Posted on 12/24/2023 10:56:14 AM PST by DallasBiff
Shuttered stores at Schuylkill Mall in Pennsylvania in 2017.
By the 1980s, the mall had become the center of American social life and accounted for the bulk of all retail sales.
But a shrinking middle class, the rise of online shopping, and the fact that there were simply too many malls contributed to the decline of the American mall.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Zactly
I was going to Macy’s to do a quick pickup the other day.
The second I walked in I felt like someone was pouring some acidic substance in my throat and had a little trouble breathing.
I walked back out and didn’t bother with my task.
Went down the street and got some Falafel’s. That place smells way better than the mall
There’s a mall in Houston called “Greenspoint” that the locals renamed “Gunspoint” due to the crime.
The Northgate mall in Seattle was one of the first in the country, but city policy has killed it, or at least put it into a state of limbo. They are trying to “reimagine” it as a light rail hub and mixed residential/retail site, but the construction has been going on for years with no end in sight. Some businesses remain, and the Kraken hockey team took over the south end of the mall for their practice arena, which also features a rink open to the public and a bar and restaurant. The north end of the mall features a Barnes & Noble and a few other businesses, but the central core of the mall is basically closed and under renovation.
York Galleria used to be a nice place to shop. Now, so many stores and shops are gone, it’s like a ghost town there.I don’t know what the difference is between the US and Germany’s “attitude” on malls.
I think they may need to put tail-gunners on the back of the delivery trucks soon.
Aside from all the crime and filth in most malls, rent and overhead required by mall owners have made it almost impossible to make a reasonable profit.
“Mall Culture” is another one of those now-ruined things, that I’m glad I got to enjoy and experience.
It’s too bad the younger generations have no clue how society has deteriorated, compared to the Reagan 80’s.
I don’t know the solution to what is obviously an evolving retail landscape, but whether they’re big box stores or online bait/switch sellers, there needs to be a revolt against cheap chyna products.
I’ve been trying for 2 weeks to find a decent bath rug set and I’m ready to give up. Even macy’s sells crap. Expensive crap, but still crap.
Oh, but they will. Just give it time.
Here’s a sign put up by Germany’s so-called “Sharia police”.
Malls were magical places for kids in the late 60’s. But the decay and destruction in America was limited at that time. Pretty much everything was much better in those days.
More likely K-Mart. You were more likely to find the little items people bought at Woolworth's at a K-Mart. Sears may have carried them too, but we usually went to Sears for bigger, more expensive, or more specialized things.
About 10+ years ago, my wife belonged to a local bridge playing group of retired or semi retired women.
One of their annual non bridge events was to go to the nearest big mall, have lunch and go Christmas shopping.
Then, two of the bridge drivers and their passengers were robbed of their presents in the mall’s parking lot. The local cops didn’t want to leave their little but safe mall headquarters to talk to the victims.
Then, my wife and most of the other women decided to buy from Amazon/?? or the little local shops.
In about 2-3 years, most of the good stores had left or had limited crew on hand to even place any orders.
or visit the local shops .
“I don’t know what the difference is between the US and Germany’s “attitude” on malls.”
Let’s just say it’s a cultural thing.😎
That’s probably as good a reason, as any...
The mall in Concord NH is being torn down to build luxury condos mixed in with what amount to the projects.
Should sell well.
1900 to 1950, no. The idolatry of retail bobbles had not gone full “Pet Rock” retard yet.
Good post. I think Amazon also made a big difference.
Fun video. This is the mall worked my first job after graduating from college. The interviews are great. The end credits are BS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srmc8sF0qsM
Maybe, but my town had a Woolworth’s into the 1980s.
I still miss it a little.
I would kill to live in a mall conversion to open space living. Your own indoor walking track, atriums, fountains, sculptures, natural lighting, and racketball-volleyball, courts. Condos in the retail stores footage, and the common areas open. Lots of parking and road access. Heck, I might never go off site.
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