Do you see food concepts — farmers markets, food halls, grocery — helping to revive traffic at the mall? Would bringing food culture be a minor or major step in increasing the social relevance of malls?

Interactive Edge’s CEO, Zel Bianco comments:
Part of the foodie culture is experiencing the atmosphere of the actual place, like Katz’s Deli. It is an experience. The butchers, the waiters, the photos of celebrities on the walls, etc. Yes, you can mimic the decor, but it’s just not the same. Going to the farmers market at the mall sounds pretty depressing to me, but hey, I live in a city where farmers markets are plentiful and yet there are no farms or mountains nearby, so perhaps they will work at a mall.

Read the entire article from RetailWire:

Will foodie culture save the mall?