Location is key when it comes to leasing, and sometimes a perfectly good facade can be repurposed for an alternate purpose. Take the Trader Joe’s in the old Alabama Theater in Texas, for instance. Shoppers already love Trader Joe’s for its delicious snacks, affordable prices, cheeky names, and ability to keep small children entertained searching for that elusive giraffe (among many other reasons). Built in Art Deco style, this movie theater greets guests with the original movie theater marquee and stays thematic with quirky signs like “Gentlemen Prefer Blonde Ales” to put a smile to shoppers’ faces. In fact, 28% of shoppers drive over 10 miles to come to this location.
Compared to another neighboring Trader Joe’s, the ex-movie theater location has a trade area of 74 square miles versus 59 square miles.
Another intriguing adaptation is the Foundation Hotel in Detroit, which was converted from an old Fire Department Headquarters.
Visitors come from all over Michigan and neighboring states to enjoy the historic ambiance including original heavy oak doors, leather-lined elevators and enjoy cocktails and dinner at The Apparatus Room. Vintage photos and firefighter displays will take you back in time.
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