dead malls

I promise I have not abandoned this effort! Just been going through a lot of things. One of which is finally moving out so that's cut into research time!!

a website with information about things happening in Westcor Shopping centers and hours for the malls operated by them. the images on the web page are not loaded in.

not a full thread but found something semi-interesting while researching Metrocenter. found a 1999 of the landing page on metrocentermall.com

Westcor had info about all their malls and there were links to other mall sites in a sidebar.

via @archive.org: web.archive.org/web/19990125...

ty for the old pics :) love seeing them

yeah I read a bit about the remodel in my initial research! just combing through old newspapers!

YouTube video by Retail Archaeology Metrocenter Mall: A Dead Mall Eulogy | Retail Archaeology

here's the video where the above pics came from www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdqI...

a skylight with concenctric circles surrounding the point open to the glass

a skylight with concentric circles surrounding the point open to the glass

a skylight with concentric circles surrounding the point open to the glass. below the skylight is an escalator

hey @retailarchaeology.bsky.social, doing some research on the metrocenter mall for one of my upcoming threads. curious if you've got any context for this skylight design?

ty for the amazing footage of this mall btw

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...

first major major thread done. I promise I'll get better with this as I go. just trying to get a system down for organizing all my thoughts, what I want to post, alt text, and images :) but I'll get there. may be a little while before I get to the next mall but I should hit a rhythm eventually!

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.

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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.

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

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.

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/

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.

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.

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YouTube video by The Proper People Exploring the Abandoned Richland Mall - 80s in Decay

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)

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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.
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a photo of a bustling food court with airplanes hanging from a glass ceiling structure.

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...
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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/

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.

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. 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.

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.
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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.

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/

okay, I'm back. let's do this!

not the main subject of the thread but the Richland Library has a wonderful blogpost about Richland Fashion Mall's predecessor!

www.richlandlibrary.com/blog/2024-03...

(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!)

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.

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/

if you've got any old pics or know anyone who does, I'd love to see them :)

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.

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/

sections of a newspaper discussing a mall opening. The main title is Mall features new chains there's an aerial image of the new mall building, a map of the stores and adjoining roads is also shown. The subtitled sections are Columbia lures developers, Bonwit Teller opens doors at east end, and developers are watching fashion Mall's progress There's also a picture of the exterior of the Bonwit Teller store.

an advertisement in a newspaper that says Bravo! Bonwit Teller South Carolina's oldest mall will soon be its most exciting new place to shop. And it all starts next Tuesday with the opening of Bonwit Teller. A fashionable Fifth Avenue retailer for al-most a century, Bonwit Teller caters to an "updated" customer with the finest apparel, accessories and cosmetics for women and the latest styles for men. The opening of Bonwit Teller is just the first of many exciting new stores and events coming to Richland Fashion Mall over the next year. You will find a sensational new sense of style. A fashionable new look, inside and oat. And many of your favorite stores, including JB White. Next spring, a brand new collection of stores will open to complement Bonwit Teller. And later well add Parisian and more very distinctive shops. Restaurants, too. What's more, JB White, long a Richland tradition, will present a completely remodeled and expanded store. With the opening of Bonwit Teller construction has now switched to the west end of the mall closing off the Forest Drive entrances. Access to Richland Fashion Mall will now be from the three Beltline Boulevard entrances only. There's plenty of convenient parking space in the parking lot, on the new parking decks...and on the rooftop! Come welcome Bonwit Teller. And share the excitement of a Columbia tradition. Coming back in style. Inlaid in the text is a map of the fashion mall.

ad advertisement that says From one fine department store to another -- Bonwite Teller we welcome you to the jmost progressive city in the southeast Tapp's. Bonwit Teller and Tapps are stylized logos.

