Hurricane Update: Rita Advances

New York City, Retailers and developers are making tough decisions as Hurricane Rita makes waves in the Gulf of Mexico. Mall owner General Growth Properties of Chicago, is closing its other Houston malls — Deerbrook Mall in Humble, First Colony Mall in Sugar Land, Willowbrook Mall and The Woodlands Mall — today, the Houston Chronicle reported. The Galleria will be closed today and Friday.

Wal-Mart Stores today said 23 facilities were closed in anticipation of Hurricane Rita, and 64 were likely to be shut by tonight. More than 100 facilities were within a 120-mile radius of where Rita is expected to make landfall near Galveston, Texas. Best Buy has closed 20 stores currently in the path of Rita.

In Katrina-related news:

• Matthews, N.C.-based Family Dollar Stores Inc. said 28 of its 50 to 60 stores that were closed because of Hurricane Katrina remain closed. Some of those locations suffered significant damage and may be closed for good, the company said.

• Best Buy has four stores still closed, due to damage sustained from Katrina. They are located in Harvey, La.; Metairie, La.; Slidell, La.; and Mobile, Ala.