The Death of the Mall of Memphis Urban Studies Senior Seminar Katherine Mauzy February 17, 2004

Data Collected:  Literature  Census Information  Crime Information  Consumer Surveys  Business Evaluations

Hypotheses:  Location Income Crime Surrounding businesses  Competition Proximity to competing malls Tenants  Demographics Income Race

What is a dead mall? Annual sales per square foot is less than $150, or one-third the rate of sales at a successful mall Characteristics of a dead mall:  Small size  Advancing age  Less affluent neighborhoods  Stiff competition  Middle or low-end stores  Vacancy  Located in first-ring suburbs

Malls Studied:  Mall of Memphis December 24, American Way  Hickory Ridge Winchester Road  Oak Court Oak Court Drive- off of Poplar Avenue  Southland Southland Mall- off of Shelby Drive

LOCATION

Perception of Crime  “I remember several of my friends in Memphis advising me not to take a date ice skating at the ‘Mall of Murder.’”  Kent Ahren, January 29, 2003 (  “A reputation for crime in the late 80's and the nickname "Mall of Murder" didn't help steer shoppers inside the stores of the Southeast Memphis mega mall.”  News Channel 3, December 23, 2003  “I don’t shop at the Mall of Memphis because I don’t want to get shot or robbed when I go to the mall. It is supposed to be a realxing event.”  Elizabeth Winkelmann, April 16, 2004

COMPETITION

Loss of Tenants Loss of anchor department stores, Dillard’s and JC Penny’s in 2001 On closing day, only 13 of the 160 stores were still open

DEMOGRAPHICS

Income Comparison:  1990 Median household income for the City of Memphis: $22,674 Median household income for the Mall of Memphis: $26,129  Mall of Memphis was 15% ABOVE the city of Memphis  2000 Median household income for the City of Memphis: $32,285 Median household income for the Mall of Memphis: $30,674  Mall of Memphis area is 5% BELOW the City of Memphis

Changing Race: White

Changing Race: Hispanic

Mall of Memphis…