Big Lots and Suburban Lanes To Remain at Suburban Plaza
Decatur Metro | July 10, 2013From a new Tomorrow’s News Today post answering the question “Where are they now?” regarding the Suburban Plaza shake up to make ready for Walmart…
Big Lots, a tenant that has been in the center for as long as I can remember, will be staying despite the Walmart entrance. Apparently the redevelopment will not affect their space and they are happy to be staying and look forward to the increased (foot) traffic the Walmart will bring. Suburban Lanes Bowling, one of the original tenants from 1954, is located on the lower level on the center, and is scheduled to remain in place and be part of the new Suburban Plaza.
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Good to see a Walmart story at the top instead of another crime report.
I must confess that, though I’ve lived in and around Decatur for 30+ years, I’ve never set foot in that bowling alley. I do remember seeing a lot of movies at Suburban Plaza when I was a child.
I’ve never been, either, but I like knowing it’s there in case of need.
It is your classic rinky-dink no-frills bowling alley, a throwback to the 20th Century. Perfect for an 8 year old birthday party. Pefect for a silly adult birthday party, especially if you can’t bowl. I am really glad it still exists.
I have not been in Suburban Lanes in decades, but I remember that they offered “all night bowling” in the sixties for a couple of bucks! By “all night”, I mean ALL night….til the sun came up.
I have a soft spot for Suburban Lanes and I’m glad to hear they are staying. It’s very much like the bowling alley where I spent a lot of my wasted youth.
Excellent! I frequent both.
Hope Hancock Fabrics will stay, too. Last I heard they were planning to do so. Anyone heard otherwise?
Like you, the latest I’ve heard is that they stay. They are located in what seems to be the surviving structure. It would be a real loss if they left. There IS Intown Quilters near N. DeKalb Mall which has amazing material and accessories but it’s a little less general in scope and much more expensive.
Yes! I love IQ for their beautiful fabrics and specialty patterns and so forth, but Hancock is right up the street for me, and my go-to for notions and basic supplies. Fingers (and toes!) crossed that they stay.
Oh, thank the gods!! I can’t live w/out my Big Lots! The manager said they were staying when I asked a long time ago, so I’m happy to see that confirmed. I’ll NEVER shop at Walmart, I don’t care if they put one on every corner. We need another like a hole in the head. There’s a huge walmart 3 miles away!! Meh. I am SO HAPPY my Big Lots will remain! Yay!!
I am interested in why you feel that shopping at Big Lots is a better experience/more ethical/superior in some way to shopping at Walmart. The salary ranges (at least as posted on the internet) seem to be similar, the benefits are not that different, probably 95%+ of the merchandise at both stores is made in China.
So, curious as to your thought process and apparent vehement aversion to Walmart.
Maybe that Big Lots doesn’t operate at a community-crushing scale. Big box has a different, and potentially more destructive relationship with local commerce than small chains do. I know others who draw the line this way, but it’s just a guess.
Big Lots may not be of community crushing scale, but probably not for lack of trying, so their intent is really no different than Walmart as to how successful they want to be. Over 1400 stores and continually looking for exactly what Walmart does. From their site: “We’re looking for 25,000 to 35,000 sq. ft. facilities (GLA) in strip centers or freestanding stores on major traffic arteries. If you’re excited by new development opportunities with America’s number one closeout retailer, give us a call.”
Exactly my point, thx for the added info.
I don’t have any complaints about Big Lots, in fact I used to shop there regularly when I lived closer. But, I am just curious as to the distinctions people draw between what is, to them, acceptable and what is not.
Big Lots is ‘small box’ retail — they are cheaper than Mom and Pop stores and are also a national chain; Walmart is ‘big box’ retail but both undercut a local/independent store.
My comments are not meant to be antagonistic towards Angela (above). None of this is easy and I think there are several reasonable viewpoints; I like learning about why people feel the way they do. Thx!
I honestly cannot see the Big Lots surviving with a WalMart down the row.
I have to say that I won’t use either much but when I hit one, I’ll probably hit the other as well.
I went into Big Lots last night for the first time in forever, and they really do have some good deals on some things (cleaning products were pretty cheap), not so much others. With a CVS card and coupons I think CVS came out a little cheaper on Pantene and dude razors but I wonder if they’ll drop their prices to compete with Walmart. I feel weird about buying food there for some reason though. I checked the expiration dates and everything was in date, but still not sure about that. Had intended to grab some Chinese on the way home but Hot Wok has closed shop.
There is a Big Lots about a half mile from Walmart not far from my Mom’s place in Pennsylvania. Both stores have been there for many years. They’re competitors but still different. I’m hopeful that it works as well here.
“Big Lots, a tenant that has been in the center for as long as I can remember”
The writer hasn’t been around long enough to remember that the space used to be the Belk store.
And I remember when that Belk store was in downtown Decatur, in whatever is now in the space beneath Eddie’s Attic.
Wow, those were the days when department stores were downtown. Did the Downtown Belk have good holiday displays? I used to love department store displays at Christmas as a kid, back when they used to put some real effort into them.
Haven’t set foot in a Big Lots in decades, but vicariously happy for those of you that do.
Suburban Lanes, on the other hand, holds some happy memories for us and just the convenience of having a bowling alley that close would be something I’d be sad to lose, so thrilled it will continue to be a fixture there.
Hope the news about Hancock staying is true as well, as it’s also been very handy to have close by.
Does that mean that when the bowling alley opened Decatur was the suburbs?
Most definitely, as was Inman Park, Candler Park, etc. Now somewhere like Lawrenceville is considered the “suburbs”, when as recently as the 80s we considered it close to being the “country”. Even parts of DeKalb were pretty rural in 1954; check out that dairy farm exhibit if it’s still at the old courthouse.
In the ’70s we considered a trip from Decatur to Duluth to be going out of town and would make a day of it.
I remember when Gwinnett Place Mall first opened. We made a trip out there from Decatur and it seemed like such a far away place.
It is a far away place. Still today.
Well, in terms of how long it takes to get there, it’s even further away, that’s for sure!
Bowling alley has $.75 games on Sunday mornings!
I think Suburban Lanes would be the perfect spot for a DM meet-up.
I’ll be the one without a gun who can’t bowl.
Great! Here we are:
Ha! Love the ladies in pink bowling shirts in the background!
AHID – now THAT’s a Coen Brothers flick.
Thanks, then I won’t watch the rest because while I LOVE how the Coen brothers nail certain aspects of the Midwest, like bowling alleys, I cringe at their violence. Don’t want to see older ladies in pink bowling shirts bloodied.
I think those ladies make it out alright, but I take your point.
Big Lots is the place to buy gourmet olives stuffed with garlic, roasted red peppers, and delicious pasta at prices that are much better than the supermarket. Yummy!
But still more expensive than YDFM!
Not so!