The cops used to call it "Highland Hoodlum Mall" because that is where the equal opportunity thugs and other losers would all gather. Somehow, they would cut school and end up there. Or they would already have dropped out (most of them were from Reagan or Johnson High Schools or Pearce Middle School, although not all...), some were apparently undocumented immigrants from nowhere in Texas, it didn't really matter.
The loitering people apparently don't have much money but still they showed up and intimidated those who wanted to be LEFT IN PEACE TO SHOP! Not that there was anything that the stores had that you could buy & mainly they had a bunch of cheap goods in too-small sizes (SIZE ZERO CLOTHES —ANOREXIA, ANYBODY?) designed to appeal to young kids with no sense of value or economics and apparently unlimited pocketbooks to look at the hefty price tags on these abbreviated items of schmattes!
The latest look in clothing was long arms and an exaggerated cropped top that ended somewhere around the lower bra line! And SKIRTS that were shorter than some underwear! No point in naming these merchants because they know who they are and I know that they need that huge a mark-up to pay the overhead and the salespeople who don't know very much and could care less as long as they get their minimum wage checks... And are rude to people who come in who they don't think are "trendy" or "young" or "hip" enough while the shoplifters rip them off big time!
My wealthy Jewish uncle who had a series of stores used to say " If you come in my store with $100 in your pocket and leave with that $100 in your pocket, I haven't done my job!"
Well, except to make great window displays and stock clothing merchandise that is about NOTHING AT ALL, you people sure haven't done your job of having AFFORDABLE merchandise in sizes that REAL PEOPLE WEAR!
I wish I could count the times I went into Highland Mall with a lot more than $100 and never touched my pocket because there was NOTHING to buy that I could wear or that made sense to buy that I could not get at Big Lots or Wal-Mart or some other big volume DISCOUNTER a lot cheaper —SAME IDENTICAL MERCHANDISE! Less the several thousand percent mark-up! Who do these so-called merchants at the Mall think they are kidding! They are usually messing with their hair, outside smoking a cigarette, gabbing on the cell phone or being rude to the customers so they can do something else.
The one time I did NOT keep my money in my pocket, I ENDED UP BEING RIPPED OFF BY THE RADIO SHACK (aka RAT SHACK) when they sold me a burned out demo computer as a new one and it was probably burned up by an employee who was trying to erase some porn off the hard drive OR it might have been an employee or friends owned computer that was substituted for an in-store computer and I was victimized that way! The GANGSTA rap music playing obscenities and profanities when I came into their store computer shopping in the first place should have been a rip-off. THEY RIPPED ME OFF $900 AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING REPUTABLE MERCHANTS DO! Made absolutely NO Attempt to reimburse me or to replace the computer either.
Parking is a bad experience and After the latest BIG gang fight, it's not too difficult to find a parking place. When you return and your vehicle is keyed (hey, paint jobs are expensive!) all the way to the primer or you find a smashed out window or headlight or tail light or slashed tire or your trunk is sprung or whatever and your stereo is gone... Even you didn't leave anything in the vehicle that they could see to entice them to break in, they suspect that the goods are in the trunk or under the seat and that is what they go for. The latest thing they do is to get a spark plug in a sock and smash a window with real dark window tint —the tint holds the window together and they roll it out like a rug without even activating the auto alarm. Then they steal whatever they can without interference.
They broke into one car and one pickup that I owned. They didn't get anything because I keep my valuables hidden on my person but it was hell to replace the window glass. So much for Mall "security." Don't even bother to call the police. They won't come.
That's when I learned that the Mall has the sort of reputation all over town that it is considered "implied risk" when you go there and so no attorney will take the case if you want to sue the Mall management for damages — or at least for compensation for putting your window glass back in and whatever else may have been vandalized.
Assuming you are able to park your car, the folks who resemble gangstas will demand money and threaten you verbally. Usually the guy in the "security" wagon with the blinking lights will drive past and give you a chance to make a run for the entrance of the Mall.
Even the homeless and the most aggressive panhandlers are afraid to come here.
Once inside, gangsta types will follow you and curse you and intimidate you and see if you will pull our cash or credit cards. That they can try to grab and run with... I am too afraid to use the Mall restrooms on the off chance I might get followed in there by a thug.
In case you don't get it, they might flash a. 380 semi auto at you that they keep expertly hidden in their palm. That's a 9mm short bullet for those who don't know... Most of the gangstas carry at least a. 380 or a 9 mm. And they carry them wherever they like... Even to your friendly neighborhood MALL or is that MAUL? It seems like everybody has a concealed pistol EXCEPT the unarmed security and the shoppers. The shoppers that are stupid enough to come back here after one good gang fight or other INCIDENT!
I guess the only people who come here now are the senior citizens (who come before the Mall opens to the general public so they can walk for exercise), the employees, the loiterers, the gangstas and the professional BOOSTERS!
I was so put off by the mark-ups on the cheaply made, shoddy clothing and most everything else that I rarely went in there except to accompany a friend who was too afraid to go alone —except there was a video store named "Sun Coast" that would order animae for you. They moved out because of the SHOPLIFTERS! And did I mention PICKPOCKETS?
Every con artist in town has a sad tale and they check it out on Highland Mall customers! I don't fall prey to them because I stopped coming here to shop several months ago.
Unfortunately, I had to ride the bus and the bus stop is located on the west side of Highland Mall.
