Welcome to Dumpy Strip Malls!
I’ve had an interest in abandoned/dead/dying retail establishments (and history in general) for the longest time. Even as a child, I wanted to take my camera into a mall and photograph it. Unfortunately, mall security isn’t fond of people taking photos inside their “turf”, so I never actually got a chance to do this.
However, with the advances in technology (and with my Sprint contract running out), I’ve acquired a new iPhone and can now discreetly take photos inside of shops, so my project – Dumpy Strip Malls – beings!
The Minnesota landscape isn’t very well documented on the Internet – at least not as documented as I’d like it to be! 
Sure, there’s apaceplaza.com and a few entries on DeadMalls.com, but other than that, there isn’t much information out there. Hopefully this site will change that!
There’s a treasure trove of great material right in my own backyard, so I hope to bring you lots of entertainment!
I’ll be writing about various Minnesota retail establishments, including ~
Dead Malls
Non-Dead Malls
Restaurants/Fast Food establishments
Abandoned buildings
Car Dealerships
Grocery Stores
…basically any retail establishment in Minnesota is game!
The photography on this blog will not be earth-shattering, artsy, and “deep”. I don’t want security rollin’ up on me, so most of the photos are shot discreetly with my iPhone camera.
Thanks for reading & happy “dead-malling!”
#1 by Allen on September 10, 2008 - 5:50 pm
Quote
Fun stuff. People watching crazies is awesome.
Are you going to cover any southern metro malls? You must have grown up on the north side of town since all the places you’ve covered seem to be up there.
What can you tell me about people watching in malls on the south side. I get a kick people watching walking into any Walmart, but malls are better since some loitering can be managed much easier.
#2 by The Old Scowl on December 25, 2008 - 9:47 pm
Quote
A funny memory from working at the Brookdale Square Drug Emporium (who in their right mind would give a place a name like that during the hottest years of the Drug Wars?):
While working in the stock/receiving area of the place in 1994 or 1995 the Karate school would blare the theme song to the movie ‘Mortal Kombat’ while I imagined they were doing some sort of workout routine. I think that some one in the group, or maybe it was just one person, got into the song a little too much, because they started screaming “MORTAL KOMBAT” in sync with the songs lyrics. I hope they had on their war face too to go with that shriek.
#3 by Olga on May 25, 2010 - 4:52 pm
Quote
I wonder if you’ve ever written about Knollwood Mall. We used to hang out there in the 90′s, it was a happenin’ place (not as upscale as Ridgedale (wink), but walking distance for all of us SLP kids).
I think it’s THE quintessential dumpy strip mall – almost dead. The only thing keeping it alive is the Cub Foods. And their TJMaxx is huge.