In the 1980's people wrote about malls as cultural centers, as temples to shopping. Now, they're dying.
Many observers are speculating about the growing trend of so-called dead malls: once-flourishing, large retail spaces that now have a high vacancy rate, low numbers of pedestrian traffic, or the lack of an "anchor" store (typically a department chain). Is it because of economic recession, or stagnant middle-class wages and growing income inequality? Or has the death of these malls been hastened by the rapid growth of online shopping?
It's difficult to say, but the dead mall phenomenon is becoming a cultural item of interest -- for retail historians, urban explorers and documentarians alike. We may read about dead malls in The New York Times or The Atlantic, but film footage can say much more than words.
Is Amazon to blame?
(Score: 3, Funny) by DannyB on Tuesday April 25 2017, @05:57PM (3 children)
Let me tell you about lack of product variety.
There a dozen different kinds of Crest toothpaste at my local Target store.
On my recent vacation in March, I tried a travel sized that I was unfamiliar with: Crest White. I like it. A few days ago I needed to buy toothpaste for home and remembered that I want to get Crest White. Does Target have Crest White? Uh, No.
What do they have: Crest White 3D !
What?!? Is this supposed to be better than toothpaste that works in only two dimensions?
I guess their marketing department forgot to invoke the other magical incantation that I see in everything now: Digital.
Crest White 3D Digital toothpaste. Because like digital heaters, digital toasters, etc it's so much better than analog toothpaste, analog heaters, and analog toasters.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 25 2017, @05:59PM
Is digital toothpaste meant to be applied with your fingers? :-)
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 25 2017, @06:06PM
I only use Crest White IMAX DBOX.
(Score: 3, Funny) by butthurt on Tuesday April 25 2017, @10:41PM
Now available at Eyeglass Direct. High Definition Digital Progressives Upgrade
-- http://www.eyeglassdirect.com/HTML/HDupgrade.htm [eyeglassdirect.com]