# That dark big box (and other) retail isn't coming back, is it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 25, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-dark-big-box-and-other-retail-isnt-coming-back-is-it/726133 "2015-07-25T03:31:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-dark-big-box-and-other-retail-isnt-coming-back-is-it/726133/41 "2015-07-29T03:03:18Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Huh. Where I grew up, Sears and Wards were anchor stores of the local suburban mall (Springfield Mall in Springfield, VA) back in the late 1970s… Late 70’s was too late. The move to the 'burbs started in the mid-50’s. Kresge’s started K-Mart in the early 60’s. About 1970, Woolworth tried WoolCo - which failed. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2015, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-dark-big-box-and-other-retail-isnt-coming-back-is-it/726133/42 "2015-07-29T03:16:31Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > I don’t think the big retailers ever own their stores and as such only have to wait out a lease and entertain pitches for new building locations and amenities. Even if a retailer doesn’t own its stores, but instead leases them, that can be valuable. I remember reading that one of the failing retailers owned long-term leases on many of its stores at low rates. So those properties can be sublet at a profit. I think the real estate is one of the reasons that Eddie Lampert bought Sears and Kmart. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-dark-big-box-and-other-retail-isnt-coming-back-is-it/726133.md?page=2)