Malled

Rain has poured down in Bellingham for the last week, so what to do for a little exercise? Mall walk, of course. Flat, dry, climate controlled, and a chance of running into someone you haven’t seen for a while. Perfect.
Usually, a little shopping is involved. Who can resist all those glittery, glamourous displays? I usually limit it to one or two items- cashews from Target, window clings from the Dollar store- just enough to show that I am not a malingerer. Stores pay high rent plus a percentage of their gross for their mall space so it only seems fair to do a little business with them in exchange for a free exercise program.
Now I hear that some malls are going bankrupt. I don’t know how that can be. What overhead does a mall have? The only thing that I can figure is that the mall owners were playing financial games during last year’s money storm and they lost their pants. But don’t they still own the property and collect the rent from all those stores? I don’t get it.
If the mall closes down, and I have to use a treadmill to stay dry while I exercise, where will I go to buy it?
Nancy Sherer