Is the mall concept dying?

[JohnT]

Quote from the Star-Telegram, 1-26-07, Condos a Tougher Sell:

Expect Wal-Mart to continue to expand all across Tarrant County with different store concepts, as well as power centers, or shopping centers that feature a variety of stores, said Jim Makens, president of The Makens Co. Ikea, the furniture and home-furnishings sensation, for example, may join the mix at the Arlington Highlands, off Interstate 20 near Texas 360, in 2008, he said. "The mall is a dying breed," Makens said.

What do you think? Malls seemed to have replaced many shopping centers years ago. Are shopping centers now beginning to replace malls? Does each cater to a different type of shopper/consumer?

[Stephen H]

I dunno, the malls sure seem plenty crowded.

Garland recently got a new "mall", the Firewheel Town Center- but it's not an indoor mall, it's a bunch of mall-type stores all at the same place. It's great if the weather is nice, won't be as much fun if raining or hot or cold.

[lscottpht]

I don't know. I just got home from Stonebriar, and it was already getting busy when it first opened at 10am. That mall is always packed.

[babybluetx23]

I really do think the idea of "The mall" is dying. I pass by Arlington Heights all the time and realize that everything is starting to look like that now. For those of you who pass by the OUtlet shops in Allen, that is similar to what The Arlington Heights shopping area looks like. Heck with Kohls being a department store independent of the mall, really why cant the rest of the department stores do the same? Why cant they attach themselves to a shopping center like The outlet in allen or Arlington Heights? It makes a LOT more sense then these malls that are only around for 10 - 15 years and then die because another bigger, better mall came around. Then the silly building sits there either unoccupied or occupied by these fly by night type family owned stores that constantly go out of business. Just my 2 cents

[brad]

And the shops at Legacy.. nice place, not like a mall at all... but similar stores available.

And if they put an Ikea in at The Highlands, I will have to move.. dear heavens, I wouldn't want to drive past that traffic all the time.

[venchka]

If malls must rely on me to stay alive they are already DEAD!

[kenw]

ikea?

pronounced: icky-a......

[ShutteredEye]

Before we were married my wife used to leave across the way from the Parks Mall in Arlington. Around Christmas it was HELL getting to and from her apartment. And that was 5 years ago.

[Glen_A]

Originally Posted by venchka

If malls must rely on me to stay alive they are already DEAD!

Same here! I hardly ever step into one. I am not agoraphobic but I do hate crowds and don't care much for shopping. I think Malls are designed more with women in mind anyhow. Ever notice all of the women's clothing stores, shoe stores, jewelry stores, candle shops etc? What do I need with all of that? I can get my sneakers and my fishing stuff at Academy. I usually buy clothes about once a year or so. I can find movie theatres that aren't in malls ( I recently discovered Movie Tavern where you can get served a meal, adult beverages if you like etc. while watching a movie and love it!). The local Walmart and Home Depot cover most of my other needs. From Thanksgiving till a week after Christmas I will take detours because I don't even want to get close to a mall then.

[Hogleg 44]

Originally Posted by venchka

If malls must rely on me to stay alive they are already DEAD!

Me Too. I dread going to malls!
Especially NE Mall since Hurst Absolutely Shafted a bunch of nice people for the sake of extra tax revenue!

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Hogleg 44

Me Too. I dread going to malls!
Especially NE Mall since Hurst Absolutely Shafted a bunch of nice people for the sake of extra tax revenue!

I take it you're talking about all those homes that used be over there. I vaguely remember that.

[Daniel Bates]

What's a mall? I haven't been in one since I was nine or ten. Maybe.

[Hogleg 44]

Originally Posted by JohnT

I take it you're talking about all those homes that used be over there. I vaguely remember that.

Yep. There were once a couple of hundred nice middle class homes there... No More... Eminent domain.

[Janice_d]

I Love Ikea..and will go there any day over a Mall.. I think Malls are designed for the people who like to Gather.. and socialize.. and you do see mostly women and children there. And usually the shops are designed for the more Elite group of people...If I do go to a mall its because of the young adults I work with that want to EAT certain food from the food court and then we see a movie..NONE of them.. are shoppers , Thank goodness..I have introduced them to Target, FredMeyer and WALMART here, Now they beg to go to walmart. There is big controversy over Walmart out on the west coast..so we dont have as many. If you ever get into an Ikea store.. go eat the swedish meatballs at the cafeteria.. LOL

[markfh]

I think of them more as Mauls now... I hate to go there and there's not much there that I would buy.