I've been expecting news like this. With so many retailers experiencing serious financial problems, they are closing many locations and many of those locations are in shopping malls.
Discount retailers like Walmart and Target seem to be faring the recession OK, but I believe that they own their own stores, unlike retailers with smaller storefronts like Ann Taylor, Ritz Camera, Talbots, and the Sharper Image. The Sharper Image was a mall standard shop, but they closed all their retail locations last June: see Sharper Image Shuttering Stores.
Like a set of drop of water in a pond, financial troubles are rippling through industry after industry. Or if you like, compare it to a set of dominoes. Your choice, you'll have to decide on the metaphor to use. Anyway, I think similar problems are going to affect the commercial real estate marketplace, if it hasn't already.
