A Haunting Look Inside America’s Creepiest Abandoned Malls

Abandoned Metro North Mall in Kansas City

America’s Creepiest Abandoned Malls by Huffington Post Photojournalist Seph Lawless

Dead malls are slowly turning into abandoned malls and these empty malls are spreading across America like a cancer, particularly in the Midwest, where economic decline has left these areas in complete ruins. Huffington Post photojournalist Seph Lawless is best known for capturing these unique American ruins.

Dead Mall in Maryland

Seph Lawless’ work has become synonymous with dead abandoned shopping malls across America. Lawless is globally recognized as the person that started the abandoned mall phenomenon years ago. The Huffington Post photojournalist has traveled all over America capturing these abandoned malls. The images has captivated audiences around the World after several of his projects have gone viral. His images of abandoned malls and of abandoned America have been reported in almost every country in the World.

Abandoned Mall by Seph Lawless

Seph Lawless has posed the question why are shopping malls slowly dying and becoming abandoned. According to Lawless the reason is rather complex and the cause can vary greatly depending on where the mall is located. Sometimes it’s the direct result of the economy and other times it’s because peoples shopping habits have changed drastically. Americans are now faced with multiple shopping options including Amazon and online shopping that is making it hard for shopping malls to survive. As a result, several malls that were built during the 70’s mall boom, are becoming abandoned and forgotten.

Abandoned Lincoln Mall in Chicago

NBC’s Today Show interviewed Seph Lawless inside an abandoned mall in 2015. The photographer told NBC that these abandoned malls were at one time a communal space. Before cell phones and the internet shopping malls were a place not only to go for shopping but to meet friends. His poignant view about these abandoned malls really resonated with people. Many of which started reminiscing about their personal memories of the malls he photographed. The response was overwhelming. Some of those emotional and personal experiences were shared in Lawless’ book entitled ‘Black Friday: The Collapse of the American Shopping Mall’ in 2014.