Another major American shopping centre is facing a stark decline, as a surge in crime and economic pressures drive away both customers and retailers. Towson Town Center, a sprawling mall in Maryland once famed for its bustling corridors and popular brands, is now witnessing a rapid acceleration in store closures.
A Spate of Departures Hits the Mall
In a devastating blow for the centre, three more tenants have confirmed their exit in just the past month. Tommy Bahama closed its Towson store last week, while Gap-owned Banana Republic will shut its doors by the end of January. Adding to the sense of loss for locals, Wockenfuss Candies confirmed on December 29th that it had permanently closed its long-standing location, citing a "difficult decision".
A fourth closure appears imminent. An employee at J.Crew-owned Madewell indicated the brand is also preparing to shutter its Towson store, though a final date has not been set.
Crime and Economic Woes Fuel the Downward Spiral
While Towson Town Center has struggled for years, locals report the pace of decline has quickened significantly alongside a spike in criminal activity. A robbery and stabbing at the mall in November led to the arrest of four teenagers, amplifying safety concerns. One Maryland resident lamented on social media, "Too much crime. This mall was beautiful now its ruined."
A local councilmember has publicly called on mall management to enhance security measures to prevent future violent incidents and to "be a stronger partner in maintaining a safe environment."
However, crime is not the sole deterrent. As with shopping centres across the United States, stores are grappling with fewer buyers amidst persistent inflation, economic uncertainty, and shifting consumer habits. This perfect storm is creating a retail crisis far beyond Maryland.
A National Trend of Mall Failures
The plight of Towson Town Center is far from unique. The iconic San Francisco Centre provides a stark parallel, where a chain of closures earlier this year saw fashion giant Zara depart in July. Other brands like Steve Madden had left just months prior. One departing store, Milk Tee, explicitly blamed the "environment, high theft, and low sales" for its closure.
The situation there is now critical: 93% of the mall's 1.56 million square feet of retail space lies vacant. From a peak of over 200 stores, its directory now lists just 27 still open. Officials have pointed to pandemic lockdowns, rampant retail theft, and concerns over homelessness as key factors in its downfall.
On the East Coast, two malls in New Jersey are experiencing a similarly slow death. The Hamilton Mall was recently described as having "completely anemic" foot traffic, while the Livingston Mall, near Manhattan, faces echoing corridors and a pothole-riddled car park. Robert Goodman, Hamilton Township's community development director, summed up the local sentiment: "There's a lot of folks who have a lot of fond memories of the mall, but right now they're just mostly disappointed because it's just not the same experience."
The story of Towson Town Center, once a retail jewel featuring anchors like Hecht's and the Rainforest Cafe, has become a familiar and troubling narrative across the United States, signalling a profound transformation in how and where people shop.
