Culture

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

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

July 31, 2024 • 
Brianna Williams
The upstairs level of a mall facing a closed storefront that is barred shut. To the right and left of the store are other darkened storefronts, and an escalator is pictured in front of it.

Empty storefronts at Oak Hollow Mall circa 2014.

Photo by MikeKalasnik via Wikimedia Commons

Shopping malls across America have been left in a state that not even Paul Blart could save, and the Piedmont Triad 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

High Point’s Westchester Mall opened in 1970 as the Triad’s first-ever enclosed shopping center. Anchored by department stores Belk, JC Penney’s, and Thalhimer’s, the mall was also popular thanks to its proximity to two grocery stores — A&P + Kroger.

Years later, Oak Hollow Mall opened to great fanfare in 1995 — and took some of Westchester Mall’s tenants with it, giving way to the other mall’s decline. Despite its initial success, the 2000s saw many of Oak Hollow’s stores depart. At the time of its official closure in 2017, only 11 tenants remained.

A large tree next to a little pond is surrounded by a small fence. The tree is located in front of a set of doors that leads into what looks to be a reception area.

Westchester Mall circa 2017.

Photo by Mike Kalasnik via Flickr

Back to the future

Today, Westchester Mall is still open to mall walkers, though the space isn’t reserved for retail anymore. Current tenants include a local retirement community, a DMV, and church spaces.

The majority of Oak Hollow Mall is now owned by High Point University, but a remnant of its glory days remain; Dillard’s is open to shoppers as a clearance center. The former mall is also home to a community center for active adults.

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

  • Hanes Mall | While this mall isn’t what it once was, you can still visit stores ranging from clothing brands to tailoring, to an arts and craft studio like The Craftin Loft.
  • Thruway Center | This shopping center on Stratford Road is bustling with professionals, students, and parents on a daily basis, whether they are trying out the latest Trader Joe’s creation or getting their workout in at Orange Theory.
  • Reynolda Village | From a luxury hair salon to a custom jewelry maker, this retail area will make you feel like you’re on vacation with its English Village-inspired look. Pro tip: Don’t forget to grab some dumplings from May Way Dumplings.

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.