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babylonsister

(171,110 posts)
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 09:32 AM Apr 28

Retailers fled. Trump's landmark tower is now a cheap, empty, closed-off New York embarrassment


Retailers fled. Trump's landmark tower is now a cheap, empty, closed-off New York embarrassment
Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 8:32:44p EDT
TheCriticalMind

snip//

The chief retail tenant is the Trump Store — where you can buy his second-rate branded merchandise at a premium. How about a scented candle for $48? Mother’s Day is in two weeks. No? Wise choice. For less expensive schlock, you can go to the Trump gift shop. Which, for some reason, features campaign merch from 2020 — and looks like it would be at home in a train station.


However, you can no longer patronize Ivanka’s jewelry store. She bailed in 2017.

The facility itself is a shadow of its past glory. The Trump Organization website hyperventilates: “One of the most notable features of Trump Tower is the breath-taking 60-foot waterfall embellishing the eastern wall of the building.” Sadly, the building has turned the water off. So you must use your imagination while staring at a tall wall.


As part of a deal with the City in which Trump was allowed to increase the building's square footage, he included two public terraces. They are now closed to the public. The smaller, still visible interior space is straggly and untended. The large glass doors that once opened onto the second, grander terrace are now mirrored over and locked.


more...

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/4/27/2237689/-Retailers-fled-Trump-s-landmark-tower-is-now-a-cheap-empty-closed-off-New-York-embarrassment
46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Retailers fled. Trump's landmark tower is now a cheap, empty, closed-off New York embarrassment (Original Post) babylonsister Apr 28 OP
Sad! NameAlreadyTaken Apr 28 #1
Here, you forgot this: wolfie001 Apr 28 #32
What caught my eye... Hugin Apr 28 #2
Yeah, that got me, too. Plasma as superheated gas or plasma as blood component? Or both. Fun for kids of all ages. marble falls Apr 28 #3
I'm guessing it's one of those science kits for kids... Hugin Apr 28 #4
I saw that too! yardwork Apr 28 #9
Indeed benfranklin1776 Apr 28 #21
Plabank Plasma Virus Cleaners Celerity Apr 28 #42
Seriously, thanks for doing the footwork on this... Hugin Apr 29 #46
when trump can cash in for a billion and a half dollars for his shady truth social, none of mucifer Apr 28 #5
He milked that like it was Devin Nunes' cow wolfie001 Apr 28 #33
Perfect musclecar6 Apr 28 #6
I'll argue that it was only the Trump brand that made the building successful in the first place. brooklynite Apr 28 #7
The urban mall was invented in Minnesota in 1956. It was created out of necessity Ocelot II Apr 28 #10
I walked into the lobby in 1985 or so. yardwork Apr 28 #11
Robin Leach gave us a tour KentuckyWoman Apr 28 #24
And that pretty much sums up anything PatSeg Apr 28 #29
Yeah. He's been that way from the beginning. yardwork Apr 28 #31
Yes and the whole world knew it PatSeg Apr 28 #36
As vacuous looking and broken as the 'man' it's named for. MiHale Apr 28 #8
Where did the retailers go Tickle Apr 28 #12
To...other buildings? NanaCat Apr 28 #26
There will be much celebration and fanfare when it's torn down. Sooner rather than later, I think. jaxexpat Apr 28 #13
It's tragic Mossfern Apr 28 #14
how was bonwit teller a treat? (basically i know nothing about bonwit teller so...) nt orleans Apr 28 #20
It was a high-end department store - very elegant. Ocelot II Apr 28 #22
It was "old fashioned" customer service - beautiful displays Mossfern Apr 28 #35
thanks for the description-- kind of makes me wish i was more familiar with the store. apparently orleans Apr 28 #40
Gold plated crap is still crap. Botany Apr 28 #23
The Bonwit Teller doors made me remember this.... BigmanPigman Apr 28 #45
They're right- New York is being denied access to the "Public Spaces," and that's another violation of many. NBachers Apr 28 #15
turn it into lo income , seinior and homless shelter rather than tear it down. AllaN01Bear Apr 28 #16
What a great idea! Bayard Apr 28 #27
Everything he touches... 2naSalit Apr 28 #17
i'm wondering about the people who are living in the building orleans Apr 28 #18
Keith Olbermann used to own a condo there leftieNanner Apr 28 #25
Let me see if I have this right? Donny is in his own hell. Botany Apr 28 #19
Sounds about right. yardwork Apr 28 #34
I'm going for the end of June or early July when Donny either flees the country or drops dead. Botany Apr 28 #37
i think it wd b a bad choice to seize. it's got to have the worst value/sq ft. mopinko Apr 28 #38
The only thing he owns in the Chump Tower is his own condo FakeNoose Apr 28 #43
Love the last 2 paragraphs... Hekate Apr 28 #28
"Everything Trump touches........" PatSeg Apr 28 #30
The framed commemorative picture in the lower right is a hoot . . . Journeyman Apr 28 #39
An example of Donald's business success. keithbvadu2 Apr 28 #41
Does Melania still have her own apartment on the 33rd floor? IcyPeas Apr 28 #44

