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Thread: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

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    Featured Member jasmine22's Avatar
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    Default Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    I was recently at the mall. I haven't been there in a long time and there was hardly anyone there. I went to go to a specific store....only to find out they closed. Actually a couple stores closed. I'm thinking that malls will go away in about 10 years.

    The only thing is I like trying on shoes and clothes, something you can't do online.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    Depends on where you live. The malls where I grew up have a lot of empty stores & during the 2008 financial crisis, a couple major chain stores closed up for good.

    I personally think Malls need to change their business model. One of the bigger ones close to my aunt's house got sold in a foreclosure sale....that's pretty crazy. IMO with Internet shopping and some people not having as much disposable income, the model of mall selling isn't as applicable anymore.

    Maybe this is a good thing, I know rents for space in Malls are always high.

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    Financial stats show that 'upscale' malls are doing better than ever, while 'blue collar' malls are in deep trouble. This follows similar sales trends in other market segments i.e. Ferrari and Louis Vuitton setting sales records. The reason is arguably attributable to the fact that only the highest earning 10% of Americans have seen their 'discretionary' incomes increase over the past decade ( mostly thanks to stock and bond gains ).

    As to the 'drive to the mall' versus 'buy online' business model, until recently the high cost of gasoline and the additional cost of state and local sales taxes placed 'blue collar' malls at a significant disadvantage. Gasoline prices have dropped a bit over the last few months ... but ... rising prices for other 'necessary' expenditure items like property taxes ( = rents ), insurance premiums, some food prices, etc. have more or less eaten up the savings provided by lower gas prices.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    Malls in my area are becoming more of an entertainment destination than strictly for shopping purposes. The mall closest to my house recently opened up a couple of tasting rooms; one for beer the other for bourbon. There are also a large number of salon services available in the mall as well as a ton of restaurants and bars. There is a special segment of the parking lot dedicated to a farmer's market 3 mornings a week. There are also workout studios and health clubs in and near the mall. There is also a car dealership in one of the anchor stores as well as a Tesla dealership in one of the smaller boutique shops.

    All the malls in the region have indoor playgrounds for families. One of the biggest malls in Portland, Lloyd Center, is about to become a major business, entertainment, residential, outdoor green spaces and retail hub. They are also keeping the indoor ice skating rink which has been there since the mall was built. Swanky grocery stores are opening at malls, with cooking classes and appliance/ kitchen retailers in the same space as the grocery store/ cooking school.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    I hate malls. I only loved them when i was in high school and it was the only place to hang, and work. When i moved to a subburb in the desert and asked eveyone who lived there what there was to do to during the intense summer months, they all said that the place to be was at the mall...yuck! Even though they are still pretty busy in the city, I could think of a thpusand other ways to shop.

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    Senior Member salzsieder67's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    The indoor mall in my area is dying a slow death, but the two outdoor malls that mimic a downtown neighbourhood are both going like gang busters. In addition to what Melonie and Tourdefranzia said I think how people like to shop has changed from what they were 15/20 years ago.

    Personally I never liked shopping at the indoor malls, and I still prefer going to my local stores first.

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    Featured Member minnow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    I don't just go to the malls to shop- I go to buy. I haven't seen any nearby malls shuttering. If anything, they tend to cram more stores into a limited space. "Detached" stores crowding out the already cramped parking spaces, more kiosks, etc. Outlet malls away from major metro areas don't seem to be hurting, given the challenge of finding a parking space.

    Yes, I've done more online purchases now vs when I first joined SW. I'm not ready to throw out the baby with the bathwater as I still like to physically sense what I'm getting. (clothing, furniture, cologne, etc.)
    I'm right 96% of the time. I don't sweat the other 5% .......................

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    I was just at the mall pretty recently (I loathe shopping so it's rare that I'll go) and it was pretty busy. While online shopping works for some people, there are always going to be others, like me and my mom, with irregular body types, who have a hard time finding clothes that fit well and flatter our figure. My mom is 63, all kinds of stylish and hates the idea of "Gramma clothes." I have a 15 inch difference between my waist and hips and a 12 inch difference between my bust and waist. We have to try everything on and most of what's out there doesn't fit.

    Malls will never close.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    The mall I shopped at as a teen just closed up. It had a lot to do with demographic changes. The mall I shopped at as a child closed many years ago but stood as a deadmall for over 30 years and was probably the most famous deadmall thanks to its place in pop culture. There is a mall I do go to but often it's just to walk around and buy pretzels.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    when i go to the mall it's always packed with people

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    I still shop at malls for clothing and shoes, but little else.

