Some outdated Wisconsin malls see success in redevelopment while others struggle

While buying goods online continues to become the norm, there were still plenty of people venturing inside a suburban Milwaukee mall on a recent afternoon. At Brookfield Square, shoppers can still pick up a book at Barnes & Noble or buy a sweater at J.C. Penney.

Like most shopping centers, Brookfield Square has had some setbacks. It lost anchor stores Sears and Boston Store in 2018, along with many other retailers. But the city created a special taxing district to help revive the mall and other businesses are in the works.

"Consumers are starting to look for more entertainment and experience focused retail," said Stacey Keating, a spokeswoman for Chattanooga, Tennessee-based CBL Properties, which owns Brookfield Square....