These photos go back to early 2013 when I went on a shopping trip to this Scottsdale center called The Borgata. It was a whole shopping and dining complex designed to resemble the Italian town of San Gimignano. That meant it was walled like a proper Italian hilltop town. It was great for the atmosphere but turned out to be no so good for bringing in customers.
The Borgata had all the right touches like the stone walkways, street signs and of course a tall tower.
I posted about it's possible demise back in 2013 and sure enough it was demolished. Not one brick from this lovely spot remains. It was leveled and a set of condominiums took its place. In fact,
I posted about the condos back in 2017 when they were opened. If you ask me, they are rather ordinary looking. Nothing as quaint or as appealing as this.
I miss being able to shop here!
That was a strange idea to copy an Italian place and think it would please the American people. The atmosphere is so different you can't copy that as well.
ReplyDeleteAt least you got to enjoy it for a while, Sharon! It is sad when a place you like disappears.
ReplyDeleteFailed projects. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteIt looked great.
Well, it was beautiful, but what an odd idea to plunk down in the middle of Arizona. Destination shopping centers don't seem to fare well overall. I think people want convenience.
ReplyDeleteYes, we visited the Borgata several times back in "the olden times". It was a lovely place. Sorry it's gone.
ReplyDeleteIt looks inviting but I guess not for lots of people. At least they gave it a try.
ReplyDeleteIt had so much more character. Shopping centers as a whole are disappearing; this one probably an early casualty. I tried to go to a big shopping center in Seattle last year and was shocked to discover the entire core was shut down. It's becoming a huge ice hockey arena/complex. Too bad the condos don't have the same Tuscan character. These are just more of the same old same old.
ReplyDeleteKind of like Lloyd Benton said to Dan Quayle. I've been to San Gimignano, and that's no San Gimignano.
ReplyDeleteThat was a shame Sharon, the new condos look tres functional but not as attractive. Gosh I hate to think how many businesses are not going to survive this crisis 😱
ReplyDeleteIt does look like a good place. I regret that we are going to have a very different life going forward for a couple of years as restaurants, theaters, museums, etc., all decide that they suffered too much economic harm during the lockdowns and can't reopen.
ReplyDeleteAh, a shame.
ReplyDelete