Hugin

(33,222 posts)
2. What caught my eye...
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 09:38 AM
Apr 28

Is the “Plasma Virus Cleaner” in the lower left corner of the gift shop photo.





The empty place is a metaphor of it’s namesake.

marble falls

(57,502 posts)
3. Yeah, that got me, too. Plasma as superheated gas or plasma as blood component? Or both. Fun for kids of all ages.
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 09:44 AM
Apr 28

Hugin

(33,222 posts)
4. I'm guessing it's one of those science kits for kids...
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 09:49 AM
Apr 28

Like an ant farm. Except you raise the sea monkeys in your own plasma?



(Yes, folks, this is a joke and . Do not try at home.)

benfranklin1776

(6,458 posts)
21. Indeed
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 11:39 AM
Apr 28

I’m sure the gift shop sells Russian flags and Putin bobble heads for its preferred, i.e., traitorous America hating, private clientele.

It is as you describe, a rancid, fetid Potemkin Village, emblematic of the soulless, vacuous and fraudulent essence of the sociopath for who it is named. After Attorney General James seizes it, it ought to be converted to affordable housing to rectify the odious racial and socioeconomic discrimination he and his Klansman father perpetrated in their real estate dealings lo these many years.

Celerity

(43,749 posts)
42. Plabank Plasma Virus Cleaners
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 03:31 PM
Apr 28

I will not post a link.......



Introducing the Plasma Virus Cleaner, a device invented during the pandemic to reduce concentrations of viruses, bacteria, and fungi creating a clean indoor & outdoor environment.

Recent research has shown that the same plasma that exists in the ozone layer from the sun can be an effective deterrent against airborne pathogens.

By utilizing the natural oxygen and nitrogen that we breathe in our atmosphere, the Plasma Virus Cleaner releases active plasma particles to help eliminate pathogens.

With safety in mind, this product produces a safe green ozone of 0.03 PPM which complies with the US ozone emission safety standard for household products (? 0.05 PPM).

snip

Hugin

(33,222 posts)
46. Seriously, thanks for doing the footwork on this...
Mon Apr 29, 2024, 12:07 AM
Apr 29

Celerity.

I've seen similar air purifiers.

I was talking with one of my friends, who's an asthmatic, about the charged air purifiers some years ago. She told me they weren't recommended for those who suffer from asthma due to the fact that the ozone and other charged particles they emit into the air can actually complicate asthma. It's better to only have a filtration system.

I never looked into it to see if that were true, but it made sense to me that it would.

mucifer

(23,623 posts)
5. when trump can cash in for a billion and a half dollars for his shady truth social, none of
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 09:56 AM
Apr 28

this matters.