    Also, Melonie's stats are consistent with what I have been seeing in real life. Lower end malls, being those with cheap retailers, are becoming ghost towns and many are shuttering. I think that online shopping has something to do with it, but I also believe that big box stores like Walmart, Home Depot and others have forced many of the old retailers that used to be in these malls out of business. The relative advantage still retained by higher end malls is that they sell higher end merchandise that (1) is not sold by the box stores; and (2) that many people still need to see and/or try on in person.

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    Featured Member Vamp's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    It depends on what you mean by mall. When I hear mall i think of indoor malls of the 80s, food courts, skylights, and kids hanging out by the escalators.
    Here in the midwest that mall is dead. I travel a good bit. The old malls of the 80s are vast waste lands in most towns. I think people work longer hours now for less money. The last thing they want to do is walk for eternity to shop for clothes and then go to the grocery store. Thats why the box stores are popular. One stop shopping for everything. Teenagers now hang out online instead of the food court.

    What I do see, and some call them malls, are shopping areas like the Grove in LA. A cluster of stores together that advertise as a group with a name ie The Landing, The Grove etc. They have a wide selection of stores from upscale to novelty to lower end purchases. Sometimes they have a center area for concerts, weekly farmers markets, or art shows etc. This is where you go to have some fun and shop. It is completely open air. The only shared cost is the advertising. Which in some areas of the midwest makes it more affordable for the merchants.
    These are huge in the midwest right now, especially on weekends, in addition to the box stores that people usually visit during the week for daily purchases.
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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    Quote Originally Posted by Vamp View Post
    It depends on what you mean by mall. When I hear mall i think of indoor malls of the 80s, food courts, skylights, and kids hanging out by the escalators.
    Here in the midwest that mall is dead. I travel a good bit. The old malls of the 80s are vast waste lands in most towns. I think people work longer hours now for less money. The last thing they want to do is walk for eternity to shop for clothes and then go to the grocery store. Thats why the box stores are popular. One stop shopping for everything. Teenagers now hang out online instead of the food court.

    What I do see, and some call them malls, are shopping areas like the Grove in LA. A cluster of stores together that advertise as a group with a name ie The Landing, The Grove etc. They have a wide selection of stores from upscale to novelty to lower end purchases. Sometimes they have a center area for concerts, weekly farmers markets, or art shows etc. This is where you go to have some fun and shop. It is completely open air. The only shared cost is the advertising. Which in some areas of the midwest makes it more affordable for the merchants.
    These are huge in the midwest right now, especially on weekends, in addition to the box stores that people usually visit during the week for daily purchases.
    That's what I was thinking. I was a teen/pre teen in the 80's and back then it was the thing to go to malls. Me and my friends would shop, go for lunch then sometimes a movie. My big thing to buy was music and this one store specialized in the music I liked. I would buy my clothes at the upscale stores because the alternatives were the cheap clothing stores. Now though most people buy at the chains or online, not to mention how income has changed.

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    Featured Member jasmine22's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    What if it became where everyone bought everything online, and there were no more stores? That would feel strange but honestly it wouldn't really bother me that much. Except if I had to buy groceries online, bc there's no way they could be that fresh. Then again I don't think the produce in grocery stores is anyway, I prefer an open air market. When I was in Europe there was no real mall, it was all outdoor market/street shopping. I wish this is something that was more in my area.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    I don't think malls will ever go out of business. Even with online shopping. Too many people, myself included, need to try stuff on and see and feel the stuff we buy, up close and in person. That is why I don't like online shopping. Plus, it's fun to meet people there to hang out, shop, see a movie, eat, etc. Going to the mall is a social thing and always will be. I agree with previous posters though, that small town malls with cheap retailer stores are going down. It seems like all the cheap stores are going out of business...I'm not complaining lol.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    I hate going to the mall.

    I usually stick to my favourite stores and order online. Already knowing my size in a particular brand saves the headache of having to go try on different sizes in person, facing the crowds and talking to annoying sales people. For lingerie though, it's a different story...

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    The new thing I've noticed is- "Outlet Malls" where the claim is these big name companies send "discounted" items there but in reality at least half of the store is regular priced items.

