[fatnotlazy]

It's not just the economy. Malls have become unsafe. At least that's becoming the perception of potential customers. They hear of shootings, muggings and what not and they figure it's just safer to shop online.

[laplata]

And there are no taxes online.

[TigerClaws]

93 million Americans aren’t working. The unemployment numbers are a total sham as those not ‘looking for work’ or ‘disabled’ aren’t counted.

It’s about a third of working age Americans not working.

Malls,as you pointed out, have become places for ‘youths’ to assemble and hang out.

The strip mall: You go in, shop, leave. Malls are becoming thug central. Sad really.

[perez24]

I think the safety issue is a bigger problem for malls than they want to acknowledge because it will make them confront some uncomfortable truths about the source of the safety problems.

Even nice malls around us seem dead though.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

It might possibly have something to do with on-line shopping.

[trebb]

It's not just the economy. Malls have become unsafe. At least that's becoming the perception of potential customers. They hear of shootings, muggings and what not and they figure it's just safer to shop online.

We lost a mall and it was anything but unsafe - the economy just got so bad that it was mainly serving as an indoor walking track....

[tbw2]

I don’t want to shop where teenagers think it is a place to hang out.

[Georgia Girl 2]

So true. My Mom won’t go to the mall alone as she feels unsafe with all the gangs of teen yutes roaming around. I have to go with her.