Grocery Stores Filling up "Ghost Boxes"

As many of the "Big Box" retailers are struggling, grocery stores have started taking over the vacant Big Box stores, A/K/A "Ghost Boxes". This could prove to be an interesting opportunity for adaptive reuse (there's only so much demand for roller rinks, discount stores and megachurches).

The examples in this article cover stores such as Circuit City, with 40,000-60,000 square feet. Unfortunately, 100,000+ plus square foot stores (e.g. many abandoned Wal-Marts) can pose a particular problem. Who but Wal-Mart needs that type of space? And who but local taxpayers will foot the bill to tear down such structures?

The real complication is that few of these Big Box structures were built to last. Most were constructed as cheaply as possible, to be abandoned when a bigger mega-store is built down the street. Few businesses are willing to invest in a building which will only last another ten or twenty years.

For local governments which have enough clout to do so, it would be a good idea to mandate that retailers construct their buildings to more durable standards. Barring that, some towns require large scale retailers to contribute to a "demolition fund" in case the building is abandoned.

By the way, Check out Big Box Reuse for some great examples of...well, Big Box reuse.