The Abandoned Mall In Missouri That's An Eerie Reminder Of The Past

In the age of online shopping and next-day deliveries, it stands to reason that physical shopping malls would be in decline. But few realize just how quickly this concept — and the buildings themselves — are deteriorating.

Take Metro North Mall in Kansas City, Missouri for instance. What once stood as a bustling shopping center is now 1.3 million square feet of abandoned space. At its peak, it was the second largest mall in the area; at its demise, it was left with only two open stores. Today, the space has little semblance of a mall, as nature slowly reclaims the space. The following footage captured by photographer Seph Lawless provides a chilling glimpse into the not-so-distant past.

Seph Lawless

Metro North Mall opened its doors in September of 1976, with an impressive 125 stores on two levels. At the center of this space was a large court area featuring a beautiful fountain and mini hot-air balloons. Seeing the space today, it’s almost impossible to image this kind of liveliness.

Seph Lawless

By 2007, the mall was struggling to thrive in the face of economic turmoil. Businesses were swapped in and out, and eventually the storefronts began to close. The plans made to downsize and revamp the mall were never brought to life.

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Seph Lawless

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Seph Lawless

In March of 2015, the mall was closed completely. Future plans for this site could include office spaces and housing, but for now all that remains is the eerie skeleton of Metro North.

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Seph Lawless

Seph Lawless

Although the mall has been empty for less than two years, deterioration is happening quickly. The property is protected from vandals, but time seems to be the real culprit. As these pictures show, escalators are coming unhinged, tiles are crumbling, and all signs of life are slowly vanishing.

Seph Lawless

As natural light creeps in to replace what used to be fluorescent lights, there is a sense of peace amidst this deterioration.

Seph Lawless

Photographer Seph Lawless has journeyed to several of these abandoned spaces, hoping to provide a portrait of the death of American malls. While nearby neighborhood stores may find success, it seems like these large-scale spaces are in decline.

The following video shows further footage of the abandoned Metro North Mall:

Seph Lawless will be publishing a book within the year entitled Autopsy of America: The Death of a Nation, now available for pre-order. Follow Seph Lawless on Instagram.