The move by Hycel Partners, owner of the St. Louis Galleria, goes against the general trend in the shopping-mall industry to embrace the Internet. But the St. Louis policy is unique so far, said Malachy Kavanagh, spokesman for the International Council of Shopping Centers, an industry group that represents almost all of the 43,000 shopping centers in the country. If they're concerned about the Gap promoting their Web site, Gap sales are up across virtually every unit in our portfolio. The Internet is driving traffic to the stores. And some larger developers are moving further to integrate shopping malls and the Web.
Teens hang out in malls.
Hycel does seem to agree with the Web revolution on one level. Among Retailers Retailers' reaction to the mall policy has varied from cautious to hostile. The Right Start has threatened to sue if the policy isn't revoked. And the Gap, FAO Schwartz, the Bombay Company have all registered their displeasure. The policy may prove to be unenforceable.