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deadmalls.bsky.social
dead malls
@deadmalls.bsky.social
24 followers 5 following 40 posts
eventually will post one dead or dying mall a day


please DM for suggestions or requests to take a picture down (I will never post a photo where I am unsure of who the photographer is)
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deadmalls.bsky.social
ty for the old pics :) love seeing them
July 21, 2025 at 9:49 PM
deadmalls.bsky.social
yeah I read a bit about the remodel in my initial research! just combing through old newspapers!
July 21, 2025 at 9:48 PM
deadmalls.bsky.social
here's the video where the above pics came from www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdqI...
Metrocenter Mall: A Dead Mall Eulogy | Retail Archaeology
YouTube video by Retail Archaeology
www.youtube.com
July 21, 2025 at 7:22 PM
deadmalls.bsky.social
Here's all of the newspaper clippings I used as sources!
www.newspapers.com/clippings/my...

Additionally, I relied on this post
skycity2.blogspot.com/2010/05/rich...

And the wikipedia page
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richlan...
Sign in to Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™
The largest online newspaper archive, established in 2012. Used by millions every month for genealogy and family history, historical research, crime investigations, journalism, and entertainment. Sear...
www.newspapers.com
July 18, 2025 at 3:26 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
These threads will be much better researched and thought out as I get used to this! but thank you for coming on this lil journey with me. and please if you have malls you want me to post about, lmk! I'll have my head down for a bit researching a few malls so I have several threads banked up.

16/16
July 18, 2025 at 2:45 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
Anyway, we've finally arrived at the end of the mall's chapter. but the gem here was Richland Fashion Mall. it was truly dead from the start, replacing an outdated smaller mall with high-end shops that locals could not afford and didn't want to make the trip for. all pics here are by Mike Kalasnik
The exterior of Richland Mall in 2017. the upstairs of a mall. pink and grey tiling can be seen on the floor. the upstairs of a mall. brass railings surround an opening to the bottom floor. the ceiling has a little arch with empty sockets for lightbulbs a dark area of mall. there's light spilling through a skylight towards the far end of the hall where an elevator shaft with large brass circles sits.
July 18, 2025 at 2:43 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
There's a plan for the site's future that involves a prototype Kroger, more retail space, and residential buildings.

But given Kroger's current state who knows if this will materialize! 15/
Richland Mall development to be anchored by Kroger Marketplace
The City of Forest Acres released updates on the Richland Mall development, including its first tenant, a prototype Kroger Marketplace, and construction timelines.
colatoday.6amcity.com
July 18, 2025 at 2:34 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
The final anchor, Belk, left the mall in 2023, and Barnes & Noble left the next the day.

At this point the mall was completely vacant and eventually was demolished in 2024. And they discovered a time capsule buried in 2000 when they added the *extremely* ugly call center.

14/
Watch: Mall demolition crew finds time capsule in South Carolina - UPI.com
Demolition crews tearing down a South Carolina mall found a time capsule that is due to be opened in 2033.
www.upi.com
July 18, 2025 at 2:34 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
The old food court was converted to a call center at some point and if you really want to see how awful it looks, you can watch the proper people's exploration of the mall before it was demolished. (highly recommend this video anyway)

13/
Exploring the Abandoned Richland Mall - 80s in Decay
YouTube video by The Proper People
www.youtube.com
July 18, 2025 at 2:34 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
In 2003, Dillards closed their store. Followed by Parisian closing in 2007 (due to being bought by Belk)

So at this point the mall was down to a single anchor: Belk.
12/
July 18, 2025 at 2:34 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
in 1999, the *glorious* aviation themed food court was closed permanently. I believe this photo was either found in the mall by the proper people or sent to them. but this video has many many more photos of the place before its extreme the decline in the 2000s: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nu0...
11/
a photo of a bustling food court with airplanes hanging from a glass ceiling structure.
July 18, 2025 at 2:10 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
And, this will be a running theme here, none of these changes revitalized the mall that was doomed from the start. In 1998, Dillard's bought JB White's parent company and the Richland Mall location became a Belk. 10/
July 18, 2025 at 2:10 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
In 1996, the mall management dropped "Fashion" from the name of the mall in preparation for a Barnes & Noble bookstore's arrival.

Here's what I believe is the sign that's mentioned in the article (idk who took the original photo but this is sourced from The Proper People on youtube) 9/
A newspaper article about Richland Mall dropping "Fashion" from its name. The article discusses other mall tenants Richland Fashion Mall's giant sign at the front of the store.
July 18, 2025 at 2:02 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
This is an article from The State and I've included it here in its entirety because it gives a very good lay of the land for this mall in august 1993.
I've tried my best to summarize with alt text but there is a text limit here.

