[doppelbanger]

I also disagree that inward facing was the problem. The biggest problem is that the place was full of "mall stores". The place used to have a Sam Goody (maybe Wherehouse) and a whole bunch of clothing stores that are either out of business or almost out of business. Its really no different than other malls such as Fiesta or Metro Center. I imagine that that the rents are even higher at Az Center because of the downtown location. Just one more observation, Az Center was the original and only outdoor "mall" for a long time and may have lost some of it's uniqueness as a destination during the boom of outdoor malls: Tempe Marketplace, San Tan, Westgate, Quarter etc.