America's Creepiest Abandoned Malls

KingsX

KingsX

Senior Member
Location
Texas
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A Haunting Look Inside America’s Creepiest Abandoned Malls

" Dead malls are slowly turning into abandoned malls and these empty malls are spreading across America like a cancer, particularly in the Midwest, where economic decline has left these areas in complete ruins. Huffington Post photojournalist Seph Lawless is best known for capturing these unique American ruins. "

See photos at link

http://sephlawless.com/inside-creepiest-abandoned-malls/

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I've seen a few of these before, but never so many! My town's mall caved in a long time ago, but the one in West Hartford is still doing well.

Remember when we got all excited about a new mall opening?

What a shame to waste all that building material. Maybe they can be turned into some kind of housing, like what is done with old schools and factories?
 
I'm surprised that the homeless haven't moved in to more of them ?...beats living outside in the elements. Although in many shown, the snow is fairly deep....inside.

At the beginning of the video it says ...to raise awareness ? Awareness to what exactly? The fact that so many just stopped going TO the mall ? as such it closed. Life changes, go back far enough & we went to garden and got our veggies, then to the stock pen & shot our meat. All that changed , we survived!

In one of the photos...it shows a phone receiver dangling ,....when was the last time ya saw a phone booth? At the end of the video it says.....subscribe to..etc. Why would I want to subscribe to a web-site that videos the inside of decaying property/buildings? I'm thinking it's just another guy trying to make a living in some easy way, or perhaps use it to open some doors for the future ? I suspose there's really nothing wrong with that?
 

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The demise of the mall is a commentary on the change in American economy and society.

Malls were built in the 1970s when most of what Americans bought was still "made in the USA."

They were also a major social gathering place for young people [before the internet.]

These photos make me think of Rev 18, how the merchants of the earth and those who ship by sea wail over the fall of Babylon because no one buys their cargoes. Ironically, those verses don't refer to the old "made in the USA" America. They refer to the kind of global commerce we have today when much of what we consume is made abroad and shipped in by sea.

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The customers are down the road at Walmart or else on the internet.
One would think that the malls would be repurposed as office space, distribution centers or perhaps schools.
 
Malls are closing all over the place. My own personal favorite one closed recently, in spite of being very popular. I can't really understand it.

Many of the malls seem to be being replaced by mixed housing, with residences, stores, office buildings, etc. all within one walkable area. I think young people are trying to get away from their cars. They like cities better than suburbia, and prefer walking to the stores to shop. Personally, I like the convenience and comfort of the big indoor malls a lot better.
 
:hide: Maybe they can convert them to prisons. :rolleyes: :joke:

prison.jpg
 
I've seen photos of abandoned malls and it's always sad. We have a few here and I can't help but think of happy times long ago. It used to be exciting just to walk around and shop or get something in the food court, or people-watch.
 
Malls were a safe, common place for kids to hang out. I’ve got fond memories of a couple of malls from my childhood.
Its part of what’s missing these days. A healthy place to socialize for kids.
 
Keesha said:
Malls were a safe, common place for kids to hang out. I’ve got fond memories of a couple of malls from my childhood.
Its part of what’s missing these days. A healthy place to socialize for kids.
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True I suppose but, the bottom line is always dollars & cents...And remove the overhead / increase the profit. A few clicks on a web-site , have a minimum wage person pull it from the warehouse & ship it...PROFIT !

Plus I don't think "hands-on" shopping is as important as it once was ?

I just bought a new pair of sandals on line...much easier than driving to a mall , parking , and cruising the isles ?

They arrived, fit fine, look OK...done deal.
 
rgp said:
True I suppose but, the bottom line is always dollars & cents...And remove the overhead / increase the profit. A few clicks on a web-site , have a minimum wage person pull it from the warehouse & ship it...PROFIT !

Plus I don't think "hands-on" shopping is as important as it once was ?

I just bought a new pair of sandals on line...much easier than driving to a mall , parking , and cruising the isles ?

They arrived, fit fine, look OK...done deal.
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Oh I completely agree as to why they are no longer needed.
All your reasoning made complete sense.
I’m still thinking of all the healthy outlets we had as kids that kids these days don’t.
At least if you were messed up, you had the option of hanging around with other kids who were just as messed up.
 
