Welcome to the Saddest Mall in America

By | December 17, 2017

It's supposed to be one of the busiest shopping weekend of the year, but the Century III Mall in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania -  the 4th largest in the Pittsburgh area - isn't exactly bustling with throng of holiday shoppers.

Built in 1979, it was THE place to be for those living in the South Hills of Pittsburgh in the 80s. It was always crowded and bustling, and it was frequently difficult to quickly work your way across from one shopping stall to another. (All photos below taken round 1:00 in the afternoon)

The food court used to be always insanely busy. You were lucky if you could find a table that you and your friends could all cram around. That is no longer a problem — also, there are now only four food vendors still open.

Dying shopping malls are speckled across the United States and Europe too, often in middle-class suburbs wrestling with socioeconomic shifts.

If you used to shop at Century III in the 80’s, you know how difficult it was to get a decent parking space — especially in the weeks before Christmas.

H/T Meg Stefanac