Dead mall
Encyclopedia
A dead mall or greyfield is a shopping mall
with a high vacancy rate or a low consumer traffic level, or that is dated or deteriorating in some manner. Many malls in the United States are considered "dead" when they have no surviving anchor store
(often a large department store) or successor that could serve as an entry into or attraction to the mall. Without the access, the small stores inside are difficult to reach; without the pedestrian traffic that a department store generates, sales volumes plummet for the stores, and rental revenues from those stores can no longer sustain the costly maintenance of the malls.
, Woolworth's
) have gone out of business. Hence, in some areas there aren't enough traditional department stores to fill all the existing anchor spaces. Newer "big box
" chains (such as Walmart, Target
and Best Buy
) normally prefer to occupy free-standing buildings rather than mall-anchor spaces.
Attitudes about malls are also changing. With changing priorities, people have less time to spend driving to and strolling through malls, and in the current economic climate, the specialty stores offer what many shoppers see as useless luxuries they can no longer afford. In this respect, big box stores and conventional strip malls have a time-saving advantage. The rise in big box stores since the 1980s left malls reliant on an older business model that couldn't change with the times. 21st-century retailing trends favor open air lifestyle centers
, which resemble elements of power centers, big box stores, and strip malls over indoor malls. The massive change led Newsweek
to declare the indoor mall format obsolete in 2008.
However, some malls have managed to maintain profitability, particularly in areas with frequent bad weather or large populations of senior citizens who can partake in mall walking
. Combined with lower rents, these factors have led to companies like Simon Malls enjoying high profits and occupancy averages of 92%. Some retailers have also begun to re-evaluate the mall environment, a positive sign for the industry.
in Phoenix
, and the Eastmont Town Center
in Oakland, California
.
As a last resort, the structure is demolished and the property redeveloped for other uses, known as building on a greyfield site
. In places such as Vermont
with a strict permitting process, and in major urban areas where open fields are long gone, this can be much easier and cheaper than building on a greenfield site.
in Harvey, Illinois
, which was featured in the 1980
movie The Blues Brothers
. The car chase scenes were filmed at Dixie Square after the mall had been closed, and filmmakers had to dress the mall to make it appear functional and open for business. Over thirty years later, the crumbling building is still standing because of low demand for site redevelopment.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
with a high vacancy rate or a low consumer traffic level, or that is dated or deteriorating in some manner. Many malls in the United States are considered "dead" when they have no surviving anchor store
Anchor store
In retail, an anchor store, draw tenant, anchor tenant, or key tenant is one of the larger stores in a shopping mall, usually a department store or a major retail chain....
(often a large department store) or successor that could serve as an entry into or attraction to the mall. Without the access, the small stores inside are difficult to reach; without the pedestrian traffic that a department store generates, sales volumes plummet for the stores, and rental revenues from those stores can no longer sustain the costly maintenance of the malls.
Changes in the retail climate
In many instances, a mall begins dying when the mall's surrounding neighborhood undergoes a socio-economic decline or a newer, larger mall opens nearby. Structural changes in the department store industry have also made survival of these malls difficult: A few large national chains have replaced many local and regional chains, and some national chains (Montgomery WardMontgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
, Woolworth's
F. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
) have gone out of business. Hence, in some areas there aren't enough traditional department stores to fill all the existing anchor spaces. Newer "big box
Big-box store
A big-box store is a physically large retail establishment, usually part of a chain. The term sometimes also refers, by extension, to the company that operates the store...
" chains (such as Walmart, Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
and Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
) normally prefer to occupy free-standing buildings rather than mall-anchor spaces.
Attitudes about malls are also changing. With changing priorities, people have less time to spend driving to and strolling through malls, and in the current economic climate, the specialty stores offer what many shoppers see as useless luxuries they can no longer afford. In this respect, big box stores and conventional strip malls have a time-saving advantage. The rise in big box stores since the 1980s left malls reliant on an older business model that couldn't change with the times. 21st-century retailing trends favor open air lifestyle centers
Lifestyle center (retail)
A lifestyle center is a shopping center or mixed-used commercial development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities oriented towards upscale consumers...
, which resemble elements of power centers, big box stores, and strip malls over indoor malls. The massive change led Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
to declare the indoor mall format obsolete in 2008.
However, some malls have managed to maintain profitability, particularly in areas with frequent bad weather or large populations of senior citizens who can partake in mall walking
Mall walking
Mall walking is a form of exercise in which people walk or jog through the usually long corridors of shopping malls. Many malls open early so that people may mall walk, however stores and other such facilities generally do not open at this time...
. Combined with lower rents, these factors have led to companies like Simon Malls enjoying high profits and occupancy averages of 92%. Some retailers have also begun to re-evaluate the mall environment, a positive sign for the industry.
Redevelopment
Dead malls are occasionally redeveloped. Leasing or management companies may change the architecture, layout, decor, or other component of a shopping center to attract more renters and draw more profits. Sometimes redevelopment can involve a switch from retail usage to office or educational use for a building (such as is the case with Park Central MallPark Central Mall
Park Central Mall was the first shopping mall in Phoenix, Arizona, located on Central Avenue and Osborn Road. Today it exists as a mixed use business park primarily occupied by regional administrative offices for Catholic Healthcare West, and regional offices for UnitedHealth Group...
in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and the Eastmont Town Center
Eastmont Town Center
Eastmont Town Center is a shopping mall and social services hub located on bounded by Foothill Boulevard, Bancroft and 73rd Avenues, and Church Street, in the Eastmont neighborhood of East Oakland. The mall opened in 1970 on the site of a 1920's-era Chevrolet truck factory. Architect William...
in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
As a last resort, the structure is demolished and the property redeveloped for other uses, known as building on a greyfield site
Greyfield land
Greyfield land is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe economically obsolescent, outdated, failing, moribund and/or underused real estate assets or land. The term was coined in the early 2000s as a way to describe the sea of empty asphalt that often accompanied these sites...
. In places such as Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
with a strict permitting process, and in major urban areas where open fields are long gone, this can be much easier and cheaper than building on a greenfield site.
Unconventional uses
One of the most famous dead malls is the Dixie Square MallDixie Square Mall
Dixie Square Mall is an abandoned enclosed shopping mall located in Harvey, Illinois, United States, located at the junction of 151st Street and the Dixie Highway. It has been vacant for over 30 years, more than twice as long as it was in business. It is famous for having been used, both inside and...
in Harvey, Illinois
Harvey, Illinois
Harvey is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, near Chicago. The population was 30,000 at the 2000 census.Harvey is bordered by Dixmoor, Riverdale and Blue Island to the north, Posen and Markham to the west, South Holland, Phoenix, and Dolton to the east, and East Hazel Crest to the...
, which was featured in the 1980
1980 in film
- Events :* May 21 - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is released and is the biggest grosser of the year ....
movie The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers (film)
The Blues Brothers is a 1980 musical comedy film directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from a musical sketch on the NBC variety series Saturday Night Live. It features musical numbers by R&B and soul singers James...
. The car chase scenes were filmed at Dixie Square after the mall had been closed, and filmmakers had to dress the mall to make it appear functional and open for business. Over thirty years later, the crumbling building is still standing because of low demand for site redevelopment.