At the bus stop, the professional BOOSTERS will regale you with merchandise that is apparently freshly shoplifted from select merchants. Athletic shoes are crowd pleasers as are sunglasses, jewelry, mens colognes and I think they have other stuff but I don't want to get involved. I hear the BOOSTERS talk on the bus to go to certain stores because the merchants to maximize profits have untrained salesclerks there and the BOOSTERS can change price tags and walk right out with deep discounts because the underpaid salesclerks DO NOT GIVE A RAT! And they will gone before the police can get there, if you even consider calling the police... And you never know WHO is hearing you place that call either.
Why take a bullet or a shank when you don't even have hospitalization insurance and probably wouldn't get paid worker's comp?
The merchants just mark the prices up even higher to compensate their inventory for the "shrinkage." Even if they had something in my size, I wouldn't be able to afford it now for sure.
They have great variety on the food court but the gangstas will panhandle and try to eat your food when you aren't looking if they don't just take your order and run with it. I was just getting out my money to pay and my food disappeared! I ordered more and paid for that one. Security couldn't even begin to run fast enough to catch the dude. While you are eating, the gangstas will throw things at you, curse you in bilingual insults. Stare rudely at you and threaten to beat you up, etc. NOT the great shopping experience that makes you want to return.
I have lost count of the many times I have seen the police and the security at the bus stop trying to break up confrontations between the crips and the bloods and the Latin Kings and whoever the hell else it is out there that wants to fight.
A local radio station put a poll on their website asking people how safe they felt shopping there and it turned out that NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE DID!
You can also get pushed and shoved in there. The tactic that purse snatchers seem to like to use but those of us with osteoarthritis find painful and intimidating since we have problems getting up and down anyway!
Don't go there at night!
J.C. Penney's one of the original anchor tenants moved out almost a year ago and while I understand that there are many overpriced stores left selling near-useless merchandise left that the ENTIRE MALL IS SUPPOSED TO BE TORN DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR SOME STUDENT HOUSING! SO THEY SAY!
Here is what the local daily newspaper says:
"Man shot, killed near Highland Mall
Monday, August 28, 05:45 AM
WEBshootinghighland.jpg
Austin police are investigating an early morning shooting that left one man dead after an apparent argument.
Officers were summoned to a house in the 400 block of Denson Drive, near Highland Mall, after shots were fired around 2:30 A.M. Upon arrival, they learned a resident had called a relative after hearing noises outside the home, police spokeswoman Toni Chovanetz said. When the relative arrived, he apparently got into an altercation with a man on the property and shot him.
The man who was shot was taken to Brackenridge Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police have not yet released the deceased man's name."
And:
"This morning I listened to comments and listener's calls on a morning radio talk show. The subject was the alarming incident at Highland Mall, April resulting in its early closing. Gangs were prowling the mall and fights broke out. Customers left in terror and were calling to say that they would never go back. Obviously, this violence was bad for business and may portend the demise of this popular mall.
Posted 4.10.2007 9:45: 26 PM "
See it ALL at Highland Mall!
Incidentally, as of august 24, highland mall was looking for a new general manager. I wonder what happened to the old one!
Overview: General Growth Properties, Inc. Has an immediate opening for a General Manager at Higland Mall, Austin, TX. General Growth Properties, Inc. Is a publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust ("REIT") and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol GGP. Headquartered in Chicago, GGP and its predecessor companies have been in the shopping center business for over fifty years.
People Creating Special Places and Experiences - This is our vision. This is what drives us. When you join General Growth Properties, you join a team of people who are passionate about creating the most exciting, vibrant and entertaining shopping centers and communities in the world.
At GGP, shopping is serious business. Our talented people create the exciting, enticing shopping experiences that keep our customers coming back and make GGP malls central to their communities. It takes a lot of creativity, energy, insight, and many types of professionals to sustain a thriving, long-standing leadership position in the ever-changing, highly competitive consumer marketplace.
Responsibilities:
The Job Duties include:
* General Manager manages the shopping center facility. Duties include: a.) Administers the leases and reciprocal easement agreements. B.) Maintains the common area. C.) Secures the common area. D.) Collects the rentals and recovery charges. E.) Prepares various reports requested by corporate office.
* General Manager prepares annual center budget. Duties include: a.) Forecasts the annual income and expenses for the center. B.) Expense control. C.) Approves disbursements in accordance with approved annual budget. D.) Maximizes the income generated by the center.
* General Manager participates in the leasing efforts of the center. Duties include: a.) Leases space to specialty/temporary retail merchants. B.) Coordinates the overall leasing effort with the corporate leasing representative to establish quality tenant mix. C.) Negotiates and administers lease amendments.
* General Manager manages the center personnel. Duties include: a.) Supervises and directs the Marketing Manager on issues of advertising and marketing for the center. B.) Supervises and directs the Operating Manager in the operation of maintenance and mechanical systems for the center. C.) Hires and trains support personnel as necessary. D.) Supervises independent contractors when such services have been engaged.
* General Manager maintains continuous dialogue with partners or non-equity owners, if applicable.
* General Manager performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications:
* Bachelor's Degree or related experience in the workforce.
* Real Estate Salesperson's license preferred.
* 2-5 years regional shopping center management experience.
* Ability to successfully canvass, negotiate and close specialty, regional and local leasing deals.
* Ability to lead a specialty leasing program.
* Strong ability to lead and influence a diverse group of people.
* Strategic business orientation.
Technical Skills & Training
* Adept in financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting.
* Excellent communication skills.
* Computer skills that include Excel, Microsoft Word, or other word processing programs.
* Strong merchant and community relations skills.
* The ability to work with and communicate effectively with tenants and contracted services personnel.
ANONYMOUS
Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.
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