American Malls Were Once Packed — So What Killed Them?

American malls were once the center of suburban life. Packed parking lots, food courts, department store Santas, and teenagers on every escalator. So what happened? In this video, we explore the rise and fall of the American mall: from architect Victor Gruen and the first enclosed mall, Southdale, to the department store collapse, the rise of Walmart and Amazon, and the dead malls left behind. In this video you'll learn: How Southdale Center in 1956 created the modern mall Why Victor Gruen later disowned his own invention How the anchor store model and co-tenancy clauses created a death spiral Why big box stores and online shopping pulled shoppers away Why some malls are thriving while others turn into dead malls What happens to a mall after it closes If you enjoy learning how Americans lived before the modern world, subscribe to TimeBehindUs for more stories about everyday life in the past. What was your mall memory? Tell us in the comments. #AmericanMalls #DeadMalls #AmericanHistory#MallHistory #RetailHistory #VintageAmerica #LostHistory #HistoryDocumentary #NostalgiaHistory #Nostalgia80s