A general heading, not just for retail malls that have closed, but those that are closing, or may be closing.
Either way a major change in our lives.
-for shopping... to touch, try on, try out, see in 3D real life, and to take home.
-for social life... kids after school, restaurants, theaters, and social areas for classes, playgrounds, and for winter exercise walking.
-for convenience... all in one exposure to merchandise, as well as centers for life in general, and a mix of society in the geographical area where we live.
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What's going on in your hometown?
To kick it off, our local mall is central to a thirty mile radius... A full fledged mall... not a strip mall or a specialty mall. The anchor stores are/were:
Bergners- a BonTon Store, which is still there, although the parent company is in the process of closing unprofitable stores. Penney's... which closed in August. Sears, which closed on October 1. (Previously a Sears Holdings' KMart, freestanding store closed a few years ago).
In addition at least 10 kiosks have closed, and 34 major retailer stores that have also been shuttered. Writing is on the wall (formally) for 5 more. The theater, which had been expected to continue, is also falling on hard times. the only theater in the thirty mile area.
There are still about 50 mall stores in full operation, and the mall maintenance is excellent.
While our town still hosts Walmart, Target, Menards, and another 50 or so stores, they are all free standing, or in smallish strip malls...
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On the one hand inconvenience, limited choices, and a major social change. That said some serious economic setback. Consider, for instance, that operations that were open eleven hours a day, seven days a week ...Even in the smallest stores, minimum of two employees at a time, that's nearly a $2000 payroll, all by itself. One small store more than $100,000 in annual wages. No small loss in a town with a population of 10,000. Many, many times that (millions) for some of the larger stores.
Add to that, the loss in town taxes, the cost of maintenance of the ghost buildings, and the trickle down losses to the overall economy, and we're looking at a new economic base for the town... as the education, security, public works and government go on at the same rate as it was just a few years ago.
At that, the full economic impact is likely several years away, as people move away for more stable positions.
As it is, the household income for the town is under $50,000/yr, while, 65 miles away, Naperville Illinois has a median HH income of over $110,000.
That's a thumbnail of our town, and the part the mall played in it.
What's happening in your town?
Either way a major change in our lives.
-for shopping... to touch, try on, try out, see in 3D real life, and to take home.
-for social life... kids after school, restaurants, theaters, and social areas for classes, playgrounds, and for winter exercise walking.
-for convenience... all in one exposure to merchandise, as well as centers for life in general, and a mix of society in the geographical area where we live.
.................................................................................................
What's going on in your hometown?
To kick it off, our local mall is central to a thirty mile radius... A full fledged mall... not a strip mall or a specialty mall. The anchor stores are/were:
Bergners- a BonTon Store, which is still there, although the parent company is in the process of closing unprofitable stores. Penney's... which closed in August. Sears, which closed on October 1. (Previously a Sears Holdings' KMart, freestanding store closed a few years ago).
In addition at least 10 kiosks have closed, and 34 major retailer stores that have also been shuttered. Writing is on the wall (formally) for 5 more. The theater, which had been expected to continue, is also falling on hard times. the only theater in the thirty mile area.
There are still about 50 mall stores in full operation, and the mall maintenance is excellent.
While our town still hosts Walmart, Target, Menards, and another 50 or so stores, they are all free standing, or in smallish strip malls...
...............................................................................................
On the one hand inconvenience, limited choices, and a major social change. That said some serious economic setback. Consider, for instance, that operations that were open eleven hours a day, seven days a week ...Even in the smallest stores, minimum of two employees at a time, that's nearly a $2000 payroll, all by itself. One small store more than $100,000 in annual wages. No small loss in a town with a population of 10,000. Many, many times that (millions) for some of the larger stores.
Add to that, the loss in town taxes, the cost of maintenance of the ghost buildings, and the trickle down losses to the overall economy, and we're looking at a new economic base for the town... as the education, security, public works and government go on at the same rate as it was just a few years ago.
At that, the full economic impact is likely several years away, as people move away for more stable positions.
As it is, the household income for the town is under $50,000/yr, while, 65 miles away, Naperville Illinois has a median HH income of over $110,000.
That's a thumbnail of our town, and the part the mall played in it.
What's happening in your town?
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