I went to a high school that was across the road from a shopping mall. On occasion we might ditch last class to hang at the mall and spend our allowance at the Deb shop or Fashion Bug or play video games, goof off, then sit at the food court waiting for the last bell to ring and the rest of the crowd to come meandering over and catch up on the latest gossip. The demographics changed a great deal some 15 years after I graduated and then the mall failed and was eventually torn down. This has happened to many a town. It’s a shame.
Ah, the arcades...the best reason to go to the mall. My town never had one (though a few were 20 minutes’ drive away), instead we now have a Wal-Mart that is just a magnet for criminals from neighboring Newark & Jersey City. I wouldn’t go there after 8 in the morning...
BTW, I believe the open borders policies are designed to keep these (and other) businesses open.