Women's apparel retailer Limited Stores files for bankruptcy

U.S. women's apparel chain The Limited filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday after closing all 250 stores, the latest brick-and-mortar retailer to fall victim to changing tastes and online competitors.

The retailer that began as a single store more than 50 years ago blamed declining mall traffic, falling sales, expensive leases and the shift toward online shopping.

Retailers filing for bankruptcy in the past year include Aeropostale Inc (AROPQ.PK), Pacific Sunwear of California Inc (PSUN.MU), Sports Authority, Vestis Retail Group and American Apparel.

In addition, department store chains such as Sears Holdings Corp (SHLD.O) and Macy's Inc (M.N) are planning on closing scores of locations this year....

Our Mall used to be crowded too. Now it is an open field... and the city bought it for millions of dollars with grand expensive plans — a cultural center, low income housing, etc.

Still an open field after 5 years. They do occasionally move the wooden stake markers and piles of dirt.

I’m Ops Dir for two malls, both outdoor types with mixed use residential and multi story offices. Quite a challenge to maintain, since they never truly close. But, they are so busy, you can barely find parking. Beautiful places, both. I do think it provides the “old time” feel of a main street shopping experience. The key is to drop the old retailers when they start to fade. Not pulling the numbers, not pulling the people. Gotta move on. If it stays fresh and very importantly, well maintained, then it’s a winner.

Well not one is saying so I will:

It is diversity that killed the mall. The mall worked well in the 1970s when it was a place for mom and the kids to go at night or the weekend, they could all shop on their own, be comfortable in summer (few had AC back then), warm in winter and there was shopping for everyone. Hobby shops for the boys, clothing for the girls. Most malls were 95 % white and reflected a high trust society.

Demographics changed through the late 1990s but the mall was still popular, though as time went on moms were much less likely to allow their kids to shop alone as they did in the 1970s. Starting about what 7 or 8 years ago, the flash mobs started to form at what had been mixed crowds. Once that happened women and their kids were no longer safe and so nighttime traffic dropped sharply. Young women who might have gone to the mall alone when they perceive it to be safe, (and likely account for the vast majority of browse and buy action) stopped going. last with the decline in cash form the 2008 economic crash, folks had less discretionary spending.

Now they build open Village malls in white areas once again, but eventually diversity catches up. The “New” open shop/ village format seems to work well as at least in the Christmas season, because in cold weather the flash mobs do not seem to form, at least here in the Northeast. Heck 25 years ago it was the same south street in Philly was pretty safe in January when cold, you did not go down in June. Why? well it has to do with diversities preferences in weather.

of course the above is not polite, but likely at least a major part why the shift in shop building.

“They all became “same as” everyone else.”

indeed. each season, some consortium of fag designers decide the two or three colors clothes will be for that season, and EVERY clothing store in the U.S. has only those colors (and the same 3-4 styles too). The net result is like living in the old Soviet Union or Mao’s China where central planners decide the colors and styles that will be available. Heaven help you if you want something different; just fuggedaboutit. Wait! Except the Internet has all kinds of stuff! And there you have it.

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