Retail therapy is dying

Mall culture has been given a humiliating kick in the crotch.  Seems as though an economic system based on manipulating people to buy a bunch of stuff they don't really need, whose true measure of success is unlimited growth and stratospheric, vulgar executive compensation, isn't working out so well these days. 

The ugly sales year that was 2008 will haunt U.S. retailers in 2009, with industry experts warning that disastrous holiday sales will spark a domino effect of store closures and bankruptcy filings.

Apparently there are only so many times you can redecorate the house.  Sorry, Linens 'N' Things.  When the economy is swirling down the toilet, last year's 400-ct sheets will simply have to do.  

"There's going to be a massive sea change in the retail landscape," said Nina Kampler, executive vice president with Hilco Real Estate, which advises retailers on their property management.

She said many strip shopping centers already have multiple big-box vacancies after several large stores filed for bankruptcy in 2008. Some eventually went out of business.

I used to be able to roam around a mall for hours.  I bought into the whole "shop 'til you drop" message that was drilled into my 1980's teenage head.   Looking back, I spent untold thousands of dollars on stuff that I can't even remember now. 

Moving 12 times in as many years largely cured me of that habit.  When you have to pack up and move everything you own with any kind of frequency, it really drives home the ridiculousness of having so many possessions and clothes.   When you have no garage, attic or basement and have to fit everything you own within the four walls of your abode, you tend to scale it all down to what's necessary and/or useful.  

I'll admit to having aesthetic tendencies - I do have a fair amount of art, tchotckes, and assorted creature comforts, and I've schlepped around a few boxes of childhood and family mementos from place to place.   Plus music and books.  But at some point, what I have for the most part became enough.  

The last few times I've had to go to a mall, it struck me that most of the stores have completely similar stuff.  Hundreds of stores, and nothing is unique.  How lame.   When I need to replace worn clothes, or pick up a few pieces to refresh a seasonal wardrobe, I try to hit my local boutiques.  They tend to carry more interesting options and the money stays in my community instead of going to The Limited corporation or The Gap. 

I can think of around 100 things I'd rather do than go shopping.  There are more and more people like me, not strictly because of the economy.   We've just decided that enough is enough.  Yes, those candle holders are so cute, and they'd look nice in the dining area, but we already have some candle holders.   Wow, those boots are completely awesome but I just got my new winter boots, and I still have perfectly good ones from the last year or two, so do I really need yet another pair?  Nah. Skip it.   That's our mindset.  Some of us learned it from considering the lives of our parents and grandparents.  Some learn it from necessity.  But it's spreading, and we're quite unapologetic about it.  We're unplugging from the rampant consumer matrix.  Hell, George W. Bush sent me $300 this year to go to the mall, and I sent half of it to Obama's campaign and spent the other half on groceries.   

Just to piss off Steve et al, instead of stimulating the economy by buying a new set of dishes, I'm going to be taking advantage of their new tax-free savings account.  Plus paying off the last remaining little bit of high interest debt.  AND, probably keeping the 13 year old vehicle for another year instead of buying new.  Might as well stimulate my mechanic's economy.  Bite me, consumer gods. 

Anyway, the long and short of it is, a lot of us could see this big box bankruptcy and store closure stuff coming a mile away, just like we saw the real estate bubble burst.  It's called common. fucking. sense.   Something which continues to elude (or is intentionally ignored by) our politicians, corporate boards, bankers and other assorted Masters of the Universe.  Remember the old adage "what goes up, must come down"?  

Crisistunity?  Sure could fit a lot of affordable housing on the site of a former mall...