Quicktake
U.S. Malls, Well Past Their Heyday, Struggle to Survive
Like so many once-vibrant shopping centers, the challenges of Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall are emblematic of the industry’s plight.
Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall, one of the country’s oldest, recently lost its last anchor store.
Photographer: Jordyn Holman/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Between lockdowns, purchases shifting online and crowded spaces being avoided during Covid-19, America’s malls have taken a financial hit.
Greenbriar Mall in southwest Atlanta is among them. One of the country’s oldest malls, opened in 1965, is now operating without any anchor stores after its Macy’s recently closed. Still, the shopping center holds value and memories for the predominantly Black community it serves. Will that be enough to save it?