We've been giving a lot of thought to the retail malaise currently infecting the US and one thing we debated recently is what would happen if Apple, Tesla, and some of the other saviors of US malls were to see a massive turn to the downside? Well, earlier this week Apple had a bit of bad news including potential delays to the iphone 8 and this: an indication that the flagship Apple store in the (recently CMBS'd) Boston Properties' GM Building on 5th Avenue is experiencing some flagging revenue numbers. No bueno. Choice quote NSFW: "'I think retail is f*cked, plain and simple,' developer Billy Macklowe said at a conference in April. Walking down Fifth or Madison Avenues, he said, 'just on a visual basis, you will get to a radical vacancy rate the major brokerages aren't putting out there.'" Wow. (PETITION note: read the comments too. Many appear to be spot on).