Part 9/10:
The closure of Nordstrom at Santa Monica Place is emblematic of the larger issues facing urban retail in parts of California and beyond. It underscores that, regardless of profitability, safety concerns and societal failures can force even the most upscale stores to bow out. As stores shutter and malls become ghost towns, it raises crucial questions about public safety, urban policy, and how communities can balance economic recovery with social resilience.