Just creating this because somehow, my Great Lakes Crossing memory thread turned into a downtown debate. This is to ensure that topic doesn't go off-topic permanently and that this kind of talk should belong here:

Quote Originally Posted by Bham1982 View Post
No, and you're completely missing the point.

The point is that there's barely any retail. It has nothing to do with the type of retail. It doesn't exist, for the most part.

There were two big department stores, there were two mini "shopping malls", there were tons of chain stores and independents. Now there are very few stores left.

Birmingham has evolved from a retail center, with barely any restaurants, to a restaurant center, with barely any retail.
[[quote is from the aforementioned thread)