Is The Mall Dead?

New malls like the Americana at Brand are trending toward "lifestyle centers" because retailers want recreational shopping to become a lifestyle. These ersatz, Disneyfied town squares kill genuine town centers filled with independent businesses which are often active participants in the communities they inhabit. You can see LA's real downtown from the Americana's 6-story parking structure; why not shop there?

What does this mean for the G8 and global planners who still favor a growth economy?
That always equated with constantly increasing consumption.
But there is indeed a movement toward making a lighter footprint on the earth; you can see it in magazines like "Real Simple".
For menu planning, I recommend "Eating More With Less" by Doris Jantzen Longacre.

Maybe cash will become the "in thing" instead of fake plastic

Will a bank loan me $400,000 so I can buy a home in Switzerland?

The end of temples of consumerism and irresponsibility? Sweet.
The demise of a culture of greed? No problem.
Redevelop them under HUD when the bank forcloses into housing? Not sure.

Just turn them inside out! Take the metal fire exit doors at the backs of the stores, replace them with glass walls, put up XX% off signs, and change the big signs from "malls" to "outlets" and watch the shoppers flock to them!

Just turn them inside out! Take the metal fire exit doors from the back/outside of the mall, replace them with fancy glass walls and doors, put up signs that say "whatever sale" and/or "entire store up to XX%" off, and the customers will flock to them!

Just turn them inside out! Take the metal fire exit doors at the backs of the stores, replace them with glass walls, put up XX% off signs, and change the big signs from "malls" to "outlets" and watch the shoppers flock to them!