[gitmo]

On the low-income east side of Charlotte, N.C., the 1.1-million-square-foot Eastland Mall recently lost a slew of key tenants, including a Dillard's and, next month, a Sears. Sales per square foot at the venue fell to $210 in 2008 from $288 in 2001.

When we moved to Charlotte 20 years ago, my wife took me to Eastland Mall, where she had been shopping a lot. I told her to never go there again, that I'd pay for the gas to drive to safe malls. Back then it was fully occupied with nice stores, but my Spider Sense told me crime in the mall was a problem. (She doesn't tend to notice that sort of thing.) I've now extended that warning to include a Wal-Mart she likes to go to.

[Tax-chick]

The Albemarle Road Wal-mart? We go to Monroe Mall once in a while, when I need something from J.C. Penney, but the Wal-Mart there has gone from somewhat-crummy to desperately crummy in the last three years. Fortunately, we’re close to a newer one.