Easy. Put it on the market as "your ass" (keeping the pronoun as "your". Do not sell your own.) One of these condo developers will quickly snatch it up, because it's clear they lack the knowledge to differentiate between the two.
I would like to give props to you for doing the "ass from a hole in a ground" thing, while simultaneously confirming your suspicion that it didn't quite work.
The original Filene's/Filene's Basement building is still there, connected to the Downtown Crossing subway stop at the corner of Washington St & Summer St. It's gutted but standing and certainly a viable structure to restore for commercial purposes. The hole-in-the-ground is a block over where the modern extension of Filene's used to stand.
both under the original Filene's building and under its modern extensions. I don't see how even the basement of the original building could be easily occupied in its current condition.
but it also isn't something Filene's Basement (or their new owner) can do by themselves, without cooperation from the developer who now owns the building. I suspect that all utility hookups have been severed and will need to be re-connected, plus the store will need working elevators and a loading dock. (I think the old loading dock has been entirely demolished.)
I also wonder whether the building still has a working HVAC system, and if not, how easily one can be installed.
Finally, the store is probably subject to more stringent ADA accessibility requirements since this would be a total gut rehab.
At least it looks that way, according to articles such as this one:
Crown Acquisitions will operate the [17] stores under the Filene's Basement name and will retain the chain's value merchandising model, the company said.
But:
The company expects an auction to take place in approximately 5 weeks during which the [bankruptcy] court will consider other offers for the 17 stores as well as offers for the [8] remaining stores and the retailer’s other assets
Isn't this a Globe redux? I mean, if local owners sell (out) to out-of-town buyers who regard the Boston entity as just another part of their portfolio, isn't this to be expected, especially in today's economy?
I confess I haven't followed closely the stories behind these definitive Boston businesses -- Filene's, Jordan Marsh, the Globe, all the banks, etc. -- being sold to out-of-town interests. But perhaps when the next history of Boston is written, this will be a sad and dominant late 20th/early 21st century theme: How local business leaders and supposed pillars of the community transformed Boston into a branch city.
Filene's (the main store, which then owned the Basement) was a founding member of Federated Department Stores, based in Ohio since 1929. Both Jordan Marsh and Filene's have been part of various national chains -- Federated, Allied Stores, and May Department Stores.
This is the second bankruptcy for Filene's Basement. They were rescued from the first one by Retail Ventures (Value City), also an Ohio company.
Although Wikipedia is not infallible, what I read in these entries conforms to my understanding of the various chains' histories:
Filene's Filene's Basement (a separate company from Filene's starting in 1988) Federated Department Stores (now called Macy's Inc.) (parent company of Filene's from 1929-1988, and again in 2005-2006; parent company of Jordan Marsh starting in 1988) May Department Stores (parent company of Filene's from 1988 to 2005, when Federated bought it)
True, other cities are losing venerable business entities as well -- and some are doing much worse than Boston. But lamenting the loss of businesses that helped to define a city's culture is hardly acting "like this problem is exclusive to Boston."
It sure sounded like you were acting as if this problem is simply a Boston one. "How local business leaders and supposed pillars of the community transformed Boston into a branch city."
Go to any US city these days. We all have the same stores. Hell, go to Shanghai and it's the same thing.
Lamenting the loss of a business is one thing, but I'd agree that it does sound like you (and others) are acting like this problem is a Boston thing.
Aand though I love Filene's Basement, I think saying that they "define a city's culture" is a verrrrry large and absurd stretch.
Go to a midwestern city, then come back here and complain. We have it pretty good and I'll lament the loss of Boston businesses, but we still have plenty here.
Yet one more piece of Bostonia gone. Soon we'll just be a theme park surrounded by Menino's hideous postmodernist monoliths and a transit system that may or may not take you anywhere.
Since the Basement closed "temporarily" so they could destroy Downtown with that pointless hole in ground I have done all my clothes shopping online or with two little old Italian tailors on Pearl Street. I tried Macy's a few times but gave up after never finding what I was looking for (not exotic items, just shirts and ties). That place is so badly laid out that I never did find the men's department, if they have one. But in trying to find it I felt like a WWI doughboy in a mustard gas attack 'cause apparently there is no way to enter the store without passing through at area of vile stench they call the perfume department.
