Letter: Reader questions open mall concept

I have lived in the Cedar Rapids metro area for many years and remember when Lindale Mall was an open plaza. Lindale was enclosed because we live in Iowa, which has cold winters and snow.

Westdale was built as a large enclosed mall. However, when it started to dwindle, it appeared that absolutely nothing could be done to revitalize it and it was allowed to 'die.”

Now that the entire mall has been torn down, except for a couple of anchors, a new anchor store, Burlington Coat Factory, is joining the 'new” open Westdale.

With Burlington joining, and the extension of the Younker's and JCPenney's leases, the owners/developers say this will help attract other new stores.

My question: Why was attracting new stores an impossibility when Westdale was an enclosed mall?

Again, the new Westdale will be an open 'mall” in Iowa, which has cold winters and snow.

Will the owners of Westdale decide in a few years that it's cold in Iowa in the winter and the open Westdale will need to be enclosed?

Stan Pidima

Marion