The Rebirth of Shopping Malls

For many suburbanites across America, the local mall has been popularly viewed as a landmark of sorts, if not the ultimate teenage hangout. In a way, that reputation — more a place to meet up than a place to shop — has been part of its demise in recent years, as anchor stores struggle to compete with the rise of stand-alone big-box retail chains. But then, not all malls are created equal, say some industry analysts who think a mall comeback is under way.