For some reason I don’t very often get inspired to write for the blog, but when I do…….

Today I took some time to read the latest news, and learned there is a very public rumor circulating that the Lansing Mall is closing; that there are empty storefronts; the parent company is in bankruptcy.  Now, this news doesn’t really bother me in the sense that I NEVER go to the mall for ANYTHING!  Just driving by it on West Saginaw St. , and I truly start to feel panic!  So the mall might go away?  What does that really mean to me?

I think about a time when there were no malls.  I remember the year – I think it was 1964 or so, when the first K-Mart came to town, and were we ever thrilled!  Not a “super” store, by today’s standards, but to us little kids, it was LIKE a mall – so big, so expansive!  Whatever did we do then, when there were no malls?  Why, we shopped in our local communities, at the mom and pops!  There was a neighborhood pharmacy, a ladies apparel store or two, a “dime store” – everything we needed was right in our hometown!

How the world has changed!  Now, we all know what the “big box”stores have done to the little community mom & pops, but have you considered what the effect might be on resalers, like BELLA GRANDE, if there were no more malls?  If stores like Macy’s, Younkers, Coldwater Creek, etc, were to close up and leave town, where would people shop?  Resalers like me DEPEND on people shopping at the department stores, and then passing down the “goods” to consignment!  What happens to us if there’s no department store shopping???

Food for thought!