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As retailers cut back, cities confront 'ghostboxes'Associated Press
July 6, 2009
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The International Council of Shopping Centers says more than 6,900 retail stores announced they were closing last year.
That's a 50% increase over the 4,600 that closed in 2007.
And the closings have continued this year, including underperforming big-box stores, like the Home Depot in Bismarck, N.D. Its demise has left the community with a big, orange empty eyesore the size of a dozen football fields. And because it's nearly windowless, it's of limited use to other potential tenants.
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