I think the real test of the shopping center as an institution is just on the horizon. The question now, after shopping malls continue to go under, is what can they be turned into? What other new functions could they absorb to ensure their continued relevance in the next 100 years? And you're absolutely right about the car. That's the star of this story. But also know that shopping was a form of propaganda that the U.S. used to demonstrate to the rest of the world just how great our system was and how prosperous our citizens were. That's what the Kitchen Debates between Nixon and Khrushchev were all about.
- The question now, after shopping malls continue to go under, is what can they be turned into?
Rubble, I hope. :) The fact that they are an island destination makes them very limited in terms of community functionality, IMO. In my childhood town, two malls were replaced. One became a box store grouping, the other became 'The Village', a faux mainstreet, surrounded by parking lot. The Village seems to do enough business, actually.