Save the dying malls
Posted by Mysterypanda449@reddit | CrazyIdeas | View on Reddit | 14 comments
Multiple malls near me are dead - like VERY few stores and the ones that are there are weird. What if malls offered grants to small businesses for free lease space. They have to apply and demonstrate the ability to bring in foot traffic, same goes for kitchen space. This would make other retail and restaurant/QSR space more valuable for leasing. Then go heavy on events like farmers markets (but inside), consignment pop ups, family events, etc.
I_might_be_weasel@reddit
Ok but why would people go to stores in the mall now. They didn't before.
Mysterypanda449@reddit (OP)
I’m thinking local craft vendors? My market has a lot but they are all online or at farmers markets.
Aware_Economics4980@reddit
“They are all online” that’s the problem, people like convenience.
You could set this up 2 minutes away and they’d probably still just order it online.
There used to be a lot of cool stores in malls, they all closed up shop for a reason though
dirtmother@reddit
The main reason malls were so successful (and why people are generally so nostalgic for them) is because they operated as a third space, especially for teenagers with nowhere else to go.
Bars and coffee shops could probably make a killing in malls IF they could cooperate with other third places instead of seeing them as competition.
You'd need at least a dozen in one mall before people started seeing it as a "bar hopping experience" instead of just a sad, dead attempt at communal experience.
TFielding38@reddit
My mall has a thing for that but it ended up being just MLM garbage
Mysterypanda449@reddit (OP)
Barf I can totally see that happening
-paperbrain-@reddit
My local mall has been trying working more with small local businesses. They rented a big space to a group of local small sellers, but like half of it was mlm and the rest were overpriced weird handmade stuff nobody wanted. They've also hosted local craft fairs farmers markets and a branch of the local coffee shop. None of it lasted. But I guess YMMV.
FollowingInside5766@reddit
Or maybe malls just should die already. Look, times change and malls are relics of the past, like CDs or Myspace. Maybe it's time people embrace buying stuff online and stop trying to resurrect what’s clearly dying! Pouring more money and free leases into malls is like trying to duct tape a sinking ship. People want convenience and variety that malls just can't offer anymore. Maybe instead of trying to save them, we should focus on transforming these spaces into something new and innovative that fits our online-driven needs.
Mysterypanda449@reddit (OP)
This is fair and I agree, I do majority of my shopping online to include groceries. That said - I love supporting local small businesses but I don’t like having to do independent research to find them or going to multiple farmers markets with the hope they have a cool vendor. The ones I know and like, I either have to independently stalk each one to go in person or pay a hefty shipping fee even when they are in my backyard.
That said, I recognize I’m a subset of the broader population and the mall is probably just a dead concept overall.
spudmarsupial@reddit
Make malls fun places to go. Benches, greenery, play areas, lots of sound deadening carpeting, cinemas, direct access to commuter trains and frequent busses. Stop chasing people away for "loitering". Public libraries. Make it a foul weather fifteen minute city.
Turbulent-Name-8349@reddit
Move to Australia. Malls here are booming, taking a larger and larger share of the shopping dollar.
Aniso3d@reddit
malls would remain open if they were economically viable, some are still open.
the price of leasing the space isn't the issue at all., some of these dead malls offer incredibly cheap prices.
your thinking is backwards, the place leasing the spot doesn't have to demonstrate to the mall that they can bring in foot traffic... the MALL has to demonstrate to the leaser that the MALL can bring in foot traffic.
figure out why your mall has no foot traffic, and you'll figure out why it's dead.
SadParade@reddit
I like this idea. Small business would interest me more than the same old chain stores. In person shopping is really superior for clothes and other stuff that you can't tell the fit or quality online
Jabathewhut@reddit
Nah, I'd rather sit at home and just order what I need.