are closing across the country. The reality is they don't have a long lifespan; developers have no incentive to keep pumping money into the old model once their investment return is made, and to be honest and blunt they'd be dumb to do so, especially when they can move down the highway a few miles and build a new 21st century outdoor mall that will make them even more money.

I sympathize with you. The situation is rightfully insulting to you, but also to your community, both which feel a bit used right now. the easy-money mentality comes with a price, and unfortunately the ones who pay it aren't the ones that got you there in the first place. When you go to sleep tonight know that there are professional planners across the country who have spent their entire careers trying to right this wrong, and prevent it from destroying more lives/communities. It's hard to go to work every day fighting a losing battle.

Best of luck.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Corey CC97, MAZDA DPI IS STILL BAE JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV VISIT FLORIDA RACING LIVES FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS 11/22/2013 at 09:20

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It seems that a few of them did survive.

MountainCommand > timateo81 11/22/2013 at 21:21

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Its a mid-late 80's establishment. however its an outlet mall style place, so its outdoors with stores being the indoor places.

I totally understand why they are possibly going to shut the place down. Its business. I get that. But my emotion ends up getting involved and i take it personally.... First rule of business, is never to make it personal.

I guess the only benefit is that ive been able to gather years of work experience here to stick on a resume and flaunt it. So all is not lost.

MountainCommand > Sn210 11/22/2013 at 21:25

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my grin got bigger and bigger until that last pic. then i just laughed in disgust. Its ugly but it made your post come full circle. Thanks haha.

MountainCommand > rabbitman 11/22/2013 at 21:27

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i have no desire to become an actual manager. My title is simply a pay increase, without having actual manager responsibilities. win win. Im not willing to take liability here.

I figure it might just be the kick i need to start taking people up on their offers.

MountainCommand > Agrajag 11/22/2013 at 21:28

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Sage. Good choice of word.

Life goes on.

Sn210 > MountainCommand 11/22/2013 at 21:35

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Lol what you don't like the Guara?!?

MountainCommand > Squid 11/22/2013 at 21:36

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Im very curious to see how its gonna play out. With stores leaving left and right, something has been said. Customers even ask me "are you going out of business" "when is the mall closing". I ask them where they heard that, and i know nothing about it. I cant figure out where these rumors are coming from, and if they hold truth.

I hope they at least give us warning. There was another mall complex not far from me that simply shut down everything 20+ stores. The management company locked everyone out for a period of time. Took them a while to get everything out of the stores, but just like that, no one had jobs.

I was looking at our property managers website, and on the portfolio list, im unable to find our location.... Ive personally met the owner/lead manager a number of times, and he runs our joint. So why is it not on there....

1 day at a time i suppose.

MountainCommand > Sn210 11/22/2013 at 21:40

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i appreciate its design and flavor. But its not as striking, and beautiful as the pantera lines. Looks like if you lifted off the surrounding body around the cabin, youll find a c5 corvette hiding beneath. And it looks girly.