All that matters is he continues to get dark money.

musclecar6

(1,693 posts)
6. Perfect
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 09:57 AM
Apr 28

Epitaph for that 2 bit con man, liar and a cheat. He's what he's always been, a laughing stock national disgrace, with all his fake grandiose goldplated bullshit. Just an evil clown.

brooklynite

(94,974 posts)
7. I'll argue that it was only the Trump brand that made the building successful in the first place.
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 09:57 AM
Apr 28

New Yorkers hate the urban mall concept. We don't go inside buildings to find stores and restaurants. The Trump Tower appeal was largely built around tourists who knew Trump from THE APPRENTICE and his other branded products.

Ocelot II

(115,985 posts)
10. The urban mall was invented in Minnesota in 1956. It was created out of necessity
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 10:10 AM
Apr 28

because of the weather here (or at least as it was until recently). If you're not up to your ass in snow five months of the year you don't have to go inside a building to find shops and restaurants. NYC isn't the sort of city that would want to waste horizontal real estate on the vast expanse of a mall anyhow.

KentuckyWoman

(6,700 posts)
24. Robin Leach gave us a tour
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 11:49 AM
Apr 28

I remember an hour long show where Mr. Yell himself took us all on the grand tour. Even by 80s standards it was tacky - and that's saying something.

PatSeg

(47,750 posts)
29. And that pretty much sums up anything
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 12:06 PM
Apr 28

Trump related, as well as Trump himself - "tacky and ridiculous".

PatSeg

(47,750 posts)
36. Yes and the whole world knew it
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 12:47 PM
Apr 28

except apparently his MAGA base, unless of course "tacky and ridiculous" are what they aspire to be.

NanaCat

(1,530 posts)
26. To...other buildings?
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 11:52 AM
Apr 28

Just a guess.

Any increase in retail leasing would be worth it to have customers who refused to set foot in Traitor Tower.

Win.

Win.

Mossfern

(2,605 posts)
14. It's tragic
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 11:22 AM
Apr 28

that the building can't be rebuilt to the beautiful Art Deco aesthetic that it once was.
It needs to be torn down because it's a reminder of greed and corruption and lack of taste.

Who needs a monument to that?


On edit: My mom used to take me to Bonwit Teller occasionally, just as a treat.

Mossfern

(2,605 posts)
35. It was "old fashioned" customer service - beautiful displays
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 12:31 PM
Apr 28

A very serene and understated elegant atmosphere with a sense of history.
Merchandise that was not run of the mill -unique. Quiet - no blaring music.
Mom would buy me one outfit a year.

As a young woman, I would splurge and buy myself 100% silk and fine lace tap pant and camisole sets. They were sexy in a classic sort of way.

orleans

(34,097 posts)
40. thanks for the description-- kind of makes me wish i was more familiar with the store. apparently
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 01:49 PM
Apr 28

there was one located in the western burbs of chicago (at a mall). i remember going to the mall once in awhile but i don't recall ever going into that particular store.

oh well. apparently it was my loss.

BigmanPigman

(51,660 posts)
45. The Bonwit Teller doors made me remember this....
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 06:31 PM
Apr 28
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/donald-trump-bonwit-teller-friezes-met-2132673

He lied, called himself John Barron, etc. Turns out he ordered them demolished himself.

I remember Keith Olbermann got pissed off over this.

NBachers

(17,187 posts)
15. They're right- New York is being denied access to the "Public Spaces," and that's another violation of many.
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 11:24 AM
Apr 28

Whatever City Department is in charge of this should land on it with both feet.

orleans

(34,097 posts)
18. i'm wondering about the people who are living in the building
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 11:35 AM
Apr 28

how they feel about the run down state the building seems to be in

do they want to stay? or move out?

does trumpie stay there when he's in nyc?

