I could see it working as a themed area inside a larger tourist theme park with rides and things. If most of the structure is fake just to get the look right on the surface it might not be too pricey to setup and could generate revenue just on admittance fees.

• licensed sign. if it's not licensed, and printed overseas and shipped... it's a looot cheaper. RadioShack signs were just black with red lettering. match the font, have plastic lettering made and use a black backing board and your done.

for internal signs, about $30 for large prints. they come shipped in a large roll.

it's far cheaper than you think, what hurts you is things you cant simulate with plastic/cardboard/etc. actual goods on display.

depending on the business you are targeting and the era. getting products to display that are in mint condition is expensive.

surprisingly, the cheapest ones are clothing stores. you can just pick up reproductions. the plastic pushtags and original product label tags are cheap to make if you have references. they just make them in sheets with cardboard backing. you make a stencil, mark the outlines of each tag with a hobby knife and cut them out.

the most expensive cost is the space. leasing and restoring/maintaing a space is not cheap. even "abandoned" malls still want premiums for those stores...

I see your Circuit City and raise you Service Merchandise.

The best set up I’ve seen is a mall with a gym, the local library, and specialty stores that would otherwise exist in a downtown mainstreet: bakery, brunch restaurant, etc.

It could be done: Micheal’s, Ross, hook in the main discount grocery store, Harbor Freight. Then knock down some walls for the smaller shops and keep going: dollar store, local consignment/antiques, etc.

One stop shopping.