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The short life cycle of strip malls and shopping malls is symbolic of the unsustainability of suburban sprawl in general. Does anyone ever mourn their demise when they are abandoned or torn down? No because they're an eyesore. They have a very artificial quality about them that no one can ever be fond of or get sentimental about. They are as interesting and disposable as the plastic wrapper your Big Mac sandwich came in.
The short life cycle of strip malls and shopping malls is symbolic of the unsustainability of suburban sprawl in general. Does anyone ever mourn their demise when they are abandoned or torn down? No because they're an eyesore. They have a very artificial quality about them that no one can ever be fond of or get sentimental about. They are as interesting and disposable as the plastic wrapper your Big Mac sandwich came in.
^^^ I agree with this statement.
I think that malls are starting to get less popular over time. There is little that can be done to make sure that malls stay successful, but I guess one way to have a successful mall is to have something that looks really cool that both adults and children like. Ever see the Las Vegas mall with the water tornadoes inside of them? Or that they have an aquarium in this mall in one middle eastern country (I forgot which). I think that it could possibly make it more successful and attract people but it is still a risky gamble which could cost a lot and flop.
The short life cycle of strip malls and shopping malls is symbolic of the unsustainability of suburban sprawl in general. Does anyone ever mourn their demise when they are abandoned or torn down? No because they're an eyesore. They have a very artificial quality about them that no one can ever be fond of or get sentimental about. They are as interesting and disposable as the plastic wrapper your Big Mac sandwich came in.
I would get sentimental and I'm sure others do.
I think some malls will die out where as others will survive. I don't care for a downtown. Lifestyle centers and malls are cool, but not downtowns.
Is there any appreciable difference between a lifestyle center and a mall? Do people say "I'm going to the lifestyle center" or "I'm going to the mall?"
Where I live we just have malls, and my rate of visitation is about 0.4 times per annum so perhaps I'm just a rube when it comes to this type of retail.
Is there any appreciable difference between a lifestyle center and a mall? Do people say "I'm going to the lifestyle center"
LOL
The first time I went to a "lifestyle center"-- the Easton Town Center in Columbus -- my first thought was that it was just like a mall, stuck way out in the 'burbs, but with streets and storefronts to mimic a downtown. Very curious.
But other lifestyle centers, like Rookwood in Cincinnati, are just big shopping plazas with big parking lots. To Rookwood's credit, it was built on infill, the site of an old factory, although it also required mowing down a couple of streets' worth of 1920s-era homes.
The first time I went to a "lifestyle center"-- the Easton Town Center in Columbus -- my first thought was that it was just like a mall, stuck way out in the 'burbs, but with streets and storefronts to mimic a downtown. Very curious.
But other lifestyle centers, like Rookwood in Cincinnati, are just big shopping plazas with big parking lots. To Rookwood's credit, it was built on infill, the site of an old factory, although it also required mowing down a couple of streets' worth of 1920s-era homes.
OK I get it! And I stand corrected. We do have one of those! I went once about 5 years ago. The Avenue At White Marsh It's built in the middle of parking lots to mimic a downtown!! Wow! It's like a theme park. "Downtown shopping - in the burbs!"
We also have an actual neighborhood with another shopping area called "The Avenue" : Hampden Village Merchants Association The coincidence is hilarious to me.
I don't think there's really any difference in the actual merchants that are in a mall vs a "lifestyle center" (gad, I hate that phrase! LOL), though; each has restaurants, a variety of the same old chain stores, etc. I've seen some that have nearby condos and apartments, for the total lifestyle experience. Just in case you can't stand living more than a five-minute walk from Chico's ...
Hampden Village looks cool. I think it's high time that I explored Baltimore ...
I don't think there's really any difference in the actual merchants that are in a mall vs a "lifestyle center" (gad, I hate that phrase! LOL), though; each has restaurants, a variety of the same old chain stores, etc. I've seen some that have nearby condos and apartments, for the total lifestyle experience. Just in case you can't stand living more than a five-minute walk from Chico's ...
Hampden Village looks cool. I think it's high time that I explored Baltimore ...
Yes, I think there are apartments there (or very close).
Hampden is pretty neat. It's quickly transitioning from bohemian to yuppieville, so hurry. Great watering holes and food selections for meat eaters and vegetarians, like this one: http://www.rockettovenus.com/
Many lifestyle centers I think of have Chico's, Pottery Barn, Gap, Sephora, Banana Republic, Coach, and sometimes the filler stores you mention like PacSun, Zumiez, Hollister's.
I would consider clothes at Zumiez, PacSun, Aeropostale, and Hot Topic to be cheap.
Downtowns and lifestyle centers and high end malls tend to have more designer clothing and trendy clothing like Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Diesel, etc...
I would agree regarding the less trendy aspect at most lifestyle centers. They tend to go more classic with clothing/accessory retailers like Talbots, Anthropologie, JCrew, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Coach and JJill, as well as stores like Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel or Williams Sonoma. Again without the crap filler stores that malls differentiate with. They usually have some decent chain restaurant options as well like PF Changs, California Pizza Kitchen, Maggianos or Cheesecake Factory. Malls seem to be more trend-oriented, appealing to teens/tweens with their specialty stores and generic fast food-oriented food courts.
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Just in case you can't stand living more than a five-minute walk from Chico's ... 
