Malls all across America that were once abuzz with shoppers, movie-goers, and mall walkers are dropping like flies and the stores inside of them are going bankrupt, but why? Over the past decade, malls nationwide have been shutting down, and others stand half-empty, struggling to survive. 

“My mom used to take me to the Oaks Mall when I was younger, but now it’s really boring with nothing to do,” said Gavin Miko, a Calabasas High School freshman.

The primary reason for this significant decrease in customers is the rise of online shopping, which has expanded since its inception. Online shopping offers the convenience of making purchases from the comfort of one’s own home. Additionally, websites like Amazon provide exclusive deals that are unavailable in physical stores. According to Capital One Shopping, up to 87% of large shopping malls could close in the next decade.

Younger generations like Gen Z also prefer online shopping over traditional retail shopping. Instead of spending time at malls, Gen Z opts for digital venues. There are multiple reasons for this such as Gen Z being the first generation to grow up on a digital lifestyle. Since Gen Z grew up on technology, they like the convenience of online shopping.

“I just love to online shop because it’s just so much easier and more convenient,” said Zachary Flores, a CHSl freshman.

Another key reason that malls may be dying is the lack of updates. Certain malls, such as the Topanga Westfield Mall, update frequently, unlike other malls, such as the Oaks Mall or the Ventura Mall.

“I only really hang out at the Westfield Mall just because of the new aspects like the Topanga social which they recently added,” said Arshan Hartoonian, a CHS freshman.

Economic factors also come into play. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a lot of retail shops in malls filing for bankruptcy due to all public places being off limits. Very few retail shops survived through the pandemic, leading to the loss of businesses, malls, and plazas nationwide.

According to ICSC, in March 2020, foot traffic at indoor malls declined 56 percent compared to 2019.

The decline of malls is driven by online shopping, changing consumer habits, and the COVID-19 Pandemic. As shopping grows, traditional malls face an uncertain future.