Virgin Times Square Closes to Make Way For Expansion of Disney's Theme Park

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2008/10/21/is-disney-looking-to-trade-its-5th-avenue-store-in-for-a-brand-new-retail-location-down-in-times-square.aspx

Disney's scattered theme park in New York City (meaning their Broadway shows and 5th ave store) may have a new central hub -- it's Main Street USA, if you will. It's been announced that the VIRGIN Megastore in its prime Times Square location will be closing, but now the Mouse House is eyeing the property.

And something you WON'T find in the article...I have a friend who works for the Mouse House and here's what Disney is planning for the building:

-Close their 5th Ave store and move it in here;
-Arcade Zone with Disney-themed games;
-Silver Screen with a single movie theatre screen setup to show Disney features;
-Disney's Soda Fountain, a duplicate from it's current lone shoppe in LA;
-A stage space where Cast Members will have regular Disney Sing-A-Longs with costumed characters.

Their movie theatre would host Red Carpet Premieres of their feature films. Events would be setup such as Disney Channel concerts & DVD/CD/Merch signings. Groups that book with Disney would be invited to go to the Soda Fountain for a free sundae before being escorted by a Cast Member to their Disney on Broadway show.

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Nothing too scary there!
Shame Virgin are leaving but Disney moving in, well there could be a lot worse! At least they're bring a new movie theatre back to Times Sq, that alone they should be thank for.

Yuck...is February still Virgin's tentative closing date?

Amazon.com

Best Prices, Best Selection.

And no, I don't work for them.

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LOL
Im probably there best customer after you then!
I miss not strolling over to Footlights, that used to take up 2 or 3 hrs of one of my New York days!

I was under the impression that the Disney store on fifth was only moving because the rent got too high for them which is why they were moving to Times Square. I didn't expect the rest of the stuff that they have planned.

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Jim Hill says a lot of things. I'll leave it there.

Anyway, I don't doubt that this is all in the works, and perhaps it even is as definite as it's being made out to be. But keep in mind that with the current economic crisis Disney is scaling back, delaying, or canceling a number of projects that haven't already been officially announced and budgeted for. Property might be cheap(ish) but what actually ends up in the building might fall victim to budget cuts. So basically--who knows, this may indeed happen, but I also wouldn't be surprised if much of the idea gets the axe.

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Updated On: 10/21/08 at 01:07 PM

The most irritating corporation in the world in the most irritating location in the world. It's a match made in hell!


Someone please say a prayer for the soul of New York City...

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It saddens me to see the "flavor" of the old Times Square disappearing. I'm not talking about the hookers and drug dealers that plagued 42nd Street. It just seems to me that Broadway is becoming less of Broadway and more of mainstream Americana. Nothing wrong with that in itself, but the exciting aura of "Broaday" seems to be vaporizing.

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Updated On: 10/21/08 at 01:21 PM

To be honest, I'm suprised this didn't happen sooner. They used to have a large Disney store next to the New Amsterdam, and to be honest, a Time Square store would sort of tie together Disney in New York. Though I doubt they'll build a new theatre, it would be a great idea to do so! The level of effects they would be able to pull off would be quite astounding, and could bring tourists to New York in this bad time.

Virgin Megastore was way overpriced for most items. A double CD or DVD would often be be $17.99 on Amazon.com and $30+ at Virgin. I'm certainly not going to bemoan their closure.

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Scarywarhol,

From what I understand, if Disney had their way then they would stay on 5th. But, the rent has gone up so high that they can't afford it. I do find it funny that they can't afford rent on fifth but they can afford it in Times Square.

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When will Virgin be closing?

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