although the economy is not growing, a primary reason for the closings is over exhuberant expansion. Sales projections and growth based on over optimistic extrapolations resulted in unwarranted growth.
Post 17
It must be a big ego trip at chain store corporate offices to expand, expand, expand. Getting the company deeper in debt must also be an ego boost.
There's a nearby shopping mall, which has been dying for years. Now it's a depressing place that's about half occupied. Last year a huge construction project stared a few blocks away. It's a new mall.