Botany

(70,643 posts)
19. Let me see if I have this right? Donny is in his own hell.
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 11:38 AM
Apr 28

Donny no longer owns the building because he has borrowed against it, the retail tenants have fled, his own daughter got out of the building and closed her store in 2017 when her daddy was President, the water has been turned off in sections (unpaid bills is my guess), large areas and the doors are no longer open to the public, and almost every week day for the next month and 1/2 Donny will have to sit in his
own shit in a Manhattan courtroom as the evidence of his crimes is put out for the world to see.
And very shortly Tish James will file a lien on the building.

yardwork

(61,785 posts)
34. Sounds about right.
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 12:25 PM
Apr 28

Plus, speaking of hells of his own making, nobody in Trump's family comes to court to support him. His daughter, having used his presidency to further enrich herself and her husband, appears to have abandoned him. He's probably wondering when his older sons will turn on him to save their own sorry asses. His wife - if you can call her that - seems to have built a wall around herself and her son - I'm sure she's just waiting for him to die. He has at least one other daughter but he rejected her long ago.

Trump is a lonely, mean, crazy old man who drove everybody in his family away. All he has are his adoring crowds and his MAGAT-Russian-Chinese handlers, who want to somehow drag him across the finish line again so they can use him as their puppet for four more years.

Botany

(70,643 posts)
37. I'm going for the end of June or early July when Donny either flees the country or drops dead.
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 12:52 PM
Apr 28

By that time he will be found guilty on a # of felony counts in his current trial in Manhattan,
the State of New York should have started seizing his property and assets, and Fani Willis
might have started the trial in Georgia in which many of the phony electors will have flipped
against Trump because they don’t want to do the 5 years (4 years with good behavior) on RICO
charges. Also several U.S. Capitol Police Officers are getting ready to sue Trump for Jan. 6th
too so he is facing financial ruin from that along with the $80 million to Ms. E Jean Carroll.

I don’t think Trump wanted to run for President but Vlad Putin had the dirt on him so he did
and now (much later than it should have been) the chickens have come home to roost.

Fuck him. The world has 14 million dead from C-19 in a large thanx to Trump.

mopinko

(70,366 posts)
38. i think it wd b a bad choice to seize. it's got to have the worst value/sq ft.
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 12:55 PM
Apr 28

it probably loses money at this point. she’ll find stuff he still owns a piece of, but has removed his name.

FakeNoose

(32,908 posts)
43. The only thing he owns in the Chump Tower is his own condo
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 03:42 PM
Apr 28

... which takes up 3 floors of the high-rise building.

He was (and I believe he still is) under contract to "manage" the Chump Tower unless something has changed recently. While Chump was off doing his thing in DC, he appointed his sons to manage it, but I'm not sure how that worked out. As someone mentioned earlier, Ivanka had one of the retail stores but she changed careers when Daddy became the Prez.

Just like every other Chump property we know of, it has turned to shit because he can't manage anything. And that's exactly what he plans to do to the country.

Hekate

(91,013 posts)
28. Love the last 2 paragraphs...
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 12:03 PM
Apr 28
Trump Tower was always ugly. The exterior design is derivative and boring. The public spaces were designed to appeal to an unimaginative and esthetically challenged, outer-borough boy with the taste of an Albanian crime boss.

The only people who would appreciate it are people who cannot afford to live there. Although, if they wait for a second, the desperate owners of Trump Tower apartments may soon take ‘any reasonable offer’.


OTT, what an utter waste of resources, decaying before our eyes — a metaphor for the man himself.

PatSeg

(47,750 posts)
30. "Everything Trump touches........"
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 12:15 PM
Apr 28

This building is going the way of his failed casinos. All cheap glitter and no substance. What a truly pathetic little man.

Journeyman

(15,044 posts)
39. The framed commemorative picture in the lower right is a hoot . . .
Sun Apr 28, 2024, 12:56 PM
Apr 28

"The President." Yet the image behind him is the Capitol building, while his picture looks like something from 40 years ago.

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