Shopping centers across America have been left in a state that is not even Paul Blart could save, and Austin is no exception.
These abandoned, dilapidated or largely vacant shopping centers, known as “dead malls,” have become a fascinating subject – especially thanks to the online popularity of Aesthetics of the threshold space.
Let’s go to the mall
The Dobie Center, once the tallest building in Austin, a 27-story UT Austin dormitory, also houses a two-story shopping mall. While the Dobie Mall still features a food court and shops, can remember when there were shops like The Magic Mushroom, McDonald’s and the popular Dobie Theatre. Did you know that Michael Dell founded Dell, Inc. in the Dobie Center in 1984?
In Austin’s old west, Highland Mall opened as the city’s first enclosed shopping center. in 1971The mall boasted leading stores such as JC Penney, Dillard’s and Scarbrough’s, but other malls that mushroomed in Austin contributed to its eventual demise. Austin Community College began purchasing mall land in the 2010s, and Highland Mall officially closed its doors in 2015.
Years ago, this area of Highland Mall might have been crowded with shoppers strolling into stores, customers waiting in line for food, and children sliding quarters into the slots of rides.
Back to the future
Today, the Dobie Mall is located at the foot of the Dobie Center, or Dobie Twenty21As for the Highland Mall, it is no longer dead after becoming one of the ACC large university campuses.
Although these malls have changed, Austin still has a number of thriving malls or neighborhoods where you can do like NSYNC and buy, buy, buy:
- The Arboretum | Even if you don’t plan on shopping or eating, this outdoor mall is a great place to stroll while enjoying the green spaces and artwork.
- Barton Creek Square Shopping Centre | This shopping center has recently expanded to five new storesso this is the place to relive your mall crawling days.
- The domain And Domain NORTHSIDE | The famous outdoor shopping center open The store opened to the public in 2007 and has evolved over time to include over 100 luxury shops, world-class restaurants and fun for kids.
- Round Rock Premium Outlets | You’ll have to head north for these stores, but the deals are worth it. Think discounted products from Le Creuset, Nike, Calvin Klein, Coach and more.
Do you have memories of a local shopping mall from back then? Share it with us and maybe we’ll publish your story in a future newsletter: The first date in the food court, trying on ball gowns in the department store, a trip to Orange Julius and then the perfect printed T-shirt at Hot Topic – we wants to hear everything.
