Shopping malls have always been associated with stereotypical American culture. Many forms of media showcase characters shopping in grand, luxurious malls. People have always liked to go to malls on the weekends not just to shop, but also to socialize. But, is this good old-fashioned American pastime coming to an end?
Online shopping has been around for many years now, slightly rivaling the in-person shopping experience. That rivalry greatly grew with the COVID-19 pandemic, as people had no choice but to purchase their items online. Although virtually all COVID-19 restrictions have since been lifted, it doesn’t seem that malls have seen the triumphant returns they hoped for.
In 2020, CNBC reported that 25% of America’s malls are expected to shut down within the next five years. This shouldn’t come as a shock as some of the biggest retail stores, such as Sears and J.C Penney, have been slowly shutting their doors over the past few years.
The biggest question that comes out of these shut downs is: what’s going to happen with all this empty space? When someone takes a stroll down a nearly dead mall, such as Ford City Mall, it’s sad to see all the empty space. Some malls have started to utilize these empty storefronts to create a new type of experience- one that is more social.
Yorktown Center, a mall located in Lombard, Illinois, is no stranger to the empty spaces surrounding the few shops that are left. However, this mall has created new uses for them. Some spaces are advertised as work zones, where people can plug in their devices and get some work done without feeling obligated to buy anything.
The mall has also opened up its doors to dogs. The mall offers dog bakeries and play zones for the animals to utilize. During the colder months, this is a perfect way for people in the area to get some exercise for both themselves and their pets.
Other malls, such as Gwinnett Place in Atlanta, Georgia, have turned their empty spaces into a film studio. The dead storefronts were transformed into the fictional Starcourt Mall from Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”
As shopping continues to move towards a virtual direction, mostly thanks to Amazon, it’s sad to see many classic American stores close their doors. Yet, at the same time, it’s exciting to see what future innovations can come from such huge spaces.
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