People Imagine How America's Abandoned Shopping Malls Could Be Repurposed

People Imagine How America's Abandoned Shopping Malls Could Be Repurposed
Photo by Daniil Kuželev on Unsplash

Ah yes, the American shopping mall.

We've all hung out after school in one.

Most of us didn't have enough to spend lavishly, but who was there for shopping anyway?

We were there to pass the time with our mischievous cohorts over trays of Sbarro pizza and Hot Dog on a Stick in the food court while tracking each other's progress on Tamagotchis.

Nowadays – social distancing notwithstanding – the popularity of malls has dwindled with the advent of the internet and online shopping.

Today's casual consumer who happens to wander the remaining indoor thoroughfares experiences a venue that are shells of their former selves – with empty store fronts lining the way to mainstays like the Gap or Cheesecake Factory.

Its no wonder the zombie apocalypse is associated with malls in movies. Because malls are dead too.

But with a number of abandoned shopping centers left standing to await their fate across the country, Redditor itsMondaybackwards wondered:

"What cool things could we do with America's dead/abandoned shopping malls?"

For Care

"Nursing home, safe communities for dementia patients. It could have everything a village would have without the elopement risk, a grocery, post office, beauty shop/barber, nail salon, library, movie theater, etc."

– Bananagram98

For Gaming

"Go karts but like Mario Kart. Have 3 balloons on the back and the karts can shoot at them."

– fredzout

mario kart GIFGiphy

For Work

"My wife's job took over an entire Sears location in a dead mall and now it's a major operations center for the company. Also a local community college took another chunk of the mall."

– Mjb06

For Living

"How cool would it be to have an apartment in an abandoned mall with a working food court? You'd never have to leave lol"

– itsMondaybackwards

"College dorms never deserved the hate they got. Leave your door open whenever you are up for visitors, close it when you don't. Not having to clean the bathroom. Lots of food options that you never have to cook. I'm 40 with two kids and I would move into a dorm room next week if I could."

– bzzltyr

"There's a very large abandoned shopping mall in Cupertino, maybe a mile from Apple headquarters. Someone's been trying to turn it into housing for years, but the nimbys won't let them do it. So it just decays."

"I used to shop there all the time back in the day. They even had a store that sold swords. I was there a couple years ago. You could still walk around inside, and there was one asian buffet restaurant still doing business there."

– capilot

For Entertainment

"I always pictured them being a great place for concerts or festivals. Walking to different parts of an old gigantic mall to see shows would be a great adventure imo."

– writerintheory1382

"My wife and I have talked extensively about this. Let the bands sell merch in the small shops, big indoor stages in the department stores. The bands could use the security hallways to safely get to the stages. Plenty of spaces for greenrooms, and even band lodging. I love this idea!"

– thetoiletslayer

For Sport

"airsoft/paintball arena."

– Owlmoose

"That would be sick. I don't know why but I imagine every room being a different environment interior. Like one is a jungle, a desert, rainforest, tundra and things like that."

"Pretty much COD maps lol"

– itsMondaybackwards

For Community

"Shelters, community centers, healthcare clinics, job agencies, community services, daycares, senior centers, animal shelters, affordable housing, educational centers, trade schools, women's shelters, advocacy groups, after school programs."

– duchesspipsqueak

For Alcohol

"It would be fun to turn them into 'mega bars' so each shop could be a different kind of bar and you could fit all the major styles under one roof along with some drunchy friendly food and giant dancefloors. Then you could bar hop without worrying about being "drunk in public" or whatever nonsense."

– deepsoulfunk

For Fear

"They're all going to become Amazon warehouses, Amazon fulfillment centers, Amazon workers' dorms, Amazon clone farms, Amazon delivery drone maintenance hubs, Amazon gladiator arenas, or Amazon Bezorthodox megachurches."

– RednBlackSalamander

For Now

"Apocalypse survival experience."

– memehashem

"So umm... all of 2020 thus far?"

– obersttseu


malls

People Break Down Which Practices The United States Needs To Adopt From Other Countries

Woman making the shape of a heart with a stethoscope
Photo by Patty Brito on Unsplash

We can all agree that there is something to appreciate about every country in the world, but there are arguably some countries that appear to have their ducks more consistently and happily in a row than others.

While it would be easy to let pride get in the way and continue to do things the same way, the more productive thing would be to learn from the countries who have figured out a better way to do certain things, whether it's healthcare, food banks, or other services.

Keep reading...Show less
united states

People Reveal Which Universally-Loved Films They Absolutely Loathe

Movie Theater
Photo by Jake Hills on Unsplash

Every year, at the end of the Academy Awards, while the auditorium erupts in cheers upon the announcement of the Best Picture winner, as they are somewhat obligated to do, many viewers at home instead shake their heads and raise their eyebrows.

That's if they don't throw popcorn or worse at their TVs.

While those who did so when La La Land was announced as the winner in 2017 would end up getting their revenge in what remains one of the biggest blunders of Oscar history, others are still reeling at some past winners, which they believe were more worthy of a Razzie than an Oscar.

Taste being subjective, plenty of people still find themselves confused by some films which won countless awards, received across-the-board raves, and are considered classics or masterpieces, but they find to be utterly unbearable.

Often finding themselves in an unpopular minority and having to keep their opinion to themselves, similar to Seinfeild's Elaine Benes and her unique disdain for The English Patient.

Keep reading...Show less
movies

People Break Down The Biggest Design Flaws Of The Human Body

Photograph of an anatomy model
Photo by Alan Calvert on Unsplash

Everyone wishes there was something different about their body.

Smaller nose, longer legs, a different hair or eye color.

There are those, however, whose frustrations with their body are less personal, and more universal.

Finding themselves frustrated less with their own DNA, but with human anatomy in general.

Frustrated by how certain functions work the way they do, and feeling there could be significant improvements in other departments as well.

Keep reading...Show less
body

People Share The Absolute Worst Relationship Advice They've Ever Received

silhouette of hugging couple
Photo by Oziel Gómez on Unsplash

Relationships are hard, and sometimes, they're confusing. When you're having a problem with your partner, or you're inexperienced and looking for lessons, you turn to your friends and family for advice.

Sometimes, the advice is sound and helps make things better.

Other times, the advice is trash and makes everything worse.

Redditors know this all too well, and are sharing the worst relationship advice they've ever gotten.

Keep reading...Show less
relationship advice