Then I went to Marshalls, TJ Max, and H&M. At least I could find the men's department. It was very small and all three had precisely the same items at exactly the same prices and not a thing I would take if they gave it away. The selection was as varied as that of a Moscow, USSR department story circa 1959. Suits, yep we got 'em two-button, center -- you gots two colors to chose fom. Shirts, sure we got dress shirts, all spread collar, one-button barrel cuff, your choice of six colors and two in stripes (but they only come in a size 15). None in my size (which is not an odd size). Casual shirts, you betcha , four selections of prints, all straight collar and 2-button barrell cuff. None with sleaves long enough for me (it's not like I'm some freak-o-nature or basketball player, just a normal build plus ten pounds overweight). Swimsuits -- about a half-doz. models, all too small for anyone who has eaten in say the last four months.
No wonder retail is dying!
Oh, and I passed by the formalwear shop on Milk St (by "formalwear" they mean, of course a mixture of semi-formalwear and outlandish costumes that band-leaders formerly wore in the warmer months). Half of their display window is given over to t-shirts that look like they were used to clean up used motor-oil spills. I predict that shop won't be around much longer either.
So you're claiming retail is dying but you only shop at the discount stores and H&M? You have super specific requirements but then moan when Marshalls and TJ Max don't have them? They mostly sell stuff other people don't want, and if you're an odd size that makes it even harder. I don't know, beggars can't be choosers, especially on the mens side of things. You might need to pay more than $25 for a shirt. But then this is Boston, so you're more likely to go stuff it in a mattress anyway.
Comments
How do you sell a hole in the ground?
Or do they mean the one on Boylston Street when they say "Boston flagship location" ?
Easy.
How do you sell a hole in the ground?
Easy. Put it on the market as "your ass" (keeping the pronoun as "your". Do not sell your own.) One of these condo developers will quickly snatch it up, because it's clear they lack the knowledge to differentiate between the two.
Equivocation
I would like to give props to you for doing the "ass from a hole in a ground" thing, while simultaneously confirming your suspicion that it didn't quite work.
There's also an easier answer
You mark it down.
Sock_Puppet wins the thread.
n/t
Uh
The original Filene's/Filene's Basement building is still there, connected to the Downtown Crossing subway stop at the corner of Washington St & Summer St. It's gutted but standing and certainly a viable structure to restore for commercial purposes. The hole-in-the-ground is a block over where the modern extension of Filene's used to stand.
The old Filene's Basement was under the entire block
both under the original Filene's building and under its modern extensions. I don't see how even the basement of the original building could be easily occupied in its current condition.
Build a wall where it's now open
And then hire the interior decorators.
Using ground floor space will make up for lost square footage.
Why is that so complicated for you?
It's not necessarily complicated
but it also isn't something Filene's Basement (or their new owner) can do by themselves, without cooperation from the developer who now owns the building. I suspect that all utility hookups have been severed and will need to be re-connected, plus the store will need working elevators and a loading dock. (I think the old loading dock has been entirely demolished.)
I also wonder whether the building still has a working HVAC system, and if not, how easily one can be installed.
Finally, the store is probably subject to more stringent ADA accessibility requirements since this would be a total gut rehab.
But Filene's Basement name will live on
At least it looks that way, according to articles such as this one:
But:
Yup.
Gone, but not forgotten.
I only wish they had been
I only wish they had been bought out by a NYC firm to further infuriate Bostonians.
Think Glob(e)ally, Sell Locally
Isn't this a Globe redux? I mean, if local owners sell (out) to out-of-town buyers who regard the Boston entity as just another part of their portfolio, isn't this to be expected, especially in today's economy?
I confess I haven't followed closely the stories behind these definitive Boston businesses -- Filene's, Jordan Marsh, the Globe, all the banks, etc. -- being sold to out-of-town interests. But perhaps when the next history of Boston is written, this will be a sad and dominant late 20th/early 21st century theme: How local business leaders and supposed pillars of the community transformed Boston into a branch city.
They have had out-of-town owners for many decades, though
Filene's (the main store, which then owned the Basement) was a founding member of Federated Department Stores, based in Ohio since 1929. Both Jordan Marsh and Filene's have been part of various national chains -- Federated, Allied Stores, and May Department Stores.
This is the second bankruptcy for Filene's Basement. They were rescued from the first one by Retail Ventures (Value City), also an Ohio company.
