Janet Babin

Shoppers are returning to the malls slowly, which should provide for a better mood as the International Council of Shopping Centers meets this weekend. Bahrainis walk at a mall in central Manama. (JOSEPH EID/AFP/) Jeremy Hobson: Thousands of retailers, developers and lenders are meeting in Las Vegas this weekend for a retail real estate convention. During the recession, shoppers abandoned malls for online deals and discount shops. But now that trend is reversing as Marketplace's Janet Babin reports. Janet Babin: The International Council of Shopping Centers says people are spending more at the mall -- 3 percent more than

While it seems online shopping is the way of the future, Gap is doing just the opposite. Its Athleta brand specializes in women's active wear, and now has its own brick-and-mortar store. Janet Babin reports on how this move might help the brand. Athleta apparel. (Athleta/Gap Inc.) More on Retail TEXT OF STORY Kai Ryssdal: We're off to the land of retail for this next story. We hear all the time these days about the growth of online sales, about how brick-and-mortar stores may soon be a thing of the past. Gap reversed the trend today. It opened a

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