For many who grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, the mall wasn’t just a place to shop — it was the center of teenage life, writes Kyle Bagenstose for Hidden City Philadelphia.
That nostalgia is front-of-mind for preservationist Rachel Hildebrandt, who once rode SEPTA buses from East Oak Lane to destinations like Willow Grove Park Mall and Plymouth Meeting Mall. Today, as national retail trends shift and the mall era continues to contract, Hildebrandt wonders whether these sprawling suburban landmarks deserve a place in the region’s cultural record.
Across the Delaware Valley, the fate of malls varies dramatically. King of Prussia continues to thrive by leaning into entertainment and dining, while Montco’s Plymouth Meeting Mall, home to the unique Church on the Mall, reflects an earlier era’s ambitious attempt to blend community life with retail. Meanwhile, Willow Grove Park Mall faces more uncertain footing as ownership groups navigate bankruptcy, redevelopment pressure, and the challenge of filling large anchor spaces.
Nationally, analysts warn that the number of U.S. malls could fall into the low hundreds by 2032, making questions of reinvention more urgent. While few expect full-scale historic protection for these ever-evolving complexes, many agree that malls played an undeniable role in shaping suburban identity.
To learn more about the fate of malls across America, visit Hidden City Philadelphia.
Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on MONTCO Today in November 2025.
