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Because societal changes like this interest me, I just spent about half an hour reading various articles, blogs, etc. on the subject of why malls are suffering. Because on-line shopping options have been around for quite some time now, I figured it couldn't be the only factor (particularly since retail in revitalized urban areas is doing fine). Besides, malls have a high percentage of apparel stores -- something that does not lend itself well to on-line purchases because people need to try clothes on. I wondered what industry "experts" felt was contributing the most to the decline of malls.
The recurring theme was that retail must offer an "experience" that is more than just a sales transaction, because the transaction is always easier/more efficient on-line. Fair enough, but the only time I ever go near a mall is when I need something that's difficult to get any other way, and I try to minimize the "experience" as much as possible, get what I need and get out.
What was truly enlightening about my surfing session was that in the comments of many of these articles, I kept noticing a another recurring theme. Not by the experts, but subjective comments by shoppers. They mentioned how they got uncomfortable going to the local mall due to loitering teens, news reports of shootings or gang violence, etc. and that has caused them to avoid it. The comments I saw were from people all over the US.
So, I think the retail experts are probably right -- the "experience" has been diminishing over the years. When people feel bothered enough by a place that they go out of their way to avoid it, it can be hard to make a sale. When I was younger, we hung out at the mall, you could even say loitered. But back then, drugs and automatic weapon ownership among teens was nothing like what it is today. It seems to me that a number of changes, like the removal of corporal punishment in schools, laws that seem to almost encourage divorce and the breakdown of the family unit have led us down a dank and scary road.
Often, when I hear Durham discussed, things get qualified with "but the Southpoint area is nice". If Southpoint ends up following the trend of malls as it's occurring across America, that could be a big blow to the city of Durham.
There's also a term I've heard called "showcasing" where people try on the clothes and then order online for cheaper. Apparently I was unaware that young women frequently second hand clothes on Ebay or Etsy. I guess there's no sense in paying a bundle for some bridesmaids dress you'll only wear once in a color you don't like! Definitely holds true at Best Buy as well.
Last December I was back and I happened by the Cary Towne Center. That place seemed deserted considering it was the holidays and Sears looked like it was closing its doors.
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