I was at the mall yesterday at 10:00 and they had a massive crew in there gutting the place. I did not walk over to peek in the door (the outside doors were open and a temp wall was built inside), but from what I could see coming out of there and the sounds that I heard, they were removing trim from the walls and at least had some areas down to metal studs, which I could hear being cut with a reciprocating saw.

I doubt there are much in the way of pictures left by now unless they were saved carefully or are doing construction in a very limited area. (again, it did not appear to be the case from what I saw looking in from the main mall entrance.

This also leads me to beleiove that contrary to what is in the N&O, they definitely have a tenant lined up already.

Ruby Tuesday closings are common across the country; they over-expanded, as did Applebee’s. The recession has not been kind to casual dining chains.

Irony: at one time Ruby Tuesday was owned by Morrison’s, the company that also acquired the Piccadilly cafeteria chain. Crabtree Valley Mall had a Piccadilly for many years.

What still irritates me about Crabtree is that they forced Dunderbak’s to close in the food court upstairs — and then never leased the space to another tenant.

DARN, Lee.

Good point, ct, and I REALLY miss Mr. Dunderbaks.

I still have not fully gotten over the closing of Dunderbaks. Holiday shopping always meant a stop there for me and my friend. When I walked into that place I felt like I was in another world, if only for a little while. I loved the classic reuben plate.

The North Face will open in the location.