A Bona Fide Retail Opportunity for Non-store Merchants, Or Just Another Entrepreneurial Misfire?

Naturally, filling space is a necessary evil in the mall operating business. For instance, when The Westchester Mall in White Plains, N.Y., first broke ground back in the mid-90s, I distinctly recall its operators promising a truly upscale shopping experience, filled only with stores you wouldn’t find in any old run of the mill American mall. But by the time all the leases were signed, although there were (and still are) many distinctive upscale shops in place, plenty of the ole reliable shops were (and still are) there too. And today, although you’ll find such upscale shops as Coach, Gucci and Brooks Brothers, there are plenty of the same-ole same-ole mainstream retailers, like Claire’s, The Gap and Foot Locker.