But the flip side is, that with malls closing at an unprecedented rate, there is likely to be an associated increase in the filming of zombie movies.
Commercial property the next big shoe to fall ?
Such is the ‘Progressive’ plan, non profit consumption.
Sorry, I can’t help the retail industry, I am on a Capital Strike. I have to save my money for the tax increases that are coming.
No, I’m not in the top percentile. But you know it’s coming.
Ummmm..., I’m sure I’ve been reading on these FReeper threads that this “economic disaster” really isn’t a disaster at all — because they say that the holiday sales have been *great* and people were shopping like crazy...
Why would the article call this a “dismal holiday shopping season” if holiday sales have been so great??
Just another way of looking at things...
When we moved here decades ago it was and has remained a mall free zone.
Just is no reason.
Have to say we survived with no side effects of not having access to one.
If Malls go empty do to retailers going belly up perhaps the new govt will set them up as indoor refugee camps.
On a happier note I had a dream I was in the Middle East and it was in total Peace. Big juicy Oranges were being brought down a hill side and I wore the local attire long dress and head scarf but went to a Catholic school were everyone dresses in the local culture attire very modest not the burka crap.
With everyone working at all the jobs created by Obama we won’t have time to shop anyway.
I just closed my mall based store that had been open for over 5 years....sales were down 40% from last year (and last year was not great)...mall owner would NOT renegotiate rental rate and that was it for me.
Short CBL stock and capitalize on their ineptitude.
A little dose of reality may be on the horizon and it's about time.
During the few times I shop, I like to get in and out quick so that usually means standalone big-box stores like Wal-Mart, Kohls or Best Buy that usually have huge parking lots you can quickly get in and out of.
If this keeps up, we’ll be reduced to a “guns and butter” economy before we know it.
Should I start hoarding food?
Malls are a ready in trouble.
Here’s one for you: The Inner Harbor Development in Baltimore is for sale, as the owner is trying to get it off the books to avoid bankruptcy.
The same outfit owns Tysons Galleria in McLean, Va.
2009 is going to be another messy year.
The mall parking lots around here were ghost towns before Christmas. Even Best Buy, usually packed before Christmas, didn’t have their “snake lines” setup for customers waiting for the register.
Now, the day AFTER Christmas, the mall was packed. Every spot was taken and some made their own spots. Never seen that before.
The International Council of Shopping Centers??? Sheesh, I need to create me a useless council or organization and start charging some dues.
Oh great, now where will the teenagers and old folks hang out?
I have a buddy that works at Wal Mart. He says that he WISHES there was a slowdown. he saw people buying I-Pods and computer games, not exactly things that should sell during a “recession”.
The story is that retailers depend on Christmas so that after this lousy Christmas many retailers go under. I don’t think this Christmas will turn out so bad
I was at Fry’s Electronics on Friday when I went there to buy a 42” 1080p 120hz Toshiba LCD HD TV for only $848. My wife had to be to the doctor in the morning so we were not busting down the doors. I got there at about 1pm and figured they’d probably be out of the advertised TV by then. First off, the crowd was pretty light. I walked back to the TV section without having to say ‘excuse me’ even once! Then the TV guy tells me they’d had five of the ad special TV’s and they usually sell out when the doors open - but they’d only sold TWO by 1pm. I bought my TV and the next day the lowest price within 300 miles was $1499.00 - so for almost 1/2 off no one was in a hurry to buy! Just on this one little indicator I’d say we have scary times ahead. Natch, I’ll be able to watch it all in HD! :-P