Keesha said:
Oh I completely agree as to why they are no longer needed.
All your reasoning made complete sense.
I’m still thinking of all the healthy outlets we had as kids that kids these days don’t.
At least if you were messed up, you had the option of hanging around with other kids who were just as messed up.
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Remember the old 'mall-walkers'? wonder where they all went? It was a nice climate controlled environment for them [now us] <grin> Although I never really saw how they justified the drive to & from?...I wouldn't want to do it.
 
rgp said:
Remember the old 'mall-walkers'? wonder where they all went? It was a nice climate controlled environment for them [now us] <grin> Although I never really saw how they justified the drive to & from?...I wouldn't want to do it.
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Oh yes! I’d forgotten about them. That was very popular for a while there. I could never quite figure out why but still.
It WAS climate controlled so if it was raining you had no excuse but what a good walk ruined in my opinion. Haha. Mall walkers. Almost as bad as bingo. :laugh:
 
Online shopping, and stores like Walmart and Target have signaled the end of shopping malls. Consider the huge cost of building Malls, and staffing them with employees, and paying the huge utility bills, etc.,..which all ad several percentage points to the costs of items sold at these malls. Most people find that they can purchase their items elsewhere for substantially less money. Stores like Sears and Macy's have been the lynchpin of malls for many years, and both of those chains are in major financial decline.
 
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Here in Texas climate-controlled inside mall walking was a good alternative to walking in summer 90-100 degree humid heat.

The nice huge inside mall I used to visit every week was turned into a big strip center years ago. Now I never go there.

There is a newer huge town center outside mall close to me but I hardly ever go there.

I prefer to shop across from the mall at Kohl's department store where one can shop and still get climate-controlled exercise.

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Keesha said:
Oh yes! I’d forgotten about them. That was very popular for a while there. I could never quite figure out why but still.
It WAS climate controlled so if it was raining you had no excuse but what a good walk ruined in my opinion. Haha. Mall walkers. Almost as bad as bingo. :laugh:
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<grin>....I agree.
 
Sit at the PC or with your magic phones and shop. Find what you want and make your order. Often promised delivery in two days. Fast, cheaper? I still prefer to see the clothing I want.

I have a bunch in my closet that I bought last year. They look OK but what I got was too large so they will end up in the Salvation Army store one of these days. Going back to live shopping. Will have to plan a trip to someplace where a mall is oprating. Drive and see the country, shop, have a meal, drive back home. A nice day away from home. And I know what I bought, no returns or giveaways required.
 
BobF said:
Sit at the PC or with your magic phones and shop. Find what you want and make your order. Often promised delivery in two days. Fast, cheaper? I still prefer to see the clothing I want.

I have a bunch in my closet that I bought last year. They look OK but what I got was too large so they will end up in the Salvation Army store one of these days. Going back to live shopping. Will have to plan a trip to someplace where a mall is oprating. Drive and see the country, shop, have a meal, drive back home. A nice day away from home. And I know what I bought, no returns or giveaways required.
Click to expand...

Sounds very nice, enjoyable....but that is the old way, the way that is dying off.

Folks used to go for a Sunday ride in the horse drawn buggy...still do I suppose ? Just some changes to the buggy....and the horses...<grin>
 
Creepy every time I look at one of these.

Malls basically made their own fate depending on the area and owner. Many malls would not allow discounters which cuts down on foot traffic. In the meantime the more expensive stores didn't get the business and couldn't afford to pay the rent/stay, closed or went bankrupt. Mall owners tried to exploit the craze as they opened or renewed leases charging exorbitant rents. Then came the building boom and one last hurrah for many of them. And the usual suspects like online retailer added a few more nails to that coffin.

Some areas malls still seem to work like Florida but they also tend to have discounters and anchor stores including the big do it yourself box stores. I've also seen dying malls do what there predecessors tried to avoid and rented to discounters trying to keep every space occupied. It means cheaper rent but steady income.

We had a mall close where the land and building cost 20 million in the late 70s/early 80s. Then a real estate bubble owner defaulted on their 150 million dollar mortgage-on purpose about 5 years ago. It's a series of small strip malls and doctor's offices now.
 

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