, Columnist
Downtowns Reinvented Themselves. So Can Malls.
Big stores will leave. Imagine what will replace them, to meet the community's needs: doctors, day care, offices, hotels, etc.
Malls have a bright future.
Photographer: Matthew Staver/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Once upon a time, the center of most American cities was devoted to manufacturing. Decades ago this industry moved to the fringes, and then offshore. And the downtown identity crisis began. What is at a city's heart if not manufacturing? What are we going to do with all these huge empty buildings downtown? Well. Cue the lofts and bistros and redevelopment.
Now suburban malls are approaching a similar identity crisis. They should not be abandoned. Like downtowns that found new purposes without factories, suburban malls will show their value is not simply as a place to shop for apparel and home goods.