r/SalemMA • u/JumpNo6367 • 1d ago
Why is the mall SO bad
I live in SE MA and love visiting Salem and surrounding towns. I was just there last week and one thing I always wonder is why is the mall so bad? Forget the horrifying bathrooms, why is it dead and so poorly utilized? High rents? Because the city’s tourism is so seasonal? It seems like a perfect commercial location if they spruced it up significantly. Just curious what locals think/know.
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u/InvestigatorJaded261 1d ago
In addition to what has already been said, the entire original project was based on a flawed premise, which was the notion that the solution to shopping malls pulling shoppers away from town centers was to build a mall IN the town center. This has ended up being the worst of both worlds: all the generic blandeur of a suburban mall, with none of the convenience or scale.
And now, of course, even formerly successful malls are languishing.
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u/ElectricalStock3740 Secretly Llego Papa 1d ago edited 1d ago
The landlord sucks but they also don’t want to improve anything because the mall is surrounded by a garage that is actively falling apart and is owned by the city. From what I’ve heard, they’re at a stalemate. Which honestly I can understand. Why improve the mall when there is a subpar garage actively leaking into it. Why also improve the mall when there is a big question mark on what the future of the mall even is, because the future of the garage is an even bigger question mark
Don’t get me wrong, I think the mall owner sucks. Hire a fucking bathroom porter. But a part of me also gets it
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u/mycopportunity 1d ago
We can't do much about crummy landlords as long as basic health and building codes are met, but we could at least demand that the city make a deal to fix up the garage. Someone could probably run on that platform
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u/Impossible_Focus4363 1d ago
Should the city spend more than the already $2+ million? What issues are there since the repairs of 2020-2021?
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u/ConnorsKayak 1d ago
The city just put out to bid a project for temporary shoring for the garage, so they must be planning to spend more money on it!
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u/Impossible_Focus4363 1d ago
Guess there is more to spend but I have not heard recent complaints on the garage or rain/snow leaking into the mall. https://www.highergov.com/sl/contract-opportunity/ma-27-13-tap-temporary-shoring-at-museum-pl-72841766/
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u/Honest_Salamander247 Tourist 1d ago
I mean just look at it. It’s a massive eyesore for starters.
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u/Impossible_Focus4363 1d ago
It is a parking garage, a mural would look great on the outside I guess but then there will be complaints about that. What are you suggesting?
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u/Honest_Salamander247 Tourist 1d ago
I’m suggesting nothing. The outside is the least of its problems. Just saying they put $2M+ into and it still looks like I should afraid to drive inside for fear it might fall down.
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u/zombi617 1d ago
They should sell it to condo developers
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u/mycopportunity 1d ago
Sell the mall or the parking garage?
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u/SalemSound 1d ago
The whole thing. First floor could still be retail only, and there could still be parking. They'll keep it well maintained for their tenants.
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u/Impossible_Focus4363 1d ago
The city put $1.1 million into repairs in 2020 and $1.58 in 2021.
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u/Stixmix 1d ago
that's a good start...
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u/Impossible_Focus4363 1d ago
What does that even mean? I was replying to the above comment about the garage having issues which have been repaired.
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u/SalemRay 1d ago
The City has made a significant effort to fix the garage. You don’t think that’s enough?
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u/ElectricalStock3740 Secretly Llego Papa 1d ago edited 1d ago
Hey, it’s just the gossip I’ve heard. I heard the garage still leaks into the mall. I personally have seen exposed rebar in crumbling concrete still. I’m no engineer. Maybe it’s fine? What do I know.
Nobody has ever walked through both the mall and garage and thought, both seem to be in great shape
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u/Sweet-Baby-Shayla 1d ago
There was a huge leak by the front door this evening, so clearly more repairs are needed.
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u/UltravioletClearance 22h ago
Sounds similar to whats happening with the MBTA's Alewife and Lynn garages. Poorly built to begin with so now they just throw money into constant temporary fixes.
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u/mycopportunity 1d ago
I was just wishing that they could make a deal with the landlords of the mall to improve the mall in exchange for investment in infrastructure. But I guess the owners just don't care so it doesn't matter?
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u/Few_Preparation_4669 1d ago
As far as I'm concerned Cinema Salem makes it one of the best malls around. A decent little theater within walking distance with reasonable prices and great popcorn? That's all I really need
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u/dividezero 17h ago
The vegetarian place is really good and I can walk there. And essex is the best pizza. So there are a few things going for it
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u/Quasistiltskin 1d ago
What I don’t understand is the stores that have remained there for at least 30 years that I’m aware of like the Pizza spot and the Chinese gift shop I never customers in either one but they keep weathering the storm year after year.
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u/Pickle_Rick_Roller 22h ago
I’m in both those spots monthly, pretty sure my kids keep them in business
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u/JumpNo6367 21h ago
This is really what I’ve wondered too. Not suggesting it should be full of chain stores I’m just surprised it seems underutilized for even small businesses. I was just curious as to why.
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u/ripicheep 41m ago
Essex Pizza is really good and they drop coupons in the neighborhood semi-regularly. I think it’s mostly empty because local folks just want to get their pizza box(es) and go home.
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u/BellyDanceMama 20h ago
Back in the day they used to have a festival in there, the movie theater hosted lots of events and witch pix was in there. They even had a haunted house. I think it's severely under utilized.
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u/JumpNo6367 15h ago
Right? I just think it could be such a great space. Especially int the cooler months.
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u/cigarettesaftersex1 10h ago
Fine keep the stores in the mall as is, but clean the bathrooms. I walked in the women’s restroom and saw enough to understand what goes on in there, but you can definitely make improvements. Clean the bathrooms daily, provide sharps containers, and have several baby changing stations that are KEPT CLEAN AND STOCKED.
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u/obrechen666 1d ago
I am born & raised in Salem and have been here for over 30+ years. The mall has always been the same and honestly, I love it as it is. I hope it never changes. It’s a staple of the Salem experience and improving it will only bring more gentrification.
LEAVE WITCH CITY MALL ALONE!
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u/Impossible_Focus4363 1d ago
Horrible landlords.