The California mall made famous by the movie Back to the Future is now a shell of its former self after more than 140 stores closed due to a lack of customers.
The Puente Hills Mall in California's City of Industry appeared in the legendary 1985 film as Twin Pines/Lone Pine Mall.
Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, used the mall parking lot as a starting point for Dr. Emmett Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, who used a DeLorean as a time machine.
In the famous scene, the JCPenney department store stands out in the background, but that too, like so much else inside, is long gone.
The mall opened in 1974 and was one of Southern California's largest and busiest malls
Some of Puente Hills Mall's visitors come from people fascinated by young malls
Only ten tenants remain at the once-bustling Puente Hills shopping center in California's City of Industry
YouTubers also take the time to film themselves walking through the cemetery, which is now essentially a retail graveyard
Part of the huge commercial area of 1.2 million square meters can be seen here
Foot traffic has declined as several large chains and corner stores have recently closed
It's hard to believe that at one point in history this was one of the busiest malls in the state
The complex was made famous by the film Back to the Future but is now a shell of its former self
The mall was seen in the film under two different names, with a long-shuttered JC penny store lurking in the background
Locals travel back in time as they remember how busy the place used to be, but customers are greeted with signs that simply say the shops are closed – or about to be.
The mall opened in 1974 and was one of Southern California's largest and busiest malls, at one point hosting 155 tenants in 1.2 million square feet of commercial space.
The mall's website currently shows that only ten of them remain open, including a cinema.
The slow decline began in 2011 with the closure of Toys 'R' Us. In 2018, Sears closed as part of a plan to close 72 stores nationwide.
In 2019, Forever 21 announced it would also close its mall location as part of 90 closures across the county.
At times there were 155 tenants spread over 1.2 million square meters of commercial space
There is no queue for Santa Claus when the children can come directly and express their wishes
Customers are now more often greeted with signs simply stating that stores are closed
There is ample parking available and virtually no stores left open to attract shoppers
The abandoned malls are documented on websites like DeadMalls.com
Dozens of shops had to close due to a lack of customers
“It’s sad to see a lot of stores closing,” said shopper Isaias Zambrano. “We’ve probably looked at three stores and we’re already on our way.”
Last year, Macy's, one of the mall's anchor tenants, pulled out, leaving Burlington, Round 1 Bowling and AMC Theater as the last three remaining anchors at the mall.
The pandemic and the rise of online shopping have only accelerated the mall's decline.
“It's sad to see a lot of stores closing,” shopper Isaias Zambrano told ABC7. “We’ve probably looked at three stores and we’re already on our way.”
Despite the lack of shops, there is still a chance for children to visit Santa Claus – although in a five-hour shift only ten families stopped by to make their wishes.
“It's a little concerning, to be honest,” Albert Sanchez, 40, who plays Santa Claus, told the Los Angeles Times. 'At this rate? Who knows how long this mall will last?'
The sign for the fictional Twin Pines Mall in Back to the Future. The artificial electronic clock is permanently set to 1:16 a.m., the time Marty McFly arrives to view Doc Brown's time machine
Christopher Lloyd (left) and Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future in a scene filmed at the mall
Scenes from the 1985 film Back to the Future, in which the Puente Hills Mall in California was featured as Twin Pines Mall and Lone Pine Mall
Dr. Emmett Brown, played by Christopher Lloyd, shows Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, how to use the DeLorean time machine.
The mall parking lot is used for some of the show's most famous scenes
Another shopper, Glory Bacon, 67, brought her grandson to the mall to visit the big man and remembers when the mall sparkled.
“When it first opened it was brand new. It was big and beautiful [but now] it's heartbreaking.
“Maybe it won’t be here much longer?” It’s part of my growing up – not necessarily my childhood, but my coming of age. “My memories,” Bacon said.
Some of Puente Hills Mall's visitors come from people who are fascinated by young malls and then document them on sites like DeadMalls.com.
YouTubers also take the time to film themselves walking through the cemetery, which is now essentially a retail graveyard.