35 haunting photos of abandoned shopping malls that highlight the impact of the retail apocalypse over the past decade

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35 haunting photos of abandoned shopping malls that highlight the impact of the retail apocalypse over the past decade

metro north mall seph lawless

Seph Lawless

Metro North Shopping Center in Kansas City, Missouri, closed in 2014, but the abandoned mall appears as if it's been deserted for decades.

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American malls are dying out and, as the online retail industry grows, the future of brick-and-mortar establishments continues to hang in the balance.

Retail complexes all over the US are being clobbered by store closures sweeping the country. In the past decade, online retailers like Amazon have flourished, while stores and shopping malls continue to close their doors or report a decrease in foot traffic.

On multiple occasions, Amazon has bought up former shopping malls and converted them into their own fulfillment centers, adding another level of intrigue to the decline of in-store retail in favor of online retailers.

At the start of the 2008 recession, 90 million square feet of retail space had closed. Then, retail closures steadily returned to the status quo in 2010. However, by 2016, the number of retail closures began increasing rapidly again, and as of August 2018, the U.S. hit a 10-year high in the amount of retail square footage officially closed down.

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Retailers have announced more than 8,600 closings so far in 2019 and, according to a report done by Credit Suisse in 2017, between 20% to 25% of malls will close by 2022.

A national retail apocalypse has crippled US malls as anchor stores such as Macy's and Sears, which take up large retail spaces and drive foot traffic, have shuttered stores and left malls with enormous gaps to fill. For many malls, this is an impossible task.

Take a look at some of these haunting photos below that show how badly America's malls have been hit over the last decade.

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This is the Carousel Mall in San Bernardino, California, which closed in 2017.

This is the Carousel Mall in San Bernardino, California, which closed in 2017.

The mall had been hanging on by a thread after it lost its two main anchors, Montgomery Ward and JCPenney, several years earlier.

The mall had been hanging on by a thread after it lost its two main anchors, Montgomery Ward and JCPenney, several years earlier.

Source: Business Insider

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San Bernardino is now considering 11 different offers for the redevelopment of the abandoned shopping center.

San Bernardino is now considering 11 different offers for the redevelopment of the abandoned shopping center.

Source: The San Bernardino Sun

Euclid Square Mall in Ohio, pictured in 2013, had a similar fate and shuttered in 2016.

Euclid Square Mall in Ohio, pictured in 2013, had a similar fate and shuttered in 2016.
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It was temporarily used by religious congregations who held services in old stores.

It was temporarily used by religious congregations who held services in old stores.

Source: Cleveland

In September 2017, Amazon announced plans to build a 1.7-million-square-foot fulfillment center in its place. That fulfillment center has since opened.

In September 2017, Amazon announced plans to build a 1.7-million-square-foot fulfillment center in its place. That fulfillment center has since opened.

Source: Crain's, Scene

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Photographer Seph Lawless has become famous for his photos of abandoned malls. In 2016, he captured Chicago's Lincoln Mall, which closed in January 2015.

Photographer Seph Lawless has become famous for his photos of abandoned malls. In 2016, he captured Chicago's Lincoln Mall, which closed in January 2015.

Source: Seph Lawless

In its heyday, the 700,000-square-foot mall had the capacity to host four anchor stores and 100 smaller shops.

In its heyday, the 700,000-square-foot mall had the capacity to host four anchor stores and 100 smaller shops.

Source: Business Insider

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But in the months before it closed, it was home to just 40 businesses.

But in the months before it closed, it was home to just 40 businesses.

Source: The Chicago Tribune

In 2013, the mall's owner told The Chicago Tribune that the mall was losing $2 million a year. The same year, a court-ordered receiver was appointed to force the location to pay taxes and fines, as well as make necessary repairs.

In 2013, the mall's owner told The Chicago Tribune that the mall was losing $2 million a year. The same year, a court-ordered receiver was appointed to force the location to pay taxes and fines, as well as make necessary repairs.

Source: The Chicago Tribune

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The mall's tenants did not generate enough in rent to pay for the improvements or repairs, according to an attorney for the owner.

The mall's tenants did not generate enough in rent to pay for the improvements or repairs, according to an attorney for the owner.

Source: The Chicago Tribune

The mall reportedly failed to make these changes, which included creating new exits to comply with fire codes and replacing electrical and air-conditioning systems.

The mall reportedly failed to make these changes, which included creating new exits to comply with fire codes and replacing electrical and air-conditioning systems.

Source: The Chicago Tribune

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In November 2014, a Cook County judge ordered the closure of the mall following the holiday shopping season. The mall was demolished in 2017.

In November 2014, a Cook County judge ordered the closure of the mall following the holiday shopping season. The mall was demolished in 2017.

Source: The Chicago Tribune

Lawless also captured the Metro North Shopping Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Lawless also captured the Metro North Shopping Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
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The mall opened in 1976 and covered over 1.2 million square feet, housing more than 150 retailers.

The mall opened in 1976 and covered over 1.2 million square feet, housing more than 150 retailers.

