Two weeks ago I told a ghostly story of 1-year-old grandson Max and I being the only humans in the huge, empty hall of Silver Lake Mall about noon on a Tuesday. Many storefronts were dark and empty, and the only people inside most of the working stores were clerks. Fortunately, that should change. It will take some time for the remodeling process, however, nearly all the spaces in the 350,000-square-foot shopping mall have been newly occupied or leased for future occupancy. Several smaller stores moved within the mall, allowing spaces to consolidate so stores wanting larger spaces could have them. One major occupant will be Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts which will open early in 2013 in 18,000 square feet combined from small spaces occupied by Maurice's, Graffiti Skate Shop, Bulldog Cigar, Radio Shack and Huckleberry Thicket/Nils Rosdahl, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here. (SR file photo of Bon Marche opening in mall in 2002)

Question: Why doesn't the Silver Lake Mall seem to work, when Hastings has enlivened the upscale strip mall on Appleway and Target & other stores seem to be doing well off Canfield, behind the mall?