Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Up to 25% of U.S. shopping malls may close in the next five years, report says
Los Angeles Times ^ | 5/31/17 | Makeda Easter

Posted on 05/31/2017 7:07:46 PM PDT by markomalley

Between 20% and 25% of the nation’s shopping malls will close in the next five years, according to a new report from Credit Suisse that predicts e-commerce will continue to pull shoppers away from bricks-and-mortar retailers.

For many, the Wall Street firm’s finding may come as no surprise. Long-standing retailers are dying off as shoppers’ habits shift online. Credit Suisse expects apparel sales to represent 35% of all e-commerce by 2030, up from 17% today.

Traditional mall anchors, such as Macy’s, J.C. Penney and Sears, have announced numerous store closings in recent months. Clothiers including American Apparel, Bebe and BCBG Max Azria have filed for bankruptcy. The report estimates that around 8,640 stores will close by the end of the year.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: americaindecline; americanapparel; layoffs; retail; serviceeconomy; trends
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-59 next last
I don't see the loss here.
1 posted on 05/31/2017 7:07:46 PM PDT by markomalley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: markomalley

A shopping mall would sub divide into really cool condos.


2 posted on 05/31/2017 7:08:57 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

But where will the youth hang out? Who will babysit them?


3 posted on 05/31/2017 7:09:24 PM PDT by MNDude (God is not a Republican, but Satan is certainly a Democratt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

When you spend so much money on health insurance, you don’t have any disposable income for shopping.


4 posted on 05/31/2017 7:10:05 PM PDT by Bodleian_Girl (Don't check the news, check Cernovich on Twitter)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

There’s anecdotal evidence in my area, that there are numerous vacancies in malls. I’m not aware of any malls having shut down entirely, but they are definitely seeing tenants relocate or go out of business.


5 posted on 05/31/2017 7:13:01 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

My hometown didn’t have a mall until I was in high school.

Main street took the hit when big stores took over; really, against the will of the people.


6 posted on 05/31/2017 7:14:07 PM PDT by donna (There are now roughly 3,200 mosques in America, nearly three times as many as there were in 2000.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: central_va

More likely they will rebuild with something entirely new. The mall I grew up with in the ‘70s was totally demolished recently, to make way for a condo development with some kind of shopping “town center” whatever that may be.


7 posted on 05/31/2017 7:14:53 PM PDT by Enchante (Searching throughout the country for one honest Democrat....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

or. they may not.

retard feed.


8 posted on 05/31/2017 7:15:26 PM PDT by Eddie01
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

I agree that E - commerce is killing the brick and mortar store. I wanted some additional memory for my computers. I could have driven five miles to Fry’s and got some that day but I checked for compatible components and bought online. Fry’s is dying.

I was sad when Borders closed, as they had a much better history selection than Barnes and Noble. So I bought a Kindle and download what I want instantly at roughly half the cost of a hardbound book.

A place for something like Lowes will probably be the last holdout, as buying lumber and paint online is not yet feasible.


9 posted on 05/31/2017 7:19:37 PM PDT by henkster (Orwell, Rand and Huxley would not be proud of our society, but they'd have no trouble recognizing it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

The traditional indoor shopping mall is going the way of the dodo bird unless it has a “tentpole” tenant to draw in shoppers like an Apple Store or Nordstroms. What is replacing them are large outdoor shopping centers with large box stores next to each other.


10 posted on 05/31/2017 7:19:49 PM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
First the complaint was online firms were not subject to sales tax. Now that is gone, they are still complaining. When these malls die off and the cities are not getting their property taxes off them, another flow of complaints will arise. Lost jobs, payroll taxes, and other revenue will be gone, leaving cities with empty malls and revenue. The real culprit here is the never ending, voracious appetite for revenue. When public entities can control their lust for money, control spending, and live within their means, this will cease to be a problem. Unfortunately, it will never happen.
11 posted on 05/31/2017 7:21:41 PM PDT by Fungi (No tagline. Suggestions invited.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: henkster
we also have an aging population....I for one have no desire to walk a mall searching for things....

neither do I want to hang out with the tattooed ring nosed little darlings....

frankly, our needs our much less.....

12 posted on 05/31/2017 7:24:29 PM PDT by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: central_va

Absolutely.

It would have to be a condo association, but I can imagine a very ice place where you walk outside the door and there’d be a really nice atmospheric controlled place for long walks and a real community environment.

You could also have shops, restaurants, churches...

It would be a self-contained community, and could be very upscale.


13 posted on 05/31/2017 7:25:49 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Happy days are here again!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Malls need to reinvent themselves, or die. A mall a mile away from me totally remodeled and doubled its size, offering better restaurants and movie theaters. Another one also a mile away is currently remodeling and doubling its size. I expect them to offer more than just clothing stores. As in Karate dojos, entertainment other than movies, perhaps training centers for craftsmen, classrooms, etc. Something other to do than eat or buy clothing. Problem is, the high rents scare potential clients.


14 posted on 05/31/2017 7:26:12 PM PDT by roadcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: henkster
A place for something like Lowes will probably be the last holdout, as buying lumber and paint online is not yet feasible.

We just did something similar. My wife and I are remodeling her mom's home. We ordered a bunch of lumber, cement and materials online from Home Depot, and had it delivered from a warehouse miles away even though a store is near us. Much easier than us loading up and hauling it from the store. They dropped it via forklift at the driveway, and we carried it into the garage bit by bit.

15 posted on 05/31/2017 7:33:47 PM PDT by roadcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

I see the loss. Loss of jobs for one thing. Personally I still like to have stores around to see and feel the merchandize. Of course I buy a lot online. But I do not wish brick and mortar busnesses to die.


16 posted on 05/31/2017 7:34:20 PM PDT by plain talk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RayChuang88

Developers began moving away from indoor malls long before e-commerce, too. The advantage of a big-box shopping center with detached stores is that the property owner doesn’t have to pay the cost of heating and air conditioning for large corridors that generate very little revenue. Also, an outdoor shopping center will attract fewer mutants and thugs because they don’t want to hang around outside in the heat of cold.


17 posted on 05/31/2017 7:35:55 PM PDT by Alberta's Child
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: RayChuang88
What is replacing them are large outdoor shopping centers with large box stores next to each other.

I despise those - or some of them. They are absolute traffic nightmares. You can't just pull in, shop, and leave. You have to fight with a gazillion pedestrians crossing all over the place. Whoever designed these things needs a sound butt whipping.

18 posted on 05/31/2017 7:37:29 PM PDT by meyer (The Constitution says what it says, and it doesn't say what it doesn't say.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: All

The reason:

1. No federal tax on online shopping like Amazon or Ebay. The stores are try out places and people buy online.

2. Large numbers of ‘youths’ go to malls, buy little, scare the adult actual shoppers off. Attempt to kick them out and it results in cries of ‘racism!’

Big box store = come in, buy your stuff, and leave.

Even those are suffering if they sell electronics are other high end items easy to buy online.


19 posted on 05/31/2017 7:40:57 PM PDT by TigerClaws
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

I remember a couple of malls that died in the 1980s. One of the empty anchor stores was used on Sundays for a giant flea market. I have fond memories of buying many many comic books with my paper route money. And once in a while I’d wander out to the rest of the mall, which was empty and somewhat eerie.

Those flea markets had everything. Just wandering around after I’d spent the money I’d brought was entertainment enough.


20 posted on 05/31/2017 7:41:10 PM PDT by LostInBayport (When there are more people riding in the cart than there are pulling it, the cart stops moving...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-59 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson