"Ghostboxes" Everywhere

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - What to do about big, empty boxes? If they're the kind around the house, you simply fold them and put them out on the curb or cut them down and put them in with the rest of the trash. But in this case, we're talking about empty "big box" stores.

As the recession takes a bite out of big box retailers, communities are stuck with huge, windowless vacated businesses. Worse than just being eyesores, the big box units are tough to fill. Many lots that used to house places like a Home Depot or Wal-Mart take up the size of several football fields. And
would-be tenants are put off by the huge size.

Some areas have found creative uses for the huge buildings. In Minnesota, one big box store became a Spam Museum. In Texas, an indoor go-cart track.
However, the new tenants often generate less revenue for local governments.