Oliver Ideas Written by Oliver

Why Strip Malls Are Bad: The Real Estate Dilemma

By Oliver Oct 07, 2026
an empty parking lot in front of a store with cars parked on the side of it
an empty parking lot in front of a store with cars parked on the side of it

Good example of why red letter signs are bad

I’m bullish on strip malls, for all their faults, as places that can adapt and endure even as the cities around them decline and falter. Here’s why.

an empty parking lot in front of a store with cars parked on the side of it
an empty parking lot in front of a store with cars parked on the side of it

What Happened To Shopping Malls

Week 5: A 90's strip mall is the perfect analogy to technoburg. Suburbs formed and buisness' looked to the neighborhood for employees and tradesmen. If you only had a parking ticket then it was safe to get a lawyer from the strip mall. If you killed someone, strip mall lawyer is not your guy.

strip mall - use to be a forest along a major road until six years ago - Stephen

Revenge of the Strip Mall
Revenge of the Strip Mall
an intersection with cars parked and people walking on the sidewalk in front of shops, stores, and businesses
an intersection with cars parked and people walking on the sidewalk in front of shops, stores, and businesses

Not All Malls Are Struggling

Why you’re going to see a lot more swimming pools in strip malls - The Hustle

a parking lot full of cars and trucks in front of a walgreen store
a parking lot full of cars and trucks in front of a walgreen store
an empty parking lot in front of a building with signs on the doors and windows
an empty parking lot in front of a building with signs on the doors and windows

Home Sweet Strip Mall - The Atlantic

What Is A Strip Mall

Strip Mall | The Strip Mall vs. the Multi-Way Boulevard: In consideration of subtle ...

Searching for L.A.’s Best Thai Soup in a San Fernando Valley Strip Mall Called Armenia

an empty store front with the words just designed the perfect strip mall that will get exactly zero visitors each day
an empty store front with the words just designed the perfect strip mall that will get exactly zero visitors each day
Why you’re going to see a lot more swimming pools in strip malls
Why you’re going to see a lot more swimming pools in strip malls
several cars parked in front of a krispy kreme store
several cars parked in front of a krispy kreme store
What the Suburb Haters Don’t Understand
What the Suburb Haters Don’t Understand
Can You Park Overnight at a Strip Mall?
Can You Park Overnight at a Strip Mall?
several cars are parked in front of a small retail store on a clear day with no clouds
several cars are parked in front of a small retail store on a clear day with no clouds
The Strip Mall vs. the Multi-Way Boulevard: In consideration of subtle differences
The Strip Mall vs. the Multi-Way Boulevard: In consideration of subtle differences
Sunday Video: Why Are There So Many Strip Malls? » The Urbanist
Sunday Video: Why Are There So Many Strip Malls? » The Urbanist
Retail's Ugly Duckling Turns Golden Goose As Strip Malls Enjoy Major Image Makeover
Retail's Ugly Duckling Turns Golden Goose As Strip Malls Enjoy Major Image Makeover
Searching for L.A.'s Best Thai Soup in a San Fernando Valley Strip Mall Called Armenia - LAmag
Searching for L.A.'s Best Thai Soup in a San Fernando Valley Strip Mall Called Armenia - LAmag