"Not a mall, it's a lifestyle center"
In twenty years they won't want you to say "lifestyle center." Anyway, more about the lifestyle center trend in the news.
The number of lifestyle centers has quickly accelerated, from just 30 in 2002 to 120 at the end of 2004. Between 10 to 20 new centers are slated to open each year for the next two years. By contrast, only eight new regional malls are expected to open by 2006, according to ICSC.Link: CNNmoney - Not a mall, it's a lifestyle center
Reference: It's a Crocker (L+L)
Reference: "Lunching With the Caruso of Retail" (L+L)
According to the article, developers Poag & McEwen built the first lifestyle center in 1987 called "The Shops of Saddle Creek" in Germantown, Tenn.
The more we hear about the lifestyle center trend, the more we discover that there are many different breeds of the phenomenon. Then range from dressed up suburban strip malls to full blown urban-like "town centers" complete with office space, housing and civic (or quasi-civic) ammenities.
Good work.