Sandeep Mathrani caused a bit of a stir two weeks ago when he was speaking on an earnings call. The chief executive officer of General Growth Properties hinted that Amazon was planning to open hundreds of bricks and mortar bookstores across the US, a potential earthquake for retail landlords as they navigate the challenges posed by the growing popularity of online shopping. GGP officials refused to elaborate on this possibility, and Amazon declined to comment. JoAnn McGuinness Inland Real Estate Investment Corp., many have feared that the online channel would curtail demand for retail spaces, the desire “Online shopping is certainly here to stay, but it has also gotten to the point where it has somewhat leveled off,” she adds. Part of the reason is that, for many shoppers, the in-store experience remains an important part of their life. T.J. Maxx customers, for example, still enjoy the process of going through the actual store, finding deals and trying on the merchandise. Target