A map and instructions for how to park at the new Richland Fashion mall.

the Richland Fashion Mall opened in two phases with the first stores opening in October 1988. The big name store was Bonwit Teller. below are the newspaper headline about the mall's opening, ads, and a little parking guide from the Sunday edition of The State from the week the mall opening.
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A newspaper article with the headline Work starts on fashion shop mall. The article says The new owner of Richland Mall has announced plans to transform the 27-year-old shopping center into an enclosed million-square-foot-plus "fashion" mall. Hooker/Barnes, the Australian-based development group that purchased Richland Mall in December 1986, is planning to redevelop the mall in two phases with construction taking more than two years. The renamed Richland Fashion Mall will be a two-story, brick and glass structure with three anchor ten-ants and 200 specialty and retail stores. There will be 3,900 parking spaces, in a multilevel parking ga-rage on the mall's roof and in an open lot. Bonwit Teller will anchor the side of the mall where the closed Richland the article continues on page 2D under the section mall

text that says Mall Cinemas and Cancun American Bar & Grill are being torn down. The 80,000-square-foot store will be Bonwit Teller's first in South Carolina. The 13-shop, New York-based retailer specializes in upscale men's and women's apparel. Hooker/Barnes purchased the chain in August. The JB. White store will be expanded to contain 186,000 square feet at center court. The third anchor tenant, which has not been named, will be fill 100,000 square feet where the present mall is. Hooker/Barnes purchased the Parisian chain of department stores this summer and it is believed Parisian will be the third anchor tenant Mall construction began Wednesday with the demolition of the Cancun restaurant, followed Friday by the demolition of Richland Mall Cinemas. The first wing will be built from the cleared sites to J.B. White, leaving the old mall intact. Once completed, the merchants will move into the new wing. The old mall will be torn down, and the other wing will be built in its place. The first wing is scheduled to open in October 1988 and the second wing in mid-1989. Architect for the development is H.J. Ross Associates of Miami, Fla. General contractor is the Charlotte office of McDevitt & Street "We are phasing construction to minimize the inconvenience to ten-ants and customers," said A. Boyd Simpson, president of Hooker/Barnes Projects Group in Atlanta. "Construction activities will be confined to the theater) area until after the Christmas season and access won't be disturbed." Simpson said many of the mall merchants plan to remain in the new mall and other national and local ten-ants will be recruited. He would not release the names of any potential tenants, saying details would be released later. Several mall tenants, however, have either left or have announced plans to leave. But most will remain

text that says through the Christmas season. Rhett Jackson of the Happy Book seller said he is looking at several sites on Forest Drive to locate a new mall. Calico Cat relocated on Devine. Street earlier this summer, Anxiously Awaiting Maternity has closed and Adventure Land Video's lease expires today. The remaining merchants are negotiating leases with Hooker/Barnes and would not comment about the status of their leases. Norman Langston, owner of Baskin Robbins 31 Ice Cream Store, said Hooker/Barnes is negotiating his store's lease with the Baskin Robbins chain. He said Friday he is uncertain if his store will be in the mall. "Some of the merchants are still negotiating leases and no one knows for sure who will stay or who will go," Langston said "Merchants will get a dying grasp for business during Christmas and those that try to stay after that will be hurt by construction. It's going to be tough," he said, Page Schaefer of Page's Say Ah Comfort Shoe Store in the mall said he bas negotiated his lease and plans to remain. "I'm willing to go with it. This is the biggest thing in Columbia and I'm all for it." he said. Schaefer said he will operate through the construction as long as possible. "If this store is still in existence and there are others around here to help draw, I will be here," he said. Last week, the owner of the Potato Patch & Ete. Inc., Roy Nelson, filed suit against Hooker/Barnes, claiming the developer reneged on its lease requirements. Nelson was given a let ter by the developer to vacate by Oct 21. The store's lease ran through 1990, Nelson said.

In 1987, Hooker/Barnes purchased the property and terminated all of the leases of every tenant except for J.B. White. They planned to convert the mall into a high end fashion mall. It would have two anchor tenants: J.B. White and Bonwit Teller. Parisian was speculated to be a third.
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An open air retail space at night. the picture is black and white.

Older cars parked in various parking spots near a sign that says Richland mall. Several lowrise buildings can be seen including one with the words Warick on the exterior.

This mall was near Columbia, SC. This mall is actually the second mall on this site. From 1961 to 1987, the open-air Richland Mall operated here and had 27 stores including a J.B. White Department store. These pictures of the predecessor mall are from the Warner Montgomery's book on Forest Acres.

a vacant floor on a mall. there are no patrons shopping and many of the storefronts have been shuttered. there are escalators are to the left.

as promised here's the thread about the mall that's my header photo! This is, or was, Richland Fashion mall. This mall was opened in 1988 and was completely demolished in 2024.

The photo is from Mike Kalasnick (again)

source for image: www.flickr.com/photos/10542...

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and most of the tenants are just local shops