    It's not bad at all, it's a nice experience. But prices aren't any lower than hitting up a mall store or stand alone store.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    I haven't noticed much of a difference at my local malls, I go to the mall maybe once or twice per month. I only shop for clothes at places where I can feel the fabric, texture and see the true color of the item, unless I'm buying stripper stuff then I don't really care. But I enjoy shopping for things that I am going to wear in person, so I can experience what I am going to buy before buying it. I think many people are similar. I don't think malls are going away, but I do think that certain malls stop being fashionable. There is a dead mall around OKC that has like 8 stores left in it. I'm surprised it isn't shut down yet, but that place used to be poppin'. Now people just got to better malls.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    Quote Originally Posted by Kellydancer View Post
    That's what I was thinking. I was a teen/pre teen in the 80's and back then it was the thing to go to malls. Me and my friends would shop, go for lunch then sometimes a movie. My big thing to buy was music and this one store specialized in the music I liked. I would buy my clothes at the upscale stores because the alternatives were the cheap clothing stores. Now though most people buy at the chains or online, not to mention how income has changed.
    This is bringing back wonderful memories of Sam Goody/ Musicland and Tiffany performing in the food court. Things that will never, ever happen again, lol!

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    Yeah it sadly is a bygone era. Someone posted a photo of a mall in 1989 and I realized things have changed so much.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    So true. The mall that I used to go to as a teenager is on the Dangerous Buildings list, due to structural damage from scrappers and massive mold infestation.

    Quite sad.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    I love malls when my anxiety and depression isn't out of control. I'm a sights, sounds, touch person and finding a bargin and shopping is a huge adrenaline rush you can't get online. Neimans is one of my favorite places to go and I get tons of free samples of revive ( about 200 worth) so i love going.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    Quote Originally Posted by jasmine22 View Post
    What if it became where everyone bought everything online, and there were no more stores? That would feel strange but honestly it wouldn't really bother me that much. Except if I had to buy groceries online, bc there's no way they could be that fresh. Then again I don't think the produce in grocery stores is anyway, I prefer an open air market. When I was in Europe there was no real mall, it was all outdoor market/street shopping. I wish this is something that was more in my area.
    Honestly americans are lazy. I use to love gong to blockbuster and getting movies. everything today is "lets just make people more lazy". There's no more experience, customer service sucks( unless it's a high end place). Hell I always wished there was a 24 hour mall.

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    What if it became where everyone bought everything online, and there were no more stores? That would feel strange but honestly it wouldn't really bother me that much. Except if I had to buy groceries online, bc there's no way they could be that fresh. Then again I don't think the produce in grocery stores is anyway
    everything today is "lets just make people more lazy". There's no more experience, customer service sucks( unless it's a high end place).
    This all points to the new downscale retail business model which seems to be emerging ...

    - online ordering with far fewer sales and service people ( some of whom are located in foreign countries earning $3 per hour )
    - 'fulfillment center' bulk warehouses employing far more robots / automation than people
    - delivery by 'drones' as soon as they can work out the technology and necessary regulatory changes, thus far fewer delivery people

    In terms of business model, there's no way that a blue collar 'brick and mortar' mall, with minimum wage sales people, with property taxes and utility bills, with increasing 'security' costs etc. can effectively compete with the emerging Amazon / Overstock etc. online retailer's cost structure. Blue collar malls have also been losing ground to the big box retailers for years.

    Thus it's likely that only high-end upscale malls, with premium consumer goods, with premium personal services, with premium entertainment etc. being sold by caring and capable ( and well above minimum wage ) sales people, will thrive in the future. However, given that only the top 10% of Americans are earning enough money to afford these premium goods and services, surviving high-end upscale malls are likely to be far fewer in number, with far fewer total workers.
    Last edited by Melonie; 03-08-2015 at 05:30 PM.

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    Default Re: Does anyone shop at the mall anymore?

    There are two malls in Durham. One down scale and not too busy. But, the owners have very little debt on the place, so it's probably making good money for them. The other is very upscale but went through bankruptcy a couple of years ago. Now every penny of profit is dedicated to servicing their new debt, so it hasn't gotten any real refresh since it opened 12 years ago. Financially, it's in a death spiral. But, the stores were busy around Christmas. I don't go to either, except when I go to the movies with BF.

    My mall shopping now is mainly trips to Neiman's when I'm in DC, or the quickie dash of to Nordstrum's here in Durham. But, for every dollar I spend at a bricks and mortar store, I probably spend ten online.

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