By Jeremy Duda | Axios
The fate of the Valley’s once-ubiquitous shopping malls has been a mixed bag, with some continuing to thrive while others have fallen on hard times or even been razed to make way for new developments.
Why it matters: Malls were once the economic and social hearts of their communities, providing places to shop, meet and work.
The big picture: Enclosed, indoor shopping malls have been on the decline for years, and those in the Phoenix metro area are no exception.
- Some malls have survived by taking on new lives as entertainment and lifestyle hubs, and by tailoring themselves to fill specific niches.
- With so much shopping done online these days, successful malls have evolved to play different roles in people’s lives, said Donald Bredberg of Las Vegas-based StoneCreek Partners LLC, a shopping mall and retail consultancy.