re: If malls are dying across the country, and online shopping is so popular

quote:

---

They dead

---

quote:

---

But on the outskirts of Atlanta, we found one formerly dying mall that's thriving. Where some saw financial ruin, Jose Legaspi saw opportunity.

In 2005 he took over a struggling, generic mall and transformed it into Plaza Fiesta, designed specifically to meet the needs of an exploding Hispanic population.

"We follow demographics," Legaspi told Strassmann. "Because it's nothing more than numbers game, I will tell you. You've got to have enough number of consumers to be able to support something like this, or any kind of mall."

Legaspi had turned dead space into successful Hispanic malls in several cities with large immigrant communities. Looking to expand, he discovered the Hispanic population of Atlanta had nearly tripled between 1990 and 2000.

But one thing was missing.

"The extended family concept is very, very key" to the culture of the Hispanic community, Legaspi said. "There was not a place where the families could gather. And shopping doesn't just mean shoes and clothing or eating at a restaurant; it's also a place where they can listen to music, sit down, relax, and spend some time with the family."

Plaza Fiesta has 280 stores, but there's also a doctor's office, and a dentist. There are hairdressers, money-wiring services -- everything you might find in a Mexican village. There's even a bus station to bring customers in

---

quote:

---

What is it?

---

quote:

---

10X, that's a little too high IMO

---

quote:

---

The web in 2018 will account for 11% of total retail sales, up from 8% in 2013, according to a new Forrester Research e-retail forecast.

---

quote:

---

probably depends on the mall

There are several in Dallas that aren't going anywhere but there are a few on the dead malls list too.

gone full circle, too - these outdoor malls are merely trying to recreate a downtown type shopping area with better parking

---