Key facts
- The Livingston Mall in New Jersey, once a social hub, is now a 'zombie' mall with significant decay.
- Major anchor stores like Macy's, Sears, and Lord & Taylor have closed at the Livingston Mall.
- The number of malls in the US has decreased from 1,100 in 2008 to around 900.
- In contrast, The Mall at Short Hills, a high-end mall, is experiencing a resurgence with high foot traffic.
- Teen shoppers are noted as a driving force behind the revival of some thriving malls.
Malls across the United States are undergoing a significant transformation, exhibiting a stark divergence in their fortunes. The Livingston Mall in New Jersey, which opened in 1972, now stands as a prime example of a 'zombie' mall. Its physical state reflects its decline, with crumbling buildings, overgrown vegetation, and potholes. The mall has lost its major anchor stores, including Macy's, Sears, and Lord & Taylor, which have closed their doors over recent years, exacerbated by the pandemic.
This decay is contrasted sharply by the vitality of The Mall at Short Hills, located just four miles away. This high-end mall, featuring luxury brands like Gucci and digital-native retailers such as Untuckit, is bustling with shoppers, including groups of teenagers. This resurgence is partly attributed to younger demographics rediscovering malls as shopping destinations.
The overall landscape of American malls has shrunk considerably, with approximately 900 remaining compared to a peak of 1,100 in 2008, according to research firm Green Street. This decline is attributed to shifts in consumer behavior, including the migration to online shopping, widespread department store closures, and the disruptive impact of the pandemic. The K-shaped split highlights a growing divide where upscale malls are thriving, while those serving middle- to lower-income consumers are struggling to survive.