The TLDR is an oversaturated retail market in the Columbia area.
8/
A newspaper article. This section describes how Richland Fashion Mall's developer went bankrupt in 1989 and one of the anchors closed. In 1992, Richland fashion mall got a new leasing company and attracted Dillards to fill the anchor spot. Dillards expanded the space Bonwit Teller had been in and obscured another business's doors. Despite this, the manager of the store near Dillards had hope that the arrival of DIllards would change for the better. The article then turns to discuss how analysts said the mall was already facing problems. The mall was poorly located for people who didn't live nearby. And some people speculated the large parking garage made customer's feel unsafe. Others felt some tenants already had too many stores in the area and that there were no unique offering at Richland Fashion Mall. The manager of the mall believed that Dillard's wouldn't cause the mall to suddenly be a popular destination and that it would take at least until 1994 but he also said the mall had always suffered from things beyond its control. The article then goes on to discuss the history of the mall up to this point. The article then turns to discuss some of the malls inherent problems. It wasn't close to any interstates unlike the other malls in the area. These other malls were also undergoing massive revitalization efforts. The rest of the article discusses that various concerns from interested parties. One thing being done to attract customers was the installation of two hundred thousand dollars worth of high powered lighting int he parking garage. The final section of the article discusses how from the beginning Richland Fashion Mall was geared towards a more high-end clientele than existed in the area. The new mall managers believed that this was more than just one store and that was about becoming a neighhborhood mall. One that the community could connect with. Below the article is a picture of a woman walking through the mall. In front of here is a sign that says Coming soon Express.
July 18, 2025 at 1:45 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
lin 1993, Dillards rented the anchor store left vacant by Bonwit Teller but the mall was still largely vacant as shown in this map. 7/
A newspaper cover story image that says Rebirth of a mall. Richland Fashion Mall has seen it's share of troubles. Now, with a new Dillard's opening, can it finally find success? There is a picture of a mall entrance with a large arch structure and a car parked in front of it. A map of mall stores. At the top the map says Refilling Richland. A new, powerful leasing company and the customer-drawing power of Little Rock, Ark., department store Dillard's has helped Richland Fashion Mall sign new tenants already. Below the map is a directory of stores that were open or coming soon to Richland Fashion Mall. Much of the area of the map is white indicating vacant retail space.
July 18, 2025 at 1:45 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
okay, I'm back. let's do this!
July 18, 2025 at 12:30 AM
deadmalls.bsky.social
(okay I'm pausing this thread because I need to get up and eat dinner soon but I promise I'll be back to finish it!)
July 17, 2025 at 8:44 PM
deadmalls.bsky.social
Less than 2 years after opening, Bonwit Teller would close its doors at Richland Fashion Mall.

the average shopper at Richland Fashion Mall never was able to afford the luxury that Bonwit Teller was known for.

(second pic is from May 1990 by Michael Lisicky) 6/
An article detailing the Richland Mall owner being under foreclosure. The article primarily cites the stiff competition that Bonwit Teller had faced being the reason for the Hooker corporation's struggles. the interior entrance to Bonwit Teller in Richland Fashion Mall A newspaper clipping with the heading Bye-bye, Bonwit Teller. the article says When Richland Fashion Mall opened nearly two years ago, the flagship store was Bonwit Teller, a showcase for haute couture mer-chandise. It was an ambitious but ultimately doomed idea. Any day, Bonwit's will close, a victim of high expectations but low customer demand. More than a year ago, William Ruben, Bonwit's former vice chairman, told The Wall Street Journal, "Bonwit Teller needs customers who can relate to upscale merchandise. In small cities, like Columbia, there aren't enough of them." Plenty of folks did "relate." The trouble was they were mostly the mall equivalent of window-shoppers who couldn't afford the upscale prices. Bonwit's departure is regrettable, but it underscores the importance of conducting careful marketing surveys before making costly commitments.
July 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
deadmalls.bsky.social
if you've got any old pics or know anyone who does, I'd love to see them :)
July 17, 2025 at 8:22 PM
deadmalls.bsky.social
Parisian did open around a year later in November of 1989 but the mall's ownership was in serious financial trouble (see the second image here for more about the financial trouble the Hooker Corporation had gotten itself in) 5/
A newspaper clipping with the heading Parisian using a different approach. There's a photo of a man standing next to a display of clothes in a store. Below the picture is a caption that says Parisian using a different approach. A newspaper article detailing the Hooker Corporation's filing for bankruptcy. The article highlights that the corporations American stores were not able to keep their merchandise inventories stocked because suppliers refused to extend more credit to them. Richland Fashion Mall threatened foreclosure.
July 17, 2025 at 8:18 PM