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Travel

Incredible Viral Photos of Abandoned Shopping Malls

December 19, 2014

Shopping malls used to be a symbol of the nuclear age. They were modern and flashy and more than just a place to shop. They offered cinemas, restaurants and, for teens, a place to hang out. And, thanks to the automobile, they prospered.

But now large retailers are closing down stores, leaving malls without “anchor” tenants to draw shoppers and worse, with empty storefronts. The arrival of big-box stores and new-style shopping areas are drawing customers away, too.

It can take years for a mall to die, slowly losing retailers until there is little reason for the owners to keep it open. And it can take many more before the building is redeveloped or demolished. Here are some of the most viral pictures of abandoned malls around the world.

Northern Florida

Brett Levin Photography/Flickr

1 / 28

Northern Florida

The interior of an abandoned and decaying mall in Northern Florida.

Arlington, Texas

Sarah Martin/Flickr

2 / 28

Arlington, Texas

Six Flags Mall in Arlington, Texas.

Harvey, Illinois

Ian Freimuth/Flickr

3 / 28

Harvey, Illinois

Dixie Square Mall in Harvey, Illinois closed in 1978. It was the set for the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. The mall appears in the scene where Jake and Elwood drive through the mall and a number of its stores.

Porto, Portugal

Fernando de Otto/Flickr

4 / 28

Porto, Portugal

This abandoned mall is in Porto, Portugal.

Porto, Portugal

Fernando de Otto/Flickr

5 / 28

Porto, Portugal

It is now home to squatters and other delinquents.

Chesterfield, Virginia

Will Fisher/Flickr

6 / 28

Chesterfield, Virginia

The Cloverleaf Mall in Chesterfield, Virginia has seen better days.

North Randall, Ohio

Nicholas Eckhart/Flickr

7 / 28

North Randall, Ohio

Plenty of parking at the Randall Park Mall in North Randall, Ohio.

Dongguan, China

DCMaster/Flickr

8 / 28

Dongguan, China

This abandoned mall in Dongguan, China doesn't have much time left.

Logan Crouch/Flickr

9 / 28

North Texas

This mall in North Texas isn't the most welcoming.

Logan Crouch/Flickr

10 / 28

North Texas

The interior of this abandoned North Texas mall isn't very welcoming, either.

Logan Crouch/Flickr

11 / 28

North Texas

More creepy interior views of this abandoned mall in North Texas.

Guido A.J.Stevens/Flickr

12 / 28

Aswan, Egypt

This abandoned mall is in Aswan, Egypt.

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Clinton Steeds/Flickr

13 / 28

Fort Smith, Arkansas

The Phoenix Village Mall in Fort Smith, Arkansas opened in 1970.

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Clinton Steeds/Flickr

14 / 28

Fort Smith, Arkansas

The Phoenix Village Mall has seen better days.

MrTopher/Flickr

15 / 28

Saint Lucia

This abandoned mall slowly decays in the hot Caribbean sun on the island of Saint Lucia.

Chalmette, Louisiana

Saul Tannenbaum/Flickr

16 / 28

Chalmette, Louisiana

This mall in Chalmette, Louisiana was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This is how it looked nearly three years later.

Nicholas Eckhart/Flickr

17 / 28

Akron, Ohio

The Rolling Acres Mall in Akron, Ohio closed in 2008.

Copan, Guatemala

Dan Sloan/Flickr

18 / 28

Copan, Guatemala

The closure of shopping malls is a worldwide phenomenon. This empty mall is in Copan, Guatemala.

Pensacola, Florida

Freakapotimus/Flickr

19 / 28

Pensacola, Florida

Even with sunlight streaming in, this abandoned mall in Pensacola, Florida is rather eerie.

Chesterfield, Virginia

Will Fisher/Flickr

20 / 28

Chesterfield, Virginia

Parking at the abandoned Cloverleaf Mall in Chesterfield, Virginia can be a bit confusing.

Chesterfield, Virginia

Will Fisher/Flickr

21 / 28

Chesterfield, Virginia

More remnants of the Cloverleaf Mall in Chesterfield, Virginia.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Nicholas Eckhart/Flickr

22 / 28

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The shelves are all bare at this store in the abandoned Parkway Center Mall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Taichung, Taiwan

Lainmoon/Flickr

23 / 28

Taichung, Taiwan

Time Square is an abandoned shopping mall in Taichung, Taiwan.

Harvey, Illinois

Ian Freimuth/Flickr

24 / 28

Harvey, Illinois

Another shot of the long-abandoned Dixie Square Mall in Harvey, Illinois.

The Dorsch/Flickr

25 / 28

Gary, Indiana

The faded entrance to the Broadway Shopping Mall in Gary, Indiana.

Chicago, Illinois

Banditob/Flickr

26 / 28

Chicago, Illinois

An abandoned roller rink and mini-mall with cinema near Chicago, Illinois.

Erie, Pennsylvania

Maniwa_pa/Flickr

27 / 28

Erie, Pennsylvania

The overgrown parking lot of the Harborcreek Mall in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Nicholas Eckhart/Flickr

28 / 28

Toledo, Ohio

The North Towne Square Mall in Toledo, Ohio closed in 2005.

Travel

Written ByDoug Murray

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