One of the malls where I live is making exactly this transition. Half the retail stores are already gone, replaced with various entertainment venues. A huge swa

One of the malls where I live is making exactly this transition. Half the retail stores are already gone, replaced with various entertainment venues. A huge swath of the mall is now dedicated to restaurants. I don't mean a typical food court, but actual table service, bars, and fast-casual places with their own dedicated seating. Most of them aren't even national chains. The closest thing they do have to a food court is a "food hall" with an unusual layout and not a single Orange Julius or Panda Express in sight. The retail stores they seem to be keeping are less conventional too. One I spent some money at yesterday as a book and gift shop. They have a ton of vintage books and collectibles, and art from local artists. This is stuff that is a lot harder to buy online, and there is a persistent novelty factor that makes walking in the store a unique experience every time.