For generations of Americans, malls have been more than places to shop. They were places to meet friends, catch a movie, grab a bite to eat, and spend an afternoon. But as shopping habits have changed, so has the role of malls. The shift has come with consequences. Across the country, malls have closed as retailers grapple with the rise of online shopping, changing consumer preferences, and economic pressures. Yet the picture is not entirely bleak. Some malls are drawing shoppers back by reinventing themselves as destinations for dining, entertainment, and experiences that go beyond retail. The same tension can be seen in the market for physical music. Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” sold about 1.6 million vinyl copies in 2025, according to Luminate, suggesting that consumers still have an appetite for physical albums. Still, FYE (For Your Entertainment), the retailer known for its CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, and collectibles, continues to shrink, with stores disappearing from malls across the country. Recent data from Placer.ai showed that visits increased in September across all three mall formats, offering a sign that physical shopping destinations may still have a place in consumers’ lives. But a recovery in foot traffic does not necessarily mean every retailer is benefiting. The United States has “demolished 500 or 600 malls over the last 10 years,” said Naveen Jaggi, president of retail advisory services at commercial real estate firm JLL, according to Yahoo Finance. The malls that have endured, he argued, are often those that have invested billions of dollars in renovations and evolved beyond traditional shopping destinations. That evolution has brought more sit-down restaurants, upgraded dining options, cinemas and other entertainment designed to give shoppers more reasons to visit. Still, retailers continue to reassess their physical footprints, with companies including Vera Bradley, Fossil Group , Genesco, and Nordstrom closing stores in recent years. Now, another familiar retailer is preparing to leave a Michigan mall. Its departure represents more than another store closure. It offers a glimpse into the changing relationships among malls, retailers, and the consumers they are trying to attract. FYE store at Lansing Mall closing for good, launching discounts up to 60% In an August 2025 investigation, WKAR Public Media found an average vacancy rate of 34% across four Mid-Michigan malls. Its reporting described how online shopping, changing habits, and aging buildings are putting pressure on traditional shopping centers. FYE at Lansing Mall is scheduled to close on Oct. 26, 2026. WITL reported on Oct. 18 that the store was already displaying closing-sale signs, with discounts of up to 60%. The store sells CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, movie merchandise and collectibles. Its departure is another change for shoppers who remember when browsing entertainment stores was a regular part of visiting the mall. The Lansing location is not the end of FYE in Michigan. The same WITL report identified other locations still operating in the state, including stores in Auburn Hills, Grandville, Portage, Troy, Saginaw, and Traverse City. An FYE store at Lansing Mall that sells CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, movie merchandise, and collectibles is closing for good, despite the demand for vinyl. Valerie Terranova / Getty Images FYE has a long history of store closures FYE’s retreat has been underway for years. In its 2018 annual report filed with the SEC, former parent company Trans World Entertainment reported 260 stores in the FYE segment as of February 2018, of which 231 were traditional mall-based stores. By February 2019, that figure had fallen to 210 in total and 193 traditional mall-based stores, according to its next annual report. The company said it closed 50 stores during fiscal 2018 and did not open any new stores. The decline continued. Between August and October 2026, third-party sources such as BrandMarch and FYE’s official store locator reported approximately 130 locations, including stores operating under the Sam Goody and Suncoast names. This suggests a net reduction of roughly 80 locations since early 2019, or about 38%, but a comprehensive, officially confirmed cumulative store-closure count was not available in the sources reviewed. Why has FYE been struggling? The pressures are familiar across retail. Shoppers can compare prices online, stream music and films, and buy collectibles from specialist websites without visiting a mall. Physical stores also have to cover rent, staffing, and other operating costs. Trans World Entertainment acknowledged the challenge in its 2018 SEC filing. It cited competition from internet retailers and mass merchants. It also said stores could close when they failed to meet profitability targets or when leases expired and were not renewed. Meanwhile, customers have raised concerns around prices. In a September 2026 Reddit discussion, a former regular shopper complained that many DVDs cost $15 to $30, while similar titles could be found elsewhere for much less. The discussion illustrates the challenges physical retailers are facing competing with online sellers on price. At the same time, it suggests that the demand for music shops and stores that sell collectibles and vintage-style items still exists. Physical music is not dead yet Despite FYE’s shrinking footprint and the popular belief that, in the age of Spotify, YouTube, and many other music streaming service providers, people don’t care about buying physical music, they are. In fact, Americans bought 47.8 million vinyl records and 33.8 million CDs in 2025, according to Luminate’s 2025 music industry analysis, published in March 2026, CD sales picked up in the second half of the year, reaching 11.4 million units in the fourth quarter, up 15.8% from the prior year. Vinyl has also continued to grow. The Recording Industry Association of America’s 2025 year-end report put U.S. vinyl revenue at $1 billion, up 9.3% from the previous year. While the demand is the first factor a business needs to consider before developing its operations, it’s often not enough on its own. That seems to be the case here, as numbers show that physical music formats still have a market, but the way people are buying them seems to be changing. Not every consumer prefers online purchasing, and some customers miss the hands-on shopping that stores such as FYE provide. Customers still miss the FYE in-person store experience Across Reddit, shoppers have been asking what happened to their local FYE stores, and their reactions reveal both frustration and nostalgia. In Toronto, a shopper questioned the sudden disappearance of FYE at the Eaton Centre in an October 2025 discussion on r/askTO. Commenters said they enjoyed browsing the store for CDs, movies, and collectibles, even while acknowledging that its prices were high. In Katy Mills, Texas, customers expressed sadness about an expected closure in a November 2025 Reddit thread. And in Indianapolis, shoppers questioned the disappearance of the Castleton Square location in a July 2026 discussion. Some recalled buying CDs and browsing its pop-culture merchandise. The discussion also included a report that the store was moving, a reminder that not every apparent disappearance means a permanent closure. These posts are individual accounts, not a survey of FYE customers. However, similar questions and expressions of disappointment across different locations suggest that some shoppers value these stores more than the products themselves. They value the chance to browse, stumble across something unexpected, and share an interest with other fans. FYE faces a difficult balance While there was no official explanation for FYE’s recent closures, the overall industry data paints a relevant picture. Customers can still want CDs, movies, and collectibles, but a number of them might choose to buy them somewhere cheaper. It can be very challenging to compete with online retailers over price, especially now that retail rent costs are higher. While recently covering closures at another mall retailer, Tilly’s, one comment on my article stood out. User Leo2533 highlighted their personal experience of a mall owner asking $5,000 a month and a commission after a certain amount of money just for a kiosk. “How does one pay 5k a month and they think you will make another 10k and pay commison from a kiosk? Ridiculous,” the user wrote, suggesting rent at malls should be more affordable for retailers. While that is one person’s account, published figures confirm that mall rents can be substantial. In its 2025 annual report filed with the SEC, mall owner Macerich reported an average base rent of $66.92 per square foot for smaller mall stores at its consolidated properties. That figure is not a direct comparison with kiosk rent, and it does not establish what Tilly’s or FYE paid, but it highlights the cost pressure facing retailers that depend on shoppers walking through mall doors. When rent, staffing, and inventory costs add up, even a store with loyal customers may struggle to remain profitable. Physical media remains a real market, but the stores selling it must compete on price, selection, and convenience. FYE’s long decline shows how difficult that balance has been. For shoppers, however, a closing sale is more than a discount. It can be the last chance to walk through a familiar store, browse the shelves, and leave with something they did not know they wanted. When that storefront disappears, an ordinary part of the mall experience disappears with it. Related: 61-year-old bookstore chain closes 68 stores in 3 months
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