曾经象征美国消费文化的购物中心正经历深刻分化。位于新泽西州Livingston的Livingston Mall因网购普及、主力百货店相继关闭和疫情冲击，已逐渐演变为"僵尸商场"[1]。该商场1972年开业，其最后的百货主力店Macy's已于4月关闭[1]。在此之前，Sears和Lord & Taylor也在疫情期间相继撤离[1]。书店连锁Barnes & Noble在该商场营业超过18年后，本月也宣布关闭并迁移[1]。
这种衰落趋势并非孤立现象。全美购物中心数量从2008年的1100家下降至约900家[1]，反映出整个行业的收缩。然而，并非所有购物中心都走向衰退——高端购物中心如The Mall at Short Hills仍然繁荣[1]。这种现象被称为"K型分化"，高端商场和中低端商场的命运截然不同[1]。
The American shopping mall—once a defining symbol of consumer culture—is increasingly fracturing into two distinct categories: thriving luxury destinations and struggling middle-market properties.[1] Livingston Mall in New Jersey exemplifies this troubling trend, having transformed into what many now call a "zombie mall" following the closure of its final major department store anchor.[1] Macy's, the mall's last remaining department store, shut its doors in April.[1] The mall has also lost other significant retailers in recent years, including Sears and Lord & Taylor, which closed during the pandemic.[1] Barnes & Noble, which had operated at the property for more than 18 years, recently ceased operations and relocated elsewhere.[1]
The challenges facing Livingston Mall and properties like it reflect broader structural shifts in American retail. The proliferation of online shopping, combined with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, has accelerated the decline of traditional shopping centers.[1] The scale of this transformation is evident in national figures: the number of shopping malls across the United States has contracted from approximately 1,100 in 2008 to roughly 900 today.[1] However, this contraction is not uniform. High-end shopping destinations, such as The Mall at Short Hills, continue to perform well, creating what analysts describe as a "K-shaped divergence" in the retail landscape—where upscale malls prosper while middle-market facilities deteriorate.[1]