Chicago snob Democrat says it's "disgusting" that Target might replace Macy's at Water Tower Place

North Michigan Avenue after May 2020's 
rioting and looting

Oh, this story is rich. Not money rich--but irony rich. 

As I've remarked many times here of late, Chicago is a city in decline. Rampant public corruption and fiscal mismanagement--lowlighted by the worst-funded big city pension plan in America--as well as widespread violent crime, have taken their toll. Oh, don't forget Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Governor J.B. Pritzker's draconian COVID-19 lockdowns. Let's see, what else is there? Oh yeah, two rounds of city-wide looting last summer. North Michigan Avenue, also known as the Magnificient Mile, was devastated both times. And since the riots carjackings have skyrocketed all over Chicago.

Late last year the Gap announded it was bailing on North Michigan Avenue. And while Macy's suggested it might leave Water Tower Place farther up on the Mile early last year, post-riots of course, the top-tier retailer revealed in January it was bailing too. 

One elitist, a longtime Democratic politician, is doing a Marie Antoinette impersonation for the peasants.

From the Chicago Tribune:

It's a possibility opposed by at least one high-profile resident of Chicago’s famous shopping avenue. Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, who lives near the vertical mall, on Friday spoke out against Target's potential arrival on the avenue in an interview on WGN Radio. 

Pappas said a Target store would damage the reputation of Michigan Avenue and nearby Oak Street as destinations for higher-end retailers. 

Pappas' comments came amid widespread rumors of a Target deal on the street and in real estate circles, but it’s unclear how close Target is to signing a deal at Water Tower Place, which is owned by Brookfield Properties.

"How embarrassing is this to the city," Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said during the radio interview. "I'm trying to figure out what is magnificent on the Magnificent Mile about Target? It's disgusting. I'm like, what are you thinking Brookfield?" 

Sheesh. Brookfield is thinking, correctly, that a discount retailer in the old Macy's space is better than nothing at all. 

Clearly Pappas is out of touch with her rank-and-file Cook County residents such as myself. Oh, I shop at Macy's and Target. Wal-Mart too! She added that Brookfield is "so desperate they would take anybody who would give them a dollar to get into the building." 

Chicago's decline often gets me thinking about Detroit--and today my mind ventures to the first Robocop movie, where a running punchline is, "I'd buy that for a dollar!"

Oh, when will a Dollar Store open up on the Not-So-Magnificent Mile? 

Not content to shut up, Pappas spewed some more, "You don't put Target next to Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and everything else on Oak Street. It's a no-no. It demeans the quality of Michigan Avenue." 

Okay, I've never step foot in a Gucci or a Louis Vuitton. Regardless, it's fair to ask whether such elite retailers will stick around the Magnicient Mile.

The dominoes are falling.

Oh, shame on you Chicago Tribune. Your article doesn't even mention last summer's looting and rioting on the Mag Mile.