How's this for good use of an empty shop....

.... instead of the shops sitting empty maybe they should be used to promote causes (or given to local artists for studio space (short term)) or the such - isn't that nicer than an empty shop on a high street where the windows will get covered in fly posters, the junk mail will pile up behind the door and it will generally become an eyesore?!
In the newly refurbed Victoria Circus shopping precinct in Southend there is one big space still not rented out and this is in the window:

Its a project by students of the Southend campus of South Essex College about disposable fashion.  How great is that - cardboard houses and highrises with the fashion spilling out.  I really like this - good use of unused space to promote the college, the shopping centre and the idea behind it.  The photo doesn't really do it justice.

Here's the accompanying explanation - on a huge swing tag - genius!

(I've had to make it a huge picture so you can read it! lol)