Retail spaces once occupied by Sears and JC Penny stores could soon be occupied by the company that helped to put them out of business.
Simon Property Group, the largest mall owner in America, is in talks with Amazon to turn vacant space into Amazon fulfillment centers.
Retail analysts say the move could help close "the last mile" of the delivery route for Amazon, speeding up deliveries for its customers.
Simon’s discussions with the online retailer have been under way for months and began before the coronavirus pandemic, these people said. The two companies have explored converting stores formerly occupied by J.C. Penney Co. and Sears Holdings Corp,into Amazon distribution centers; in some cases, Simon and Amazon explored buying out occupied space from the retailers, these people said.
It's unclear how many mall sites are being considered as Amazon fulfillment centers.
Image courtesy Getty