Shaping The City: Shopping Malls on Life Support
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2011-12-01/shaping-city-shopping-malls-life-support
Are large-scale, indoor shopping malls going the way of the dodo? During the past several years, developers have essentially given up on building "big box" malls that defined suburban life in America for decades. Instead, there has been a move toward "town center"-style projects that combine retail, housing and office space. Washington Post columnist Roger Lewis returns to explore the art and science of retail architecture.
Guests
Roger Lewis
Architect; Columnist, "Shaping the City," Washington Post; and Professor Emeritus of Architecture, University of Maryland College Park
Comments
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Can you comment on the slow death of Landmark Mall in Alexandria? The Mall was once bustling, but now it is filled with dollar stores, a few interesting West Indian and Africa shops, and lots of empty space.
I grew up in Montgomery County in the 1980s and 90s, and used to be fascinated by Wheaton Plaza, PG Plaza, and Montgomery Mall when I was a child. It was a like a mega-store. As I grew up and started to shop for my own stuff, I realized that stores in the malls were selling more expensive or worthless goods. If I can drive 5 miles to a couple of outdoor shopping complex with 3 stores I use, why drive 10 miles to a mall? Here in Germantown, you are never more than 5 miles from a shopping center. But the nearest mall (Lakeforest) is 10 miles away.
As shopper under the age of 30, plus the nature of the economical situation we find ourselves. The idea of shopping in an inside shopping mall seems 'expensive' if I could use that term... the idea of shopping in outside mall seems more like you are bargain; Plus its more visual esthetically pleasing experience in-terms of it's architecture. Put simply, I've being to Arundel Mills probably 5-8 times more this year than I've being to Tyson's corner (which I've not being to since 09.. and it's closer to my residence)
I do not go to malls to browse. I generally go to purchase one item quickly. This means that I need to park near the store and get in and out in a trice. I do not care about beauty of architecture. Is anyone considering my needs as they contemplate the future?
As a transplanted Minneapolitan, I'm fascinated to hear your discussion of the Mall of America and oblique references to the miles-long downtown skyway systems in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Most Minneapolitans view the Mall of America as a grotesque necessity, borne almost entirely as a response to the weather. Indeed, the thought of a walk-able, outdoor "town center" mall is laughable to Minnesota developers, given the fact that winter lasts for 9 months out of the year.
What impact does local climate have on the ability of developers to turn the traditional indoor mall into a more welcoming, open format?
Also, I must note that the sheer size of the Mall of America enables a number of small, one-off, Mom & Pop stores to thrive amongst a captive audience, ensconced as they are within the massive number of national chains.
So is there some "critical mass" at which Mom & Pop stores actually BENEFIT from the foot traffic driven by the big national brands?