In related news, “Recovery Summer - pt. 5” now playing at a mall cinema near you: http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-dead-shopping-malls-2014-7?op=1
I would guess that there area number of factors in the death of malls.
1)High rents = higher markups = inability to compete with Walmart, Amazon, etc.
2)Stagnant economy & unemployment mean fewer shoppers.
3)Middle class moved further away.
4)Uncontrolled packs of feral “youth” ran the remaining customers away. Feral “youth” buy little, steal a lot. Management & stockholders say, “Why bother...goodby!”