I believe a retail center can work in Detroit, but it needs to be something different from what is typically thought of as a "mall." The days of a shopping mall with a bunch of small shops & a few large stores with a food court & a parking lot that covers acres and acres are pretty much done, and Detroit doesn't need to copy a suburban model of success that has waned.
As opposed to Norfolk's MacArthur Center, I would love to see a development like the Bronx Gateway Center.
http://gatewaycenteratbronxterminalm...com/index.html
As I previously mentioned, I believe that an excellent location would be by MCS. There is plenty of land to build stores & parking decks. It is centrally located. Convenient to three major highways. And being by a popular unused train station that is supposedly going to be rehabbed would provide great visibility. Perhaps Moron's family would even look to getting a piece of the pie & get MCS involved.
I'm all for outlet stores as well! Moron may even look kindly upon it, as outlets would draw people across his bridge... it is fairly convenient to Canadians. :)