New Word: "De-Malling"
In the late 1960's and 1970's the retail industry clustered under a common roof in controlled 72 degree conditions. As consumer tastes changed and populations shifts, the "life-style" center became the next new thing. The problem being addressed today is what do we do with all of the covered malls around the country ? One mall under going a "de-malling" is Randhurst Mall in Mount Prospect, Illinois by Casto Lifestyle Properties once the largest covered malls in the country. Follow this link to view the video of the redesign rendering. The locations of older covered malls are prime today as many were originally built at the fringes of city limits or around close in suburbs; over the years new suburbs developed and completely surrounded these retail centers. As developers and municipalities consider what to do with their tired covered malls mixed use opportunities abound.
