For young people at the time, malls weren’t just retail spaces but social hubs. Baby boomers treated mall trips as scheduled weekend activities, using malls to discover new styles, browse new merchandise and hang out with friends, according to James W. Hughes, a Rutgers University economist and professor.
Topic
malls
Why are some New Jersey malls struggling to stay open?
Twenty-eight so-called enclosed malls dot New Jersey, and except for high-end enclaves like The Mall at Short Hills, many struggle to stay profitable. “That’s the other dimension of retooling malldom in New Jersey, shifting activities to experience, health, wellness...
Can New Jersey’s Dying Malls Be Saved?
It’s widely believed that online shopping poses the greatest threat to New Jersey’s malls. Retail forecaster Forrester predicts that Web sales will constitute 11 percent of total U.S. retail this year, up from 8 percent in 2013. That doesn’t seem like a huge chunk, so...