S/O Why are malls dying?

Which one charges for parking?   I want to make sure I don't go there!

Park Meadows is closest to me, and I go there once in a while, usually for Sephora, Lush & Hot Topic (for my daughter).   Those stores are all pretty close together too.    We'll get lunch at a place in the food court that has good honey chicken & bbq chicken too if we have time.    

I like Colorado Mills because it has a mix of regular stores and outlet stores.    I go to dinner over in that area about once a month with girlfriends and we always go to the mall for Christmas shopping.   

Thanks for those articles, myshelly - I went down a rabbit hole, a little bit! LOL

I like enclosed malls for big shopping trips like back-to-school and Christmas. I still use the local mall by my parents' house when I visit. If I only need to visit one store, I park outside that store.

I do not get the "outdoor mall" phenomenon. I could see the appeal on those perfect fall or spring days, but the other 90% of the time, fuhgeddaboutit. Maybe it makes sense where the weather is mild year-round... Also, I live in the city, where there is shopping, dining, hairstyling, or whatever else you need, all within walking distance.

There is one not far from me that is dying. Nordstrom was shockingly empty at the peak of Christmas shopping. Most of the nearby restaurants have closed. I wouldn't be surprised if it closed within the next year, or at least has a major transformation.

Most of my clothing purchases in the last year have been from either Marshalls, TJ Maxx, or Nordstrom Rack. That includes Christmas gifts for DH and kids. I buy online, usually Nordstrom and DD buys online or at Target. DS shop at Macy's for basic items like shirts and pants.

The American consumer's shopping habits have changed dramatically, but malls don't seem to have figured that out. If I go to a mall with family or friends, we'll go to the one that has restaurants interspersed with shops, and high-end stores like Apple and Pottery Barn to browse through.

Though I prefer this type of shopping experience, keep in mind a huge chunk of America gets a yearly winter season where nobody in their right mind is going to spend time walking around an outdoor shopping center when it's a blustery 30 degrees--I know, because I've lived in two states where these outdoor shopping centers are empty during winter months. So I don't think they account for much of the reason malls are dying.

 This is true for me too, and it's cold for roughly half the year. An outdoor mall was built near my area years ago, and when the stores all opened up everyone from here was like, "Seriously? You DO know we have WINTER here, right?" No one but the property management for the mall was surprised when the sales tanked once it got cold.

Much of the parking is on the curvy little roads going through it so if you can't get one of those few spots near the store you want to go to, you park in a distant back lot and walk through the cold and snow to get where you want to go. I almost never go to any of the stores there (and most of them are nicer, upscale stores) because it's such a pain in the butt if you need to go to stores on opposite ends of the complex, especially when it's raining or snowing. I don't even go to the few anchor stores that have adequate parking in front because it's such a mess of roundabouts and winding streets to get in and out.

For me these days, I mostly just hate shopping in general so that's why I don't go. I'm lucky that there is a Target and a grocery store next door to each other about ten minutes from my house, Costco is about 15 minutes away in the other direction and most of what we need comes from those three places.

For me I have two kids under age 5, so I have zero interest in shopping at the mall for fun. We go to the Lego store because it's fun for the kids but I can buy all of that online and I often do. At this phase of life I'm more of a target shopper and definitely get my personal stuff online, it's so easy to find the right fit, you just use your measurements. I've never bought anything that wasn't accurate and it's way easier than trying on random stuff in person.

I hate going to the mall. When you decide to go to one you have to make a commitment to invest a good chunk of time. I like to get in and get out. I'm not much of a window shopper.

Agree 100%



DD and I went to Macy's on Friday afternoon and bought her a new dress for $38.  I checked on Macys.com yesterday and the very same dress was $19.99!  I called and was able to drive back to Macy's this morning and get a price adjustment but obviously, ordering the dress online in the 1st place would have been way easier than driving to Macy's twice!

This made me chuckle because that is a perfect description of my small town when I was growing up. Now, what's old is new again and it is popular and trendy whereas when malls came into the picture our small towns all died out. 

I guess I am one of the few mall likers among the peas. I like to shop in person for certain things, I like to browse, I like to go to BBW and smell the new scents. Sometimes I like to eat a big pretzel!

I like the mall to do some walking around in during the winter, or on a hot day in the summer. I don't like the crowds, but I enjoy the people watching. The mall closest to me has a lot of empty storefronts all of a sudden, and I am sad to see the stores go. Hopefully something new will come along soon.

I haven't had the time to do more than skim a few replies here so I don't know if this sentiment has already been expressed, but here's my opinion:

Malls are dying because: Amazon. 

My initial reaction when I think of that is "How sad. Big Box Store A and Big Box Stores B & C are suffering because: Amazon." 

But then I remember that Big Box Stores A, B and C ate Medium Size Stores A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Who ate Small Stores A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N who ate Mom & Pop Stores A, B, C……….etc. 

And someone will come along shortly and eat Amazon.

It's the Circle of Life….. er…. Retail. 

I haven't been a fan of malls in a long time but did go to ours around Christmas time and loved going in a few stores - Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn and Charming Charlie's. I also went in Kirklands and Papyrus. Malls are going to the drive thru style with lots of streets. I am not s fan as you can never get parked in front of the store you want and many charge to park in the premium spaces. Currently our mall is mostly indoor with a few street like sections but they are going to open up one of the other sections of the mall . I am not thrilled as it gets really hot during the summer 100+ so no way I would go then and in the winter it's too cold to go from store to store if it's in the 30's and 40's or if it's pouring. Of course I'm not in my 20's and not a size 2 so not their target either. I must admit though that our mall is nicer than I thought it was (we moved here 2.5 years ago and usually just go there to eat at one of the restaurants on the outside).

I do prefer to buy my clothes in person and try them on and like to touch or smell items. If I was buying the same scent I have been buying I don't mind ordering online but sometimes I like to smell new ones. Blankets and towels I also like to feel and see them in person vs online.

I think the big issues is lack of customer service, not enough variety and better deals online. So many times I go to target or Walmart and they don't have what I'm looking for and come home and order from Amazon.

Oh I always forget Colorado Mills!!  Every time!  

Cherry Creek just started a couple of weeks ago.  I can't remember exactly how it works but first hour free, second hour like $3 then third hour $2 and $2 for every hour after that?  I don't know honestly, but it sure isn't an incentive to go pay for parking at all.   I don't normally go there anyways, but now I won't go.  Flatirons is closest to where I live and Park Meadows is closest to where I work.. if that tells you anything I am all over this town! haha

My daughter doesn't like mall because she doesn't want to see the same out she is wearing on a 12 y/o.


Plus she wants to shop at forever 21 and we don't have that here.