Amazon continues to makes headlines with its labor issues, workers' rights, and headquarters expansion. However, that hasn't stopped the multi-billion-dollar company from growing, for better or for worse. A recent news report from NBC News shared Amazon's moves towards purchasing empty shopping malls into new fulfillment centers. According to Leticia Miranda, "Malls that buckled due to e-commerce or suffered during the pandemic are being given new life by the very entity that precipitated their decline — Amazon."
From 2016 thru 2019, Amazon's abandoned mall transformations have resulted in 25 converted shopping malls to fulfillment centers. As malls and big box stores continue to experience the ongoing "retail apocalypse," mall owners needed to pivot and adapt. In July 2020, Archinect briefly dove into mall typology and the "the post-mall future of American commercial architecture." COVID-19 may have been the final nail in the coffin for most struggling malls. Vince Tibone, Green Street's lead retail and industrial analyst shared with Miranda, "selling a dead mall as land is a more attractive option" as the cash flow of lower-quality malls continues to decline.
Mortgage debt and upkeep continue to plague malls that are on their last leg. However, some could argue Amazon's approach to purchasing these abandoned malls is a "clever" form of adaptive reuse. Yet, any "clever" idea pitched by Amazon is sure to ignite a large amount of backlash and criticism. While a large fulfillment center expansion totes on the promise of more jobs for the local area, residents may no longer "impressed" with the promises companies like Amazon makes.
Take the community in Worcester, Massachusetts, for example. Amazon recently transformed its local mall into a distribution center. This isn't the first time a multi-billion dollar business has attempted to convert a struggling or unused space into a profit-churning site. However, a growing pattern of concern looms over these "Amazon towns." Once the company has set foot in a new area, their PR-pitched hopes towards fostering economic development and community growth are met with doubt.
Miranda shares the response of Worcester local Kevin Ksen and his thoughts on Amazon's presence in the town. "I've seen the economic development happen to our community — it's frustrating on a local level," he said. "But, at the same time, I see a regular list of articles about Amazon building here and Amazon building there. I'm not sure any of us really fully understand the implications because it's happening so so fast."
14 Comments
Why can’t there be an area with clothes to try on? Then order the correct size delivered to your house. So many don’t fit so then they have to be sent back. Some people don’t bother and throw the items away or donate to overloaded with clothing charities
Not the right metaphor. If the malls are dead, they aren't prey.
Under capitalism everything is prey.
Had to look it up, just to be sure
fulfilment: a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction because you are happy with your life"
I hope Amazon converts to multiuse affordable condos, commercial, entertainment, etc. I think Amazon,google or tesla can fill the need for affordable housing in a new and innovative way. Build smart houses. Find hotels, malls, office buildings and repurpose them . Price them for the 80%. Modern day Levitowns.
Thanks Joe
From near Philadelphia
Why would a book store, a search engine, or a car company build housing? There are already housing companies that could stand to innovate. The big tech hero worship is unsettling to me.
I yearn for the days of yesteryear when all I could do was shop at the company store with company scrip and hope I made the company happy so they wouldn't fire me and thrown me out of my company housing. It was a simpler time, and a better one.
yeah, amazon's generosity is very well documented ;)
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/0...
Not a mall, but former swimming pool Tropicana in Rotterdam that was transformed into a sustainable business hub for the circular economy:
https://www.bluecity.nl/about-...
Is the slide still operational?
Not as far as I know, unfortunately.
Put a ball pit at the bottom of that slide and you have a tech bro workplace. https://archinect.com/forum/thread/150044259/rant-workplace-environments
That reminds me of the show Happyish, I know what I'll be rewatching tonight.
In 2018 Amazon made > $10b and paid 129m in taxes - a tax rate of 1.29%.
Bezos salary has been fixed at $81,840 for 20 years. That's also his taxable income.
How did Bezos buy a $150m mansion in LA?
The system is gamed: heads you win, tails I lose.
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