Desperate Times

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Damon Hemmerdinger, the owner of Glendale, Queens mall The Shops at Atlas Park, will be handing out $500 bills to randomly-selected shoppers at the mall this Friday at 4pm. Hemmerdinger will be dressed up as Uncle Sam, and various mall reps will come garbed as Lady Liberty(s). “'This is about helping to inspire confidence in our economic future which could greatly impact our country,' says Hemmerdinger. 'If every mall across America participated in a similar initiative, we could potentially donate an astounding $340 million back into our economy.' Atlas Park will continue to hand out cash (in $1 to $1000 bill increments) and also offer free parking until the government’s stimulus checks are issued in late April, plus many giveaways on-site, including gift certificates redeemable at its stores as well as Monopoly games and play-money sets for younger children." [Racked Inbox]