Culture

Dead malls: You could shop... until they dropped

Once booming, now barren. Let’s take a peek at malls of Austin’s past — plus hope for the future.

August 23, 2024 • 
Brianna Williams, Laura Figi
The inside of a two-story mall facing a set of escalators. One to two stores appear to have lights on, while several others are empty or dark inside. Two people are seen walking on the upper level of the mall.

Highland Mall circa 2014, prior to its official closure in 2015.

Photo by Bellerophon5685 via Wikimedia Commons

Shopping malls across America have been left in a state that not even Paul Blart could save, and Austin is no exception.

Known as “dead malls,” these abandoned, dilapidated, or mostly vacant shopping centers have become a subject of fascination — especially thanks to the online popularity of liminal space aesthetics.

Let’s go to the mall

Once the tallest building in Austin, the Dobie Center — a 27-story UT Austin residence hall — is also home to a two-story enclosed mall. While Dobie Mall still features a food court and shops, Austinites may remember when it was home to stores like The Magic Mushroom, McDonald’s, and the beloved Dobie Theatre. Did you know that the Dobie Center is where Michael Dell started Dell, Inc. back in 1984?

Highland Mall opened as the city’s first enclosed shopping center in 1971. The mall touted anchor stores like JC Penney, Dillard’s, and Scarbrough’s, but other shopping centers popping up around Austin lent a hand in its eventual decline. Austin Community College began purchasing mall property in the 2010s, and Highland Mall officially closed its doors in 2015.

A dimly-lit mall interior that shows the corner of what was likely a former eatery, a small table and chair set, and a hallway lined with a darkened, empty store. In the center of the hallway is a collection of stationary children's rides.

Years ago, this section of Highland Mall may have been filled with shoppers strolling into stores, patrons waiting in line for food, and children pushing quarters into the ride slots.

Photo by Bellerophon5685 via Wikimedia Commons

Back to the future

Today, Dobie Mall remains at the base of the Dobie Center, or Dobie Twenty21. As for Highland Mall, it’s no longer dead after becoming what is now one of ACC’s major college campuses.

Though these malls have changed, Austin still has a number of thriving shopping centers or districts where you can make like NSYNC and buy, buy, buy:

  • The Arboretum | Even if you don’t want to shop or eat, this outdoor mall doubles as a great place to walk while you enjoy the green space and art pieces.
  • Barton Creek Square Mall | This indoor mall recently announced the addition of five new shops, so this is the place to relive your mall-crawling days.
  • The Domain and Domain NORTHSIDE | The well-known outdoor shopping center opened to the public in 2007 and has been evolving over time to include 100+ luxury shops, top-tier restaurants, and fun for kids.
  • Round Rock Premium Outlets | You’ll need to head north for these shops, but the deals are worth it. Think: discounted Le Creuset, Nike, Calvin Klein, Coach, and much more.

Do you have memories of a local mall from back in the day? Share them with us and we may feature your story in a future newsletter: First date at the food court, trying on prom dresses at the department store, hitting up Orange Julius before picking up the perfect graphic tee at Hot Topic — we wanna hear it all.