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Malls having good sales year as new retailers added: many properties continue to see success sponsoring community events.

Article Excerpt
There's something appealing about shopping in an enclosed mall out of the weather and where most anything can be found from jewelry to prepared food. Following the national trend, shoppers in the Magnolia State continue to patronize malls. Mississippi's largest malls report climbing sales figures and the opening of new businesses.

Across the country, according to Patrice Duker of the International Council of Shopping Centers, sales and foot traffic are very good in malls. "People spent 83 minutes during each visit to a mall last year, and that's compared to 76 minutes the year before. 2004 was a great year," she said. "We expect that trend to continue and 2005 will be strong."

Duker said that so far 2005 is good for the council's 54,000 member malls. 'This year is facing a tough comparison because 2004 was very strong, but the purchase of luxury items is still high and people are spending across the board," she said.

In 2004, malls generated on average $366 per square foot in the U.S, up 42%. This does not include anchor stores because many own their sites, said Dukes.

History, a view and more

In Biloxi things are going well at Edgewater Mall. In addition to being the state's oldest mall--opened in 1963--it also has the distinction of being the only one overlooking a beach, and a few years ago added...

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