The Political Inquirer

A phenomenon that analysts are calling ‘retail retrenchment’ and aggressive ‘economic Darwinism’ is slowly hollowing out the nations malls. Storefronts where Bombay Co. once sold trendy furniture are remaining empty, while others are covered in sale signs. MSNBC and others are carrying the story:

Retailers including AnnTaylor Stores Corp., Talbots Inc. and Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. have closed hundreds of stores so far this year. Gadget seller Sharper Image Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection last month and plans to shutter nearly half of its 184 stores. That retrenchment, along with the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of catalog retailer Lillian Vernon Corp., marks the beginning of a wave of retail bankruptcies that’s expected to go well beyond the home furnishings stores hurt by the housing malaise.

A similar story on CNN talked about quitting Starbucks and going brown bag instead. Is this a sign of the times, like the closing of the city department stores and corner drug stores of decades past? It doesn’t seem like the housing crisis or the rising gas prices are going away anytime soon, so it will be interesting to see how consumer America adapts.