Despite the decline of regional malls across Missouri, Columbia Mall is holding steady.

More than half of the malls open in the state back in 1985 have since closed, but Columbia Mall Manager Rusty Strodtman, says his mall is doing just fine.

The mall turns 40 this week, opening its doors on October 9, 1985—and Strodtman told Missourinet that he hears a lot of people say that “malls are dying.”

“And that is in some cases true across the United States,” said Strodtman. “When the Columbia Mall opened in 1985, there were approximately 21 regional malls that were open and operating in the state of Missouri in 1985. If you look at those same 21 malls today, ten of those malls are open.”

Strodtman said that five of the original stores from 1985 are still open at the Columbia Mall and it real

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