Here is an article <<<RINK>>>in response to the Guardian article. And it says the malls will not die, especially so in developing countries.

In my opinion as the nairobi CBD continues to decay and become infested with hawkers, street urchins, also maddening traffic, people will move to the malls to get goods and services that they were getting in the CBD. We should note that it is the businesses that were based at the the CBD that are relocating to the malls. Therefore if you want to do your weekly grocery shopping, you go to the nakumatt/tuskys/naivas/uchumi at the mall, shoes you go to bata at the mall, a suit you go to Sir Henry's etc at the mall, furniture/TVs the mall, text books you go to the mall, banking you go to your bank at the mall, coffee to java/ art caffe at the mall. Safaricom etc. Even to see a doctor you go to the Aga Khan Hospital clinic or Mater clinic at the mall.

Also people/families will always want a clean safe environment where they can hang out/stroll, shop/window shop, grab some lunch, meet friends, watch a movie etc, and generally unwind. Many years ago people used to travel to the CBD for that. But now people are doing it at the mall. Malls are not just shopping centres, but they also play an important social and community role.

As the town expands and people move to the surburbs, malls will follow them. Also as more people get to live in constrained/confined spaces in flats/apartments, they will need a place away from the apartment block to hang out/ walk/stroll, unwind and relax, and a mall is a perfect place. What Nairobi and the outskirts need are more malls.

One factor to consider is the culture of the people where a mall is set up.In the developed countries or even countries like SA,there is a culture of going out to eat as a family.Most consumer eat in malls-KFC,Nandos etc.In Kenya,we have a culture of eating at home.Only when we are 'treating' our loved ones or going on a date,do we take them for outing in these malls mostly over the weekend.Coffee shops like Java have become very popular due to convenience and ability to have business and personal meetings there.

Thanks a lot man, thanks a million times!! You have simplified my MBA Thesis next year!!!!! Pewa crate ya Serengeti Beer kwa bill yangu!

@Jag, after closing down that one sir henry's in town, how many more can he open in the so many malls? How many clients does Sir Henry's have esp now after Kenyans learnt how to go to Turkey Dubai and China. We are not saying that all malls will die...no, rather we now have too many concentrated in one City. Even the occupancy rate is showing

>>>>>>>> http://www.nation.co.ke/.../-/c6m0rmz/-/index.html