We’ve heard from a reliable birdie that the former Hardware Store location is being converted to an Urban Outfitters. It makes sense given the store’s size and the standard size of U.O. shops.

If you recall, one of our other birdies told us in September that a clothing store was in the mix for a possible lease of the once famous restaurant. This does conflict with the rumor that the X-Lounge people were behind something.

We think this rumor has some wings and it looks like the cat is finally out of the bag. Thank you birdie! I’m sure mall people are not happy about this.

Update from danpri…possibly not finalized, due to a lack of official inking.

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NBC29 brought up an interesting fear about vacancies on the downtown mall.  Taking the recent Order from Horder closing into consideration, the reporters discovered the fear of shop owners and tourists.  I.e…

“When you’re not used to seeing them, the public comes down and says ‘oh my gosh, look at the empty storefronts.’ So it’s like a shock,” said Morgan Perkins owner of the Art Gallery.

Maybe this is a shock, I don’t know.  Off the top of my head, I can think of the following vacancies:

• A&N (near Ventana)
• that Real Estate Office
• Order from Horder
• That block of buildings next to Wachovia
• Hardware Store (is it completely leased?)
• Merrill Lynch Building (near the transit center)
• Landmark Hotel/Boxerjam (soon to be not vacant)

I am not sure that a fear strikes all of you when you look at stores, but there do seem to be a lot of vacancies.  Did I miss any? Is it just not a great time for the economy?  Where are all the national chains?!  Where’s the Apple Store?

[via NBC 29]

We heard the rumor from 2 sources that the Hardware Store was leased by someone from the X-Lounge team.

We also heard they are going to serve nothing but Spam (OK, that’s a lie).

Does anyone know more deets?