Will malls cease to exist?

No, malls aren't going completely extinct, but they are undergoing a significant transformation, with some struggling or closing while others adapt by becoming experience-focused destinations with dining, entertainment, and mixed-use spaces, catering to evolving consumer habits and the rise of e-commerce. The trend shows a clear divide between lower-tier malls facing decline and higher-end ones thriving with new strategies, leading to a mix of closures, repurposing, and revitalization.

Will malls become extinct?

Projections indicate that up to 87% of large shopping malls may close over 10 years. Closed malls are empty for an average of 3 years and 11 months. The number of malls declined 3.08% per year from 2017 to 2022.

What stores will be closing in 2026?

Kroger, Macy's and more closing hundreds of stores in 2026. Retailers plan to close hundreds of stores in 2026, including a popular store-within-a-store concept at Target.

What will replace malls in the future?

“By investing in open-air retail spaces, vibrant plazas, and integrated residential projects, we can reimagine these properties to better serve both the community and retailers. This transformation is largely achieved by replacing outdated department store spaces with outward-facing designs.

Are malls still closing?

According to Capital One Research, there are about 1,200 malls remaining in the U.S. as of April 2025, but only around 900 are projected to still be in operation by 2028. Even more alarming, the same research projects that nearly 87% of large shopping malls may shut down within the next decade.

REAL Reason Why Shopping Malls Are Failing

Why don't people go to malls anymore?

People don't go to malls as much due to the rise of online shopping, offering convenience and lower prices, coupled with shifting consumer tastes, less time for leisure shopping, safety concerns, and a decline in anchor stores, making malls less appealing "third places" for socializing, though high-end malls and those adding mixed-use features are seeing better success. The pandemic accelerated these trends, pushing more activity online and reducing foot traffic, forcing malls to adapt by becoming entertainment hubs or mixed-use developments.
 

Are malls coming back in 2025?

In Q2 2025, open-air malls worldwide exceeded pre-pandemic foot traffic, while indoor malls came within 1.1% of 2019 levels – their strongest performance since 2020, signalling a surging recovery.

Is Gen Z bringing back malls?

Yes, Gen Z is helping to revive malls by treating them as social hubs and experience centers, not just shopping destinations, craving real-world interaction after growing up digital, seeking instant gratification, and enjoying diverse activities like dining, entertainment (arcades, mini-golf), and brand events, moving beyond pure online convenience for tangible, community-focused experiences. 

Are abandoned malls becoming urban farms?

Across the United States, abandoned malls are being transformed into indoor farms using hydroponics and LED lighting. These spaces now produce fresh food year-round, helping to combat food deserts and create green jobs in urban areas. From shopping centers to growing centers — a quiet revolution is taking place.

What will retail look like in 2050?

Appetite for tech-led experiences

The Retail 2050 research, conducted in partnership with futures consultancy Trajectory, reveals that AI is set to accelerate this evolution, with three-quarters of Gen Z (76%) believing retailers should use the technology to create more immersive stores.

What big stores are going out of business in 2025?

These national and regional retailers went out of business in...

• Bargain Hunt. Bargain Hunt, a Nashville-based discount retailer, said in February that it would shutter all of its 92 stores in 10 states after declaring bankruptcy.
• Forever21. ...
• Joann Fabrics. ...
• Liberated Brands. ...
• Party City. ...
• Rite Aid. ...
• Sonder.

Is retail dying out?

No, retail isn't dying; it's rapidly evolving, shifting from a traditional model to an omnichannel experience where successful physical stores offer unique experiences and integrate seamlessly with online platforms, while weaker, outdated retailers struggle and close, creating a market correction, not an apocalypse. Data shows overall retail sales growing, but the landscape demands adaptation with better customer loyalty, engaging experiences, and modernized operations to compete with e-commerce giants and new online players like Shein and Temu.
 

Will the house market go down in 2026?

No, most experts don't predict a national housing market crash in 2026; instead, they anticipate a more balanced market with slow, modest price growth (around 1-2% nationally), stabilization in some overheated areas, continued affordability challenges due to high rates, and varying local dynamics where some regions might see minor dips while others stay strong. Key factors will be increased inventory in some areas and persistently tight supply in others, alongside potentially easing but still elevated mortgage rates, notes Zillow. 

Does Gen Z go to the mall?

More than 60% of Gen Z visits malls to socialize and 42% see it as a social activity. The mall is where they meet friends, discover new brands, and linger over meals. It's a space that allows them to mix commerce with connection, reinforcing its role as a modern-day town square.

Why did malls fail in America?

“People moved away from that area to another suburban place, further away. So it was an unsustainable model. As the neighbourhoods declined around the mall, the malls then lost their customers and declined themselves.” The biggest victims of the mass construction of malls were the retailers in main streets and cities.

How many malls are left in the USA?

There are roughly 1,000 to 1,200 malls left in the U.S. as of late 2025, a significant drop from peak numbers, with projections suggesting fewer than 900 might remain by 2028 as many face closure due to online shopping and changing consumer habits, though some are evolving into entertainment hubs or repurposed spaces. 

Is it illegal to go to an abandoned mall?

Ask Permission

But chances are good that someone still owns the property, and if you enter without permission, you're trespassing.

What are replacing malls?

From New Jersey to Colorado, former anchor stores like Sears and Macy's are being replaced with apartments, offices, and restaurants, reshaping malls into places where people can live, work, and shop. They have built homes, townhomes and rentals in Westminster CO, keeping the JCPenny store.

Where is the biggest abandoned mall in the US?

Randall Park Mall was a shopping mall located in the village of North Randall, Ohio, United States. It opened on August 11, 1976 on the site of what used to be the Randall Park Race Track. After over a decade of decline, it closed on March 12, 2009.

Where does Gen Z actually end?

Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1990s as starting birth years and the early 2010s as ending birth years, with the generation typically being defined as people born from 1997 to 2012.

What stores are closing in 2026?

In 2026, several major retailers like Macy's, Kroger, Walgreens, Yankee Candle, Saks Off 5th, and REI are closing underperforming stores as part of restructuring, focusing on efficiency, and adapting to online shopping trends, with closures affecting hundreds of locations across the U.S., though specific lists vary by chain and are often released gradually. 

Why do people no longer go to malls?

Attitudes about malls have also been changing. With changing priorities, people have less time to spend driving to and strolling through malls and, during the Great Recession, specialty stores offered what many shoppers saw as useless luxuries they could no longer afford.

Will malls become obsolete?

No, malls aren't going entirely extinct, but they are definitely changing dramatically, with many struggling or closing (especially older ones), while higher-end or well-located malls adapt by adding experiences, luxury brands, residential spaces, and becoming community hubs to compete with e-commerce and evolving consumer habits. The future involves repurposing defunct spaces, focusing on unique experiences rather than just retail, and catering to different demographics, leading to a polarized market of thriving and failing properties.
 

What stores are shutting down in 2025 in the USA?

In 2025, numerous U.S. retailers closed stores due to economic pressures, shifting consumer habits, and e-commerce competition, with major closures including Party City, Jo-Ann Fabrics (all stores), and significant cuts at Walgreens, Macy's, Big Lots, Family Dollar, and JCPenney, while others like Forever 21 went digital-only. Other chains seeing closures or significant downsizing included Kohl's, Foot Locker, Best Buy, CVS, and Nordstrom, impacting various sectors from department stores to pharmacies and specialty shops.