Walking through Monroeville Mall during the height of the holiday shopping season really proved a huge statement to me about the battle between brick and mortar stores, vs on-line shopping.
On-line shopping is clearly winning.
I remember the days when I had to circle the lot a few times in order to find a parking space. In fact, as a former mall employee, I remember we were forbidden to park anywhere close to the entrances. Our designated spots were at the far end of the lot. However, in today's retail climate, I am almost convinced they encourage mall employees to park near the entrances just to make the place look alive!
Sad to see so many vacant store fronts at a place that was once so vibrant. Some of the retail shops that are open for business, appear to be more temporary set-ups.
The food court appears to have the same long established eateries. A true sign that a mall is going down is vacancies in the food court.
Not sure what outcome is in store for malls across the nation, but I do know mall shopping will never be the same as it once was.
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