It’s hard not to read about the decision by the corporate owners of the Lima Mall to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors without feeling a little sad and nostalgic.  The malls’ owners blamed the pandemic for their decision to  request protection from creditors in hopes of  reducing and restructuring their deb. Growing up when I did, the mall was a great place to take a date, and to meet other young people from other schools. Later, it became a great place to meet with other guys on the fountain area bench as we waited for our wives to complete a shopping excursion.  Even before the pandemic began we Americans had started to become increasingly enamored with the idea of shopping on line and it’s become increasingly easy to return clothing that didn’t fit or an item that wasn’t what we wanted.  We’ve gotten accustomed to ordering an item on line, and having it show up at our doorstep a day or two later, without having to leave the comfort of our homes.  The Lima Mall owners  say their bankruptcy filing will not result in any business interruption. Operators of the company’s malls around the country are  working hard to change the focus of their offerings hoping new stores and services will convince shoppers to return, and to attract new ones too. I hope they will be successful in doing so. That’s the way I see it.