From Stores to Homes: The Mall-to-Apartment Revolution Unveiled

Across America, shuttered shopping malls are transforming into vibrant residential hubs, offering a creative fix to the housing shortage while reviving forgotten spaces. This article dives into the stories behind these conversions, exploring the perks—like living steps from a food court—and the hurdles, such as retrofitting windowless stores into cozy homes. From Colorado to Florida, discover how this trend is reshaping suburban life.

Imagine waking up, strolling past a shuttered department store, and grabbing coffee at a food court just steps from your front door. For a growing number of Americans, this isn’t a quirky dream—it’s daily life. Shopping malls, once the beating heart of suburban culture, are shedding their retail past and stepping into a new role: residential communities. As online shopping empties storefronts and a housing crisis grips the nation, developers are turning these sprawling complexes into homes, blending convenience with creativity in a way that’s catching everyone’s attention.

The Shift from Retail to Residential

The numbers tell a stark story. With over 34 million square feet of mall space sitting vacant across the U.S., the decline of brick-and-mortar retail—spurred by e-commerce giants like Amazon—has left communities scrambling. At the same time, the country faces a shortage of roughly 4.5 million homes, pushing rents sky-high and leaving many desperate for affordable options. Enter the mall-to-apartment revolution. By 2022, at least 192 malls were slated to add housing, according to Realogic, with dozens already completed since the pandemic hit. It’s a practical pivot: why build from scratch when you’ve got acres of underused land ready to go?

Take FlatIron Crossing Mall in Broomfield, Colorado. Once a bustling retail hub, it’s now part of a wave of projects blending apartments with shops and eateries. Or consider Southplace City Center in Cutler Bay, Florida, where the former Southland Mall is morphing into a massive mixed-use development. When rentals begin in early 2025, it’ll boast 5,000 units—a small city in itself. These aren’t isolated experiments; they’re a nationwide movement reshaping how we think about where we live.

Why People Are Moving In

For residents, the appeal is obvious. “I can walk to a movie theater or grab dinner without even stepping outside,” says Amy Henion, a tenant at The Arcade in Providence, Rhode Island, where 48 micro-apartments now sit above boutique shops. The convenience is unmatched—imagine a rainy day when your gym, grocery store, and favorite restaurant are all under one roof. Beyond that, these conversions breathe life back into communities. Vacant malls often become eyesores, dragging down property values and local morale. Turning them into homes flips the script, boosting tax revenue and creating vibrant, walkable neighborhoods.

But it’s not just about perks for residents. Developers see gold in these “greyfield” sites—previously developed land that’s ripe for reuse. Repurposing a mall slashes the environmental cost of new construction, aligning with sustainability goals that cities increasingly prioritize. “It’s a win-win,” notes Jacob Knudsen, vice president of development at Macerich, a firm behind several mall makeovers. “You solve housing needs and revitalize a space that’s already there.”

The Challenges of Living in a Former Storefront

Of course, turning a mall into a home isn’t as simple as slapping up some drywall. Many of these buildings were designed for shopping, not living. Windowless interiors, a hallmark of mall architecture, pose a big hurdle. “You don’t realize how much you miss natural light until it’s gone,” admits John Borchardt, who lives in Milwaukee’s redeveloped Grand Avenue Mall. Developers are getting creative—adding skylights or outdoor courtyards—but it’s costly. Retrofitting plumbing, electrical systems, and HVAC for residential use can also drive up expenses, sometimes making these projects pricier than building anew.

Then there’s the zoning maze. Malls weren’t zoned for housing, so developers often face a tangle of regulations and community pushback. In Plano, Texas, the Collin Creek Mall redevelopment—set to deliver 2,300 units—hit snags over lease agreements with lingering retailers, delaying progress. Privacy is another wrinkle. Former storefronts turned into apartments can feel exposed, with wide-open layouts that don’t always scream “cozy.” Still, for many, the trade-off is worth it. Affordable rents in places like Lafayette Square Mall in Indianapolis, where 1,200 units are planned by 2025, keep residents coming.

A Day in the Life: Mall Living Up Close

Picture this: you’re at The Witmer in Arlington, Virginia, a sleek 440-unit tower built atop a former mall site. Your morning starts with a workout in the rooftop gym, followed by a dip in the pool—all with a view of D.C.’s skyline. Downstairs, you pop into a surviving shop for a quick errand before heading to work, maybe in the 1.5 million square feet of office space planned at Collin Creek. It’s a “live, work, play” vibe that’s hard to beat. Residents like these aren’t just adapting to mall life—they’re redefining it.

Experts say this is just the beginning. The Urban Land Institute estimates there’s 1 billion square feet of obsolete retail space nationwide, a treasure trove for housing innovation. “There’s too much retail in the U.S.,” says Oscar Parra of Pacific Retail Capital Partners. “No market needs a million-square-foot mall anymore.” Instead, these spaces are evolving into something more—think hotels, offices, and even parks alongside apartments, as seen in Laguna Hills, California’s Village project.

What’s Next for America’s Malls?

As 2025 looms, the trend shows no signs of slowing. High-demand areas like California, Texas, and Florida are leading the charge, but smaller towns are jumping in too. In Lynnwood, Washington, the Avalon Alderwood Place opened 328 units in 2022, proving even mid-sized markets can adapt. Meanwhile, long-term visions like Shoreline Place, aiming for 1,000 units over the next decade or two, hint at a future where malls aren’t just relics—they’re reborn as community cores.

 This isn’t just about solving a housing crunch or filling empty stores. It’s about reimagining suburban life for a new era. For every challenge—be it construction costs or a lack of windows—there’s a story of ingenuity and a resident finding home in an unexpected place. Malls may never reclaim their ‘90s glory, but they’re proving they’ve still got a lot to offer.