Been to the mall lately? With the past few weeks being cloudy and cold, my kids have needed as much playtime at that playground as possible!

But no quick run into Starbucks near the AMC Theatre by the indoor playground...it's gone! Yep, the Starbucks is closed with a sign on the window suggesting patrons try another mall spot for coffee. Hmmm.

Not only is the smell of coffee in that corridor missing but further down the road you won't be hearing the sizzling of burgers and fries or the mixing of malts at Johnny Rockets. It recently closed too with no sign on the window suggesting anything.

Since mall ownership changed a couple years ago to the Simon Property Group, it's been much more difficult to get in touch with mall management. However, a new public relations firm for the mall said the reason for the closings isn't all too clear except that it's the economy.

Not necessarily the mall's economy, since new stores will be gracing the stage at Katy Mills soon, but the national economy that forced Starbucks to close hundreds of stores.

Similar situation with Johnny Rockets - the restaurant located in Sugar Land Town Square closed last year. The only Johnny Rockets left in the Houston area is located in The Woodlands.

I'm still waiting to hear from the mall itself - it would be nice to find out if another restaurant will be filling the Johnny Rockets hole. Of course, with Starbucks, one opened a year or so ago near the mall at the corner of the Katy Freeway and Katy Mills Boulevard near Chuck E. Cheese.

As for new stores at the mall, Off Broadway Shoes will open in March and women's clothing store A’GACI is scheduled to open in May.

Off Broadway Shoes, to be located in Neighborhood 2, will the first and only store location in Texas. A’GACI will be in Neighborhood 5.

What do you think about the store closings?