Although Wikipedia is not infallible, what I read in these entries conforms to my understanding of the various chains' histories:
Filene's
Filene's Basement (a separate company from Filene's starting in 1988)
Federated Department Stores (now called Macy's Inc.) (parent company of Filene's from 1929-1988, and again in 2005-2006; parent company of Jordan Marsh starting in 1988)
May Department Stores (parent company of Filene's from 1988 to 2005, when Federated bought it)
Jordan Marsh
Allied Stores (owner of Jordan Marsh from 1928 until it merged with Federated in 1988)
Why does everyone act like
Why does everyone act like this problem is exclusive to Boston? It's happening in cities everywhere in this country.
so what's the point?
True, other cities are losing venerable business entities as well -- and some are doing much worse than Boston. But lamenting the loss of businesses that helped to define a city's culture is hardly acting "like this problem is exclusive to Boston."
It sure sounded like you
It sure sounded like you were acting as if this problem is simply a Boston one. "How local business leaders and supposed pillars of the community transformed Boston into a branch city."
Go to any US city these days. We all have the same stores. Hell, go to Shanghai and it's the same thing.
Lamenting the loss of a business is one thing, but I'd agree that it does sound like you (and others) are acting like this problem is a Boston thing.
Aand though I love Filene's Basement, I think saying that they "define a city's culture" is a verrrrry large and absurd stretch.
Go to a midwestern city, then come back here and complain. We have it pretty good and I'll lament the loss of Boston businesses, but we still have plenty here.
Welcome to Fundamentalist
Welcome to Fundamentalist Capitalism.
Got keep those liabilities down, and the quarterly profits up. hungry CEO's need their pay!
Filene's Basement to rise again?
This sounds pretty hopeful: Bidder has big plans for bankrupt Filene's Basement. He even suggests he might want to buy the Downtown Crossing Filene's project if Vornado can't get it restarted.
Yet one more piece of
Yet one more piece of Bostonia gone. Soon we'll just be a theme park surrounded by Menino's hideous postmodernist monoliths and a transit system that may or may not take you anywhere.
No wonder retail is dying!
Since the Basement closed "temporarily" so they could destroy Downtown with that pointless hole in ground I have done all my clothes shopping online or with two little old Italian tailors on Pearl Street. I tried Macy's a few times but gave up after never finding what I was looking for (not exotic items, just shirts and ties). That place is so badly laid out that I never did find the men's department, if they have one. But in trying to find it I felt like a WWI doughboy in a mustard gas attack 'cause apparently there is no way to enter the store without passing through at area of vile stench they call the perfume department.
Then I went to Marshalls, TJ Max, and H&M. At least I could find the men's department. It was very small and all three had precisely the same items at exactly the same prices and not a thing I would take if they gave it away. The selection was as varied as that of a Moscow, USSR department story circa 1959. Suits, yep we got 'em two-button, center -- you gots two colors to chose fom. Shirts, sure we got dress shirts, all spread collar, one-button barrel cuff, your choice of six colors and two in stripes (but they only come in a size 15). None in my size (which is not an odd size). Casual shirts, you betcha , four selections of prints, all straight collar and 2-button barrell cuff. None with sleaves long enough for me (it's not like I'm some freak-o-nature or basketball player, just a normal build plus ten pounds overweight). Swimsuits -- about a half-doz. models, all too small for anyone who has eaten in say the last four months.
No wonder retail is dying!
Oh, and I passed by the formalwear shop on Milk St (by "formalwear" they mean, of course a mixture of semi-formalwear and outlandish costumes that band-leaders formerly wore in the warmer months). Half of their display window is given over to t-shirts that look like they were used to clean up used motor-oil spills. I predict that shop won't be around much longer either.
So you're claiming retail is
So you're claiming retail is dying but you only shop at the discount stores and H&M? You have super specific requirements but then moan when Marshalls and TJ Max don't have them? They mostly sell stuff other people don't want, and if you're an odd size that makes it even harder. I don't know, beggars can't be choosers, especially on the mens side of things. You might need to pay more than $25 for a shirt. But then this is Boston, so you're more likely to go stuff it in a mattress anyway.
Almost all local suburban Filene's Basements to close
Here's a list of the 17 stores that Crown Acquisitions wants to keep. Compare with the current list of 25 operating stores. Looks like we'll lose the branches in Peabody, Saugus, Watertown, Braintree, and Hyannis, keeping only Newton, Back Bay, and the hope of a reopened Downtown Crossing store.
(Is Framingham already closed? It is not on the chain's Store Locator.)
The common thread among the stores to be closed, here and elsewhere, is that they are located in malls.