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Ever wonder what happens to your favorite malls when they close? #TEDTalks

What happens when a mall falls into ruin? Filmmaker Dan Bell guides us through abandoned monoliths of merchandise, providing a surprisingly funny and lyrical commentary on consumerism, youth culture and the inspiration we can find in decay.

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What happens when a mall falls into ruin? Filmmaker Dan Bell guides us through abandoned monoliths of merchandise, providing a surprisingly funny and lyrical commentary on consumerism, youth culture and the inspiration we can find in decay.

41 Comments

  1. @lorenzoblum868

    December 4, 2025 at 3:14 pm

    Consumerism will take its tolls sooner or later.

    • @lesliefulton9219

      December 4, 2025 at 4:25 pm

      took me a few years to realize that communism and capitalism have the same end result, and are two wings on the same bird. in the end a tiny majority ends up holding all the cards, and most of us are not part of the club.

    • @3dg3Z

      December 5, 2025 at 3:36 am

      @lesliefulton9219 “tiny majority”? Are you sure about that?

  2. @JSJSpeaks

    December 4, 2025 at 3:34 pm

    They should all be renovated into living spaces for community building with lifestyle amenities!

    • @paulineebenau

      December 4, 2025 at 3:58 pm

      I’m almost sure they already do and there’s a video about this on YouTube somewhere

    • @vultureculture7707

      December 4, 2025 at 6:17 pm

      Maybe in a couple places, but it isn’t everywhere.

    • @SuperRONDALE

      December 5, 2025 at 12:39 am

      If more people brought it up to their local politicians and created a community around this idea, it would maybe happen. In my experience most people talk the talk until a “shelter” is created in their neighborhood

    • @0blivionIOX

      December 5, 2025 at 1:06 am

      One of them near me was converted into a hospital/clinic

    • @junaesi

      December 5, 2025 at 8:10 am

      Sounds like socialism, we hate it.

  3. @bibibrin5035

    December 4, 2025 at 3:39 pm

    SOCIAL HOUSINGS, HELLO!!! These malls could be the best lodgings for people with lower income. That, and the golf courses!!!

    • @Scardor

      December 5, 2025 at 6:20 am

      Start looking into zoning laws. They are the bane of the housing issues around the US.

    • @techytech1907

      December 5, 2025 at 6:37 am

      @Scardor Just curious are Zoning laws created by a devine superior entity that no mere human can change.

    • @TestAccount-g6x

      December 5, 2025 at 6:56 pm

      Then get it done Tiger! I look forward to your success!

  4. @BadWallaby

    December 4, 2025 at 3:42 pm

    Dan! Love the Another Dirty Room series

  5. @TBHNotGonnaLie

    December 4, 2025 at 3:53 pm

    Almost the opposite here in Australia… More are being built

  6. @richsherman3673

    December 4, 2025 at 4:19 pm

    The biggest fools are those who collapsed labor, disintegrated the Middle Class. They write this off on Taxes. press repeat in 30 years

  7. @TomasBauer82

    December 4, 2025 at 4:38 pm

    when its abandoned why is light on? pfhe…. no way fake jak prase

    • @ShaneGoettle-u1q

      December 5, 2025 at 4:45 am

      They keep the lights on for security reasons

  8. @GamerzHubAtCA

    December 4, 2025 at 4:46 pm

    This is where the Last of Us started

  9. @julianshepherd2038

    December 4, 2025 at 5:12 pm

    In Britain we blame the local government

  10. @LordAugastus

    December 4, 2025 at 5:15 pm

    Lol latestage capitalism….

    • @dsdgdsfegfeg

      December 4, 2025 at 7:44 pm

      Even poor Communist States like 🇨🇳China & 🇷🇺Russia use Capitalism
      Literally every Country in the world uses capitalism.
      It’s the default trade/monetary system of Humans since cave times. Nothing else exists.
      What you meant was .. under-regulated capitalism

  11. @JuanPabloGutierrezDuarte

    December 4, 2025 at 8:46 pm

    That can solve the housing issues of América!

  12. @cactustree505

    December 4, 2025 at 9:24 pm

    HOMELESS SHELTERS

  13. @HauptmannDE

    December 5, 2025 at 12:44 am

    People are lazy couch potatoes

  14. @jasonmaurella2

    December 5, 2025 at 8:50 am

    Bioshock vibes tbh

  15. @joshmad232

    December 5, 2025 at 10:08 am

    They need DOBIS PR to turn that place around!!!

  16. @itsthorodinson

    December 5, 2025 at 1:22 pm

    I’m damn Sure
    That’s the mall from The Stranger Things Season 3 😅

    • @mervingcamille8834

      December 7, 2025 at 5:31 am

      😂 I’m watching season 5

  17. @Catch22-k8d

    December 5, 2025 at 2:55 pm

    Why are the owners not obligated to build back the place?

    • @mervingcamille8834

      December 7, 2025 at 5:34 am

      Was wondering… The owners!? Of the land… Maybe they’re bankrupt or gotten enough not to bother. Just saying

  18. @Haffmatthew

    December 5, 2025 at 4:14 pm

    The local mall around my hometown was renovated a few years back partially into a healthcare center for dialysis maybe or maybe PT/OT. And just last year they made affordable rentals out of the remaining chunk of mall. I think it’s stupid to waste all that useable space that needs not to be rebuilt or knocked down and landfilled because people could use affordable apartments like now

  19. @rhondamcknight2596

    December 5, 2025 at 4:19 pm

    They can be HUGE Multi-use Housing, shops, grocery stores, police station, parks.

  20. @cream0502

    December 5, 2025 at 4:50 pm

    HOMELESS SHELTER, SOUP KITCHEN, GOODWILL, HELP CENTER
    WHO PAYING THE ELECTRIC BILL!?!?

  21. @johnj4Clim8

    December 5, 2025 at 5:11 pm

    It’s a tax write off is what it is.

  22. @bitukukuasukgremany3

    December 5, 2025 at 6:21 pm

    Now I know what a Dead Mall is. Thanks, Captain Obvious lol

  23. @wiseauserious8750

    December 5, 2025 at 8:55 pm

    Reminds me of the empty bombed-out palaces in Baghdad

  24. @angieanderson162

    December 6, 2025 at 1:39 pm

    Turn them into homeless shelters. Offices for ebt, medicaid, daycare assistance.. . .

  25. @cmcg91

    December 6, 2025 at 6:12 pm

    Hey its like the physical equivalent of the internet these days…

  26. @scottluker9119

    December 7, 2025 at 1:53 am

    Why do they all still have some power running?

  27. @Dana-kb5mk

    December 7, 2025 at 11:01 am

    Dan Bell ❤️ One of the very best, of Baltimore and anywhere ❤️ Extraordinary documentarian and filmmaker as well as human being ❤️♾️

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