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Economic crisis is taking a major toll on the retail industry

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Economic crisis is taking a major toll on the... ::

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Matt Franklin
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MID-MICHIGAN (WJRT) -- (11/05/09)--The economic crisis is taking a major toll on the retail industry.

As big chains stores and restaurants continue to scale back, they are leaving behind a number of vacant stores across the country and even in Mid-Michigan.

In some cases, the buildings can sit vacant for years. But for the most part Mid-Michigan has avoided big box blight like other parts of the country.

From the business districts of Flint Township to Saginaw Township, vacant buildings dot the bustling commercial corridors.

And when some retailers can no longer hold on, many have no other choice but to close their doors for good, leaving many communities to try and fill in the gaps.

To combat potential big box blight, new businesses are find homes in old structures. Big box stores are those usually in the shape of a box -- more than 20,000 square feet under one roof.

Recently Baker College opened its Center for Transportation Technology at what used to be Superior Pontiac-Cadillac in Flint.

In many cases, repurposing an existing site saves dollars in a time when there aren't a lot to spend, and it fills those blighted areas.