Source: Kansas City Star

The mall was shut down in 2014, but the decaying interior makes it appear as if it's been deserted for decades.

The mall was shut down in 2014, but the decaying interior makes it appear as if it's been deserted for decades.
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The once-bustling mall is now completely run down.

The once-bustling mall is now completely run down.

Lawless said it was "by far the creepiest mall I've been in."

Lawless said it was "by far the creepiest mall I've been in."

Source: The Daily Mail

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Developers had planned to renovate the mall, but the makeover was estimated to cost $200 million. The plan was ditched in 2015.

Developers had planned to renovate the mall, but the makeover was estimated to cost $200 million. The plan was ditched in 2015.

Source: Kansas City Star

The mall was finally demolished in 2017 to make way for a golf and entertainment complex. The developer also hopes to build a new hotel, health club, and specialty grocer in the area.

The mall was finally demolished in 2017 to make way for a golf and entertainment complex. The developer also hopes to build a new hotel, health club, and specialty grocer in the area.

Source: KSHB

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Rolling Acres Mall in Akron, Ohio, was once packed with visitors but faced a similar fate as many other malls when it closed its doors in 2008.

Rolling Acres Mall in Akron, Ohio, was once packed with visitors but faced a similar fate as many other malls when it closed its doors in 2008.

Lawless visited in 2012 to capture these haunting photographs that show how the complex was left to rot.

Lawless visited in 2012 to capture these haunting photographs that show how the complex was left to rot.

Source: Seph Lawless

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The inside of the mall was crumbling and covered with snow, left exposed to the Ohio elements.

The inside of the mall was crumbling and covered with snow, left exposed to the Ohio elements.

In June 2016, the city deemed it unsafe for locals, issued warnings for people to stay away, and increased police presence after it gained a reputation for being a crime hotspot.

In June 2016, the city deemed it unsafe for locals, issued warnings for people to stay away, and increased police presence after it gained a reputation for being a crime hotspot.

Source: Business Insider

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Multiple deaths occurred on the property after the mall was abandoned. Perhaps most horrifyingly, the body of a likely murder victim was found in the woods behind the building.

Multiple deaths occurred on the property after the mall was abandoned. Perhaps most horrifyingly, the body of a likely murder victim was found in the woods behind the building.

Source: Business Insider

After several rounds through the bankruptcy courts, the property was acquired by the city of Akron.

After several rounds through the bankruptcy courts, the property was acquired by the city of Akron.

Source: Cleveland

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In 2016, the Rolling Acres Mall was demolished. In 2018, Amazon purchased the property for $600,000 from the city of Akron with plans to build a new 700,000-square-foot fulfillment center.

In 2016, the Rolling Acres Mall was demolished. In 2018, Amazon purchased the property for $600,000 from the city of Akron with plans to build a new 700,000-square-foot fulfillment center.

Source: News 5 Cleveland, Business Insider

These eerie photos were taken of Cloverleaf Mall in Chesterfield, Virginia, in 2011.

These eerie photos were taken of Cloverleaf Mall in Chesterfield, Virginia, in 2011.
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It was the area's first large-scale, regional shopping center, but the mall officially closed in 2008.

It was the area's first large-scale, regional shopping center, but the mall officially closed in 2008.

Source: Chesterfield Observer

Once a buzzing hub, the inside looked completely barren and was littered with decaying plants and debris.

Once a buzzing hub, the inside looked completely barren and was littered with decaying plants and debris.
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In 2011, the building was demolished and replaced with a Kroger supermarket.

In 2011, the building was demolished and replaced with a Kroger supermarket.

Source: KLTV

Hawthorne Plaza in Los Angeles, California, closed its doors in 1999. In July 2011, Chris Cognac took these photos while performing a security check with workers working on partial demolition inside.

Hawthorne Plaza in Los Angeles, California, closed its doors in 1999. In July 2011, Chris Cognac took these photos while performing a security check with workers working on partial demolition inside.
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Since the mall closed, it has been used as an appropriately spooky spot for filming some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters, including "Gone Girl," "The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift," and "Minority Report."

Since the mall closed, it has been used as an appropriately spooky spot for filming some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters, including "Gone Girl," "The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift," and "Minority Report."

Source: Business Insider

Today, it is just a shell that's covered in graffiti and crumbling away.

Today, it is just a shell that's covered in graffiti and crumbling away.
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In 2016, drone enthusiasts transformed the space into a drone-racing track, where people could race their remote-control drones around the building while it was lit up in fluorescent lights.

In 2016, drone enthusiasts transformed the space into a drone-racing track, where people could race their remote-control drones around the building while it was lit up in fluorescent lights.

Source: Business Insider

However, these pop-ups were short-lived. Later that year, the city of Hawthorne agreed to demolish the building and replace it with a $500 million open-air development, but that still hasn't happened.

However, these pop-ups were short-lived. Later that year, the city of Hawthorne agreed to demolish the building and replace it with a $500 million open-air development, but that still hasn't happened.

Sources: Curbed, Daily Breeze

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