A question about Wal-Mart and more outrage

[whosinpower]

Before I get "into" it, I will openly state I am anti Walmart.

Yesterday I was talking to a co-worker and we were discussing a mall down the street from where I work. There used to be a Walmart in the mall, but Walmart moved out when they built their freestanding building in a big box complex.
My co-worker stated that she had been talking to several different merchants at the mall and many of them are slowly being starved out because of a lack of traffic. I stated that this would only be temprorary because once the mallowners get the space rented out, and have an anchor again at the mall - it will get better.
Here is the rub......She stated it is common knowledge at that mall that WALMART IS PAYING THE RENT ON THE SPACE TO KEEP IT EMPTY. I will be the first to admit that I do not know the specificity of the lease between Walmart and the mall owners. But, as a small business owner and conscientious member of the community - I remain utterly outraged at this if it is true.
In a neighboring city, the mall that had housed Walmart before they built their freestanding building is a virtual skeleton and the space remains empty after 3 years. 3 years with no anchor.

And so my question to you all is if any of you can recall where a Walmart was formerly in a mall situation....if that mall was successful at getting another tenant for the retail space...or if it remains unused?

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Lobby for a law to prevent deliberate abandonment

Empty stores have a depressing effect on local economies and require police and other services. If it's a matter of economic pressure it can't be helped, but absentee landlords and tenants are nuisances who cost the residents and taxpayers money.

--p!

[meegbear]

2. There is one in Salem MA in a "strip mall"

and the other 3 stores are a shoe store, craft store and card/Hummel shop. These stores have had good business there before and after Wal-Mart came (there was another department store there before they moved in).

[Ms Chicklet]

3. It's likely true

I've read about how Wal-Mart does that. Sometimes they abandon their old box store when they build a supercenter (the kind with groceries). But they don't sell the old store because it's cheaper and easier for them to pay what little they pay in taxes on two lots rather than dealing with any competition that could come in if they sold the old store.

[shoelace414]

4. Wal-mart isn't the only one

the largest mall in Wisconsin (Southridge) in Milwaukee used to have a Younkers, but they moved out however there is still a Boston Store (both are owned by Saks). They didn't want anyone moving in to compete with Boston store, so they kept it empty. it took years but eventually the city declared the property blighted and bought it from the owner involuntarily. The mall always had around 95% occupancy rate and they also have 4 other anchor stores so the mall survived.