Malls think outside the (big) box

CNN ^ | September 9, 2009 | Beth Kowitt

[TBP]

A freeze in consumer spending, abysmal same-store sales, and a swath of retail bankruptcies have taken a serious toll on your local mall.

Nationwide, mall vacancy rates hover at 8.4%, their highest level since commercial real estate research firm REIS started collecting the data almost a decade ago. To keep their storefronts full, mall operators are starting to get creative when it comes to their definition of a tenant.

[TBP]

An intersting adjustment to a down economy. That's the way the market should work: when things are slow, get creative.

[MsLady]

Funny how creative people can be during hard times. Yes, this is how it should be. This is how people learn to survive.

[org.whodat]

They are creating, nothing like false mall vacancy figures. The rate was that high 5 years ago.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Are they creating any stores that sell strictly conservative items, like Obama Joker posters?

[Buckeye McFrog]

Visit the new Cash-4-Plasma location on the Lower Level between Hot Topic and the Food Court....