Dead mall rising: The life and death of Indian shopping centres
Dec 12, 2024
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Abhishek Bansal, Executive Director of Pacific Development Corporation, shares insights on the changing landscape of Indian shopping malls. He discusses the alarming rise of 'ghost malls,' highlighting a significant loss in value. The conversation delves into the paradox of declining foot traffic despite consumer spending and the critical role of mall location and tenant mix. Bansal also touches on the innovative transformations of abandoned malls post-COVID, showcasing the need for strategic planning in revitalizing retail spaces.
The rise of ghost malls in India, increasing from 57 to 64 in one year, represents a significant economic loss estimated at $800 million due to poor management issues.
Adapting to changing consumer preferences is crucial for malls, with the future likely involving mixed-use developments that include entertainment and dining options for revitalization.
Deep dives
The Rise of Shopping Malls in India
The year 2000 marked a significant turning point for retail in India with the introduction of shopping malls, reshaping consumer habits and expectations. Initially, malls attracted shoppers seeking organized retail experiences, as they provided a clean, temperature-controlled environment that was a novelty at the time. Abhishek Bansal, involved in some of the first mall projects, navigated market challenges by converting local mom-and-pop retailers into tenants, successfully establishing Pacific Mall in Ghaziabad as a pioneer. As international brands began to enter the developing market and the middle class expanded, shopping malls rapidly became popular among consumers, laying the groundwork for a dramatic transformation in retail shopping across the country.
The Decline of Malls and the Rise of Ghost Malls
As the number of shopping malls skyrocketed to around 400 in India, a troubling trend emerged: many malls began to suffer severe declines in foot traffic and occupancy, leading to what are now referred to as ghost or zombie malls. A recent report indicated that ghost malls had increased from 57 in 2022 to 64 in 2023, resulting in a significant loss of value estimated at around $800 million. Gulaam Zia from Knight Frank emphasized that the demise of these malls is often attributed to poor management rather than external factors like e-commerce. Malls located in bustling urban areas, rather than remote locations, faced closures, underscoring the pressing need for robust management and strategic operational decisions in the evolving retail landscape.
Evolving Consumer Preferences and Future of Malls
Shopping malls are experiencing a need to adapt to rapidly changing consumer preferences and behaviors, which have evolved considerably from their early days. The focus has shifted from purely retail spaces to creating comprehensive experiences, requiring effective tenant mixes, entertainment options, and family-oriented amenities. Abhishek Bansal noted that while international franchises were scarce in the early 2000s, there is now an imperative to accommodate everything from hotels to cinemas to restaurants within malls. As evidenced by trends in the U.S. where dead malls are being repurposed for alternative uses, the future of shopping centers in India could also lean toward office complexes or mixed-use developments to revitalize the struggling retail sector.
The golden age of the Indian shopping mall is over.
There are at least 400 malls across the country. But a growing proportion of them are either dead or on life support. A report by real estate consultant firm Knight Frank found that the number of ghost malls in the country rose from 57 in 2022 to 64 in 2023. That’s about 1 in almost six malls. The report estimates that between 2022 and 2023, the loss of value due to the rise in ghost malls was around 800 million dollars, so that’s close to 7,000 crore rupees.
In this episode, Daybreak host Rahel Philipose is joined by Gulam Zia, senior executive director at Knight Frank and Abhishek Bansal, the Executive Director of Pacific Development Corporation to understand the ins and outs of the mall business — why some succeed and others fail.
Tune in.
Daybreak is produced from the newsroom of The Ken, India’s first subscriber-only business news platform. Subscribe for more exclusive, deeply-reported, and analytical business stories.Listen to the latest episode of Two by Two here
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