Of all the vacant spaces, the most difficult to fill are anchors — those big stores at the periphery of a mall. In recent months, Macy’s, Sears, Dillard’s, Mervyns and Steve & Barry’s have closed big mall stores. Last week, the bankrupt Gottschalks department store chain began liquidation sales.
Greg Maloney, president and chief executive of the retail group at Jones Lang LaSalle, a real estate brokerage firm, said that to fill empty anchor spaces, landlords were getting creative and were considering bringing in grocery stores, medical facilities, dance studios and even community or technical colleges.
“I think you’re going to see a lot more of that,” Mr. Maloney said
I vote for a Hannaford or Price Chopper in the long-empty space of Macy’s in Crossgates! That would be just a fine addition and think of the gas savings!
