These pre-Instagram photos will take you back to the vibrant shops, noisy arcades, and bustling food courts where you spent your Saturdays.
In the 1980s and 1990s, shopping malls were iconic meeting spots for young Americans. They were convenient for one-stop shopping and great for socializing.
It was easy to spend an entire day at these temples of consumerism. There were shops for every taste, plus restaurants, beverage stands, and entertainment.
Even without a shopping list, you could play Pac-Man at the arcade, watch a new movie, or hang around the food court until a friend bought you a slice of pizza. All of this was often centered around memorable features like a fountain or carousel.
Shopping malls were once hubs of modern life in many American towns and cities. But like most popular places, you probably had to beg your parents to drop you off there.
Today’s kids might find it hard to believe that the crumbling building in their town, with a parking lot overtaken by weeds, was once the place to be. Vintage mall photos keep those memories alive.
How Vintage Mall Photos Show a Bygone Era
Malls have increasingly become abandoned since the early 2000s, with many websites now chronicling “dead malls.” This decline is largely due to the rise of the internet and online shopping, which offers overwhelming options.
But it’s still worth celebrating the mall in its prime. Malls were more than just places to shop. They were places for relaxation, fun, and community-building, like a privatized public square.
Photographer Michael Galinsky realized this back in 1989. He started taking pictures at a Long Island mall for an NYU photography class, then toured malls across America, capturing candid shots of people in these spaces.
With the rise of photo digitization, demand for these vintage mall photos grew. Galinsky compiled his collections into books that quickly sold out. His website Rumur now features some of the best time-capsule shots of the mall era.
These images bring ’70s and ’80s babies back to the vibrant stores, noisy arcades, and bustling food courts of their youth. In today’s digital age, it’s hard not to feel nostalgic for the simpler, pre-Instagram mall days.
But we shouldn’t write off all malls just yet. Some iconic centers, like the Mall of America, are still thriving. According to Refinery 29, some believe malls might be making a comeback.
Tamara Szames of the NPD Group says, “The ‘shoptainment’ — the entertainment of shopping — is coming back, especially for younger consumers.” She adds that after COVID-19 restrictions, many crave in-person shopping again, noting, “We also can’t forget that we’re human. We like interaction and experience.”
After enjoying these vintage mall photos, check out these abandoned malls reclaimed by nature. Then, discover pictures from the 1990s that perfectly capture that decade.