topic Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble in Fashion

Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

handygal2 — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:33:43 GMT

Almost half of the malls in the United States are in danger of closing in the next few years. This is sobering news.

Here's the link to a brief article:

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

2blonde — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:41:42 GMT

I suppose online shopping and outlet stores have a lot to do with this. Where I live in a NE Ohio suburb of 50,000, our city is well known for it's retail. We have a large mall here that was built maybe 45 years ago. They've maintained it well, added on, and upgraded it several times. It's still a popular place to shop, and I see no danger of it closing any time soon. People come from other cities to shop there, so that helps too.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

GATORGIRL — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:43:18 GMT

I am old enough to remember when shopping malls first became popular.

Wow.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

ChynnaBlue — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:45:21 GMT

That's not a surprise - they've been on the decline for years. Most new malls are being built as 'lifestyle centers' - mixed-use properties, with apartments, offices, stores, restaurants, and services in one place.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

Kachina624 — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:45:52 GMT

I live 15 minutes from a large mall but haven't been there in years. I now do all my shopping online, with clothes coming mostly from QVC. I can no longer do the walking mall shopping requires.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

StylishLady — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:48:05 GMT

As time passes, things come and go. Large enclosed malls are the latest. We have one near me that seems to be doing well. The anchor stores are still open, and other smaller spaces do not stay empty for long. Down to my south, the two large open type malls seem to be doing better. Outparcels are still getting new restaurants built on them and there are few if any vacant properties.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

Vivian — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:55:14 GMT

Time marches on. In my small city there was an uproar in the early 1970s when our local mall was built. Protesters lamented the effects the mall would have on downtown shopping. Now it's the malls that are threatened. Onlne shopping has supplanted those visits to the mall. What goes around comes around.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

Snicks1 — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:00:14 GMT

It's all cyclical.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

colliegirls — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:02:32 GMT

One of our malls seems to be slowly taken over by low lives, that is why I don't go. It has become a hang out instead of a shopping experience.

Our other malls seem to be doing well. I love to shop, on line shopping is not the thrill I get from shopping in real life.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

bonnielu — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:09:04 GMT

We had two malls. One has been closed for 20 years. Cannot get the city and the prospective tenants to agree. Too many regulations. And in any case over time everyone is shopping online. Only busy place is Walmart and Costco.

I shop Amazon mostly and I guess that makes me part of the problem. But I get free shipping and I don't have to spend time looking for things. Catalogue shopping works well for me as well. I get great deals online and also by catalogue, some with no shipping charges and some with no tax. And I use Ebates and get cash back.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

Q4u — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:14:43 GMT

We have a Mall in our town of 50k and it was built in the 60's. It's enclosed and they may/may not go out of business. The anchor stores are Sears (a tomb).... Pennys (was very popular until they revamped their selling style, reverted back about a year or two ago and is still recovering because of less stock, closing their men's plus dept and no Sephora)..... and Dillards (which I love, but does not draw a ton of people even with their sales). they have three or four Cellphone stores (Meh), a JoAnnes (Meh), a few specialized stores that go in and out of business, one now being a Pashmina store (a big Meh)..... so.... it's disappointing that they don't try harder getting more popular stores in there. Shoppers tend to go to the Kohl's we have in another area, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc..... Disappointing and the really good shopping is jover 2 hours away.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

Carmie — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:15:04 GMT

In my area the kids have taken over. Mobs of teenagers hang out at the mall. Sometimes you can't even get inside without walking through a cloud of cigarette smoke. The food court is loud and full of kids waiting to get into the movie theatre.

Many older people walk in the mall in the mornings when the kids are in school. By 2 pm, the place is empty except for the teenagers. They hang out until closing time.

The anchor stores are on opposite ends of the mall with outside entrances. Those stores are busy and keep the kids out. Shoppers just avoid the mall at night.

Now I know that kids have no where else to go and most are not causing a problem, but we have had fights and gun fire on many occasions. The malls now have a bad reputation.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

ROMARY — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:17:16 GMT

Our local one is packed. I call it a 'mini-mall', not enclosed. Can't find a parking space unless I park there before 10 or 10:30am. Three medium sized anchor stores; restaurants. I do believe that restaurants and the food service industry are keeping busy malls busy. Lots of people enjoy hanging out in restaurants! A lot of non-retired folks of all ages, too.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

Q4u — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:17:48 GMT

I also think that Internet Shopping is wonderful.... BUT.... we (the U.S.) has given the Internet to the International Community (as of the end of Sept) and who knows what is in store for us in the future (taxes, etc.).....

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

Nightowlz — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:20:43 GMT

No doubt ours will be one of them. Our Mall stinks if you want to call it a Mall. For me it's no Mall like I have ever been in. It's so empty, only one level & the food court is joke. The Great American Cookie place is still open along with a slice of pizza or at least the pizza place was still there last time I was there. The only larger stores left in our Mall are Dillard's, Penney's & B&BW.

They keep saying we need to keep our dollars local. LOL!!! If they stocked what people needed or wanted to buy they might do that. I shop online a lot because I got tired of going from place to place looking for something that could not be found here. It's so ridiculous when you go to the grocery store & they are out of something & you have to go to another looking for it. Like Karo syrup or Marshmallow Creme during the holidays. If you don't get it early enough you have to keep going back to see if they have any stock yet. Generally have to go to more then one store to get everything I have on my list.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

truffle — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:26:59 GMT

@Snicks1 wrote:
It's all cyclical.

Cyclical? Business might be cyclical as there would be more people going to their local mall during the holidays but overall, online shopping has replaced foot traffic at shopping malls and that has lead to layoffs and closures.. It hurts property values because empty malls usually deteriorate and become a haven for the homeless and crime.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

Qshopper1991 — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:26:03 GMT

@Carmie

Same here. Wall to wall teens. Fights happen sometimes because of so many kids hanging out in there. I live 10 minutes from a major mall. I can count on my left hand how many times I've gone into it. During Christmas, I only shop online; I don't step one foot into a mall.

I'm just glad my daughter has a job (works at a pizza place) and no longer asks to be dropped off at the mall. It just seems like public places like this are so vulnerable to the crazies with guns. Scary stuff today. I'd be sooo happy if ours closed. It causes a lot of traffic, especially around the holidays.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

freakygirl — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:35:29 GMT

oh boy, i really hope that doesn't happen. i do a lot of online shopping, but i also do enjoy shopping in stores. you can't beat seeing the item up close, seeing the (exact) colors it's available in, trying it on, and then buying and maybe returning, without a shipping fee. i prefer it to online shopping. there's good stuff to buy both ways, and both are fun to do.

the malls where i live are very decent. a good crowd, no rowdy teens, and so far, safe.

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

Q4u — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:32:10 GMT

I have to say that our little Mall is delightful at Christmastime, the vendors (at the Kiosks) really go out of their way to decorate as well as the stores. It's beautiful and walking through the Mall is one of my favorite things to do and I always end up buying something.... just wish they'd do this all year long. I really don't want them closing up....

Re: Shopping Malls Are In Trouble

SilleeMee — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:40:00 GMT

The mall nearest me is mostly restaurants. The rest of the mall ecccchoooooes with emptiness. Really sad. All boarded-up and many "for lease" signs everywhere. Parking lot has weeds growing out the cracks in the pavement.