In the next ten years, according to a Capital One Shopping Research study, a predicted 87% of shopping malls will close. Malls are a dying culture. Every day, they become less and less popular until they all disappear entirely. It’s important for us, as teenagers, to step forward and save the malls before it is too late.
There are many examples of malls’ decline in recent years in our world. The San Francisco Shopping Centre, the largest mall in San Francisco, was formerly known as Westfield Centre before its name and ownership were given up due to declining popularity. In recent years, stores there, including Banana Republic, Nordstrom, and a five story Bloomingdale’s were all forced to close.
You can even see examples of declining malls local to us. If you take a walk around Eastgate Mall, it’s very easy to see the amount of closed stores and businesses. Eastgate Mall is nearly abandoned at all times too. Another local example is the Forest Fair Mall, also known as the Cincinnati Mall. It has been closed for four years now, and was just sitting abandoned - a shell of memories on the side of the highway. It’s undergoing demolition this winter, all because of the declining popularity.
Malls are dying for multiple reasons. One big factor in their decline was the Covid-19 pandemic. During quarantine, nobody could leave the house to go shopping or hang out at a mall. But Covid-19 is not as extensive of an issue than it was in the past. So why haven’t malls come back?
My simple answer is: Amazon.
While the problem is not entirely due to Amazon, it's easy to say that was the start. Amazon brings the convenience of a shopping mall in your pocket. No crazy parking lots, no feet hurting from walking too much, and no annoyance when you just can’t find your size. It’s simple and it’s easy, and that’s why we love it so much.
Yes, Amazon does have its benefits. You can find practically anything on there and if you just need a few quick items, it’s perfect. But is it really worth the trade? Amazon for all malls doesn’t seem fair to me.
Malls are a vibrant piece of culture, offering a showcase of stores and trends. Malls are also a place for pre-teens and teens to become independent, while still being under some supervision. Malls are great places to go to hang out, even if you aren’t buying anything. Being away from the house, the bustling atmosphere, the confidence that comes from independence, all great reasons to get up and head to the mall.
Additionally, malls can provide tax revenue to treasuries, which will give money to schools, sports, and infrastructure. Supporting a mall means supporting the community. Amazon can’t claim that. While malls support a neighborhood and community, Amazon does not.
Malls are a lively example of the community surrounding them, and it’s becoming more and more important to keep them alive. Malls are great places to hang out and shop, and near us, one of the few places we can go that are always changing. As teenagers, we may feel as though their fate is out of our hands, but that’s not true. If the popularity of malls increases, then less will have to shut down. We can continue to go to malls to popularize them and save them from closure.
Next time you place an order online, remember to think to yourself: can I head out the mall, maybe with some friends, and hang out and get these things there? If the answer is yes, get out there and save our malls.