A darker shade of mall. (loss of tenants at the fabled West Edmonton Mall)

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING AT THE FABLED WEST EDMONTON MALL, WHICH THIS YEAR CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY AS RETAIL DISNEYLAND OF THE NORTH? CAN THERE BE DISSENSION IN Phase I -- CLOSING-OUT SALES IN THE RETAIL STRIP OF DREAMS?

STROLL EAST THROUGH WEST EDMONTON Mall past the pirate ship, the submarines, the waves breaking endlessly on the artificial beach, the ice rink and the amusement park. Gradually the crowds begin to thin. You start to see more and more empty stores. Signs read "Closing -- Final Week" or "The End Sale" or "Coming Soon."

You look for the two-level Marks & Spencer store. It's empty, too. Gone are the frozen steak-and-kidney pies and the basic all-cotton underwear that was reported to be good enough for Margaret Thatcher.

What in the world is happening to the fabled mega-mall which this year celebrated its 10th anniversary as the retail Disneyland of the North?

With …