Buzz
Malls are typically visited for shopping, dining, or to enjoy some cool air. But what if you ended up feeling more spooked than relaxed? Unfortunately, there are a few malls that seem to carry an eerie presence, felt by both visitors and staff alike.
Curious about which malls give off such chilling vibes and why? Hold tight as we embark on a journey to explore the 10 most haunted malls in the world. Visit these eerie places for a spooky shopping spree with some lingering spirits.
10. CherryVale Mall—Rockford, IL, USA
The spirits haunting CherryVale Mall in Rockford, Illinois, are a mischievous bunch. Employees frequently report a sense of being watched as they close up shop at night. Upon reopening the next day, many items are found scattered out of place.
This iconic shopping hub in Rockford is nearly 50 years old. It boasts large anchor stores like Macy’s and JCPenney, along with various smaller shops and family entertainment centers. During Halloween, CherryVale is especially busy, hosting events that add to its spooky atmosphere.
A crucial tip when shopping at CherryVale: Never go to the bathroom alone. Several visitors have reported the unsettling experience of an “unknown force” locking them in the bathroom. Now that’s a fear-inducing situation that could leave anyone with a frightful memory!
9. Star Mall Alabang—Muntinlupa, Philippines
Alabang, a bustling business hub in Muntinlupa, saw significant growth in the 1990s, transforming its skyline with towering buildings focused on business and commerce. However, part of this development involved building over a cemetery, and in its place now stands Star Mall Alabang, widely regarded as one of the creepiest haunted locations in Metro Manila.
Local legends claim that the spirits of the cemetery became furious when their sacred resting grounds were turned into a noisy entertainment zone for many Filipinos. And who could blame them?
One of the most eerie (or perhaps humorous) stories involves a couple who were enjoying a movie in the cinema, laughing along with other patrons. But when the film ended and they stood up to leave, they were shocked to discover they were the only ones left in the theater.
Star Mall Alabang is often likened to The Sixth Sense in real life. Some visitors have reported seeing the spirits of the deceased roaming the mall as if they were ordinary people.
8. Dimond Center—Anchorage, AK, USA
At the Dimond Center in Anchorage, the spirits don’t make themselves known with a typical “boo.” No, these ghosts are far more sophisticated. Instead, visitors are treated to the sounds of drums and flute melodies, an eerie yet strangely beautiful experience for those with an appreciation for music.
Dimond Center is built atop an ancient Native Alaskan burial ground. During its construction in the 1970s, workers unearthed a few burial sites. Though there weren't many, work proceeded, and the mall opened in 1977. Today, it stands as one of Alaska's most iconic landmarks, but some visitors claim that the spirits of Native Alaskans still linger, haunting the mall’s corridors.
Many visitors report seeing Native Americans dressed in traditional attire wandering through the mall. Others have heard the haunting sounds of drums and flutes filling the air.
Sounds intriguing, right? But here’s the chilling part: Some witnesses claim to have seen ghostly, transparent wolves roaming the mall. That’s definitely enough to make anyone’s hair stand on end.
7. Yogya Department Store—Jakarta, Indonesia
Imagine heading to work at a mall and stumbling upon the charred remnants of children's toes on the floor. If you're a janitor at Yogya Department Store, you'll just sweep them up and carry on. It's not an uncommon sight, after all.
Some employees have it a bit easier—just eerie sounds like crashing tables and the shattering of glass. Though these are merely noises, they add to the mall's unsettling atmosphere.
Things get even spookier once you learn about the dark history behind the Yogya Department Store.
The 1998 Asian financial crisis led to deadly riots in Indonesia, resulting in the loss of over a thousand lives. Some of these victims were trapped inside the mall where Yogya now stands. The building caught fire, claiming their lives in the blaze. There were whispers that the fire that destroyed the mall may have been set intentionally.
In 2000, Yogya Department Store was built on the site. Many believe that the souls of those who perished in the fire still haunt its halls, seeking justice for their tragic end. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-04-la-fg-indonesia-chinese-20100704-story.html
6. Westfield Santa Anita—Arcadia, CA, USA
A boy dressed in 1930s-era clothing is frequently spotted wandering the halls of Westfield Santa Anita Mall in California. Though many have attempted to engage with him, he is quite elusive, often fleeing when noticed. What’s even more unsettling is that his feet don’t appear to touch the ground, and he becomes translucent.
If you’re hoping to spot him, the boy is often seen hanging around the escalators. Occasionally, he ventures into the stores as well.
Westfield Santa Anita is set for a management change, as its French owners plan to sell the mall. Let’s hope the new owners don’t demolish the store, leaving the boy without a place to haunt.
5. Plaza Singapura—Singapore
Situated on the iconic Orchard Road, Plaza Singapura is one of the oldest and most well-known malls in Singapore. Many people believe the mall is haunted, with the most eerie reports coming from the restrooms on the seventh floor.
According to online discussions, visitors often spot a little girl in the restrooms, and sometimes she’s even seen in the cinema. Many believe she’s the spirit of an aborted child, as the old Plaza Singapura once housed an abortion clinic on its seventh floor. The mall was extensively renovated between 1997 and 1999.
Though the idea of babies growing up to haunt a place may sound strange, it’s likely just an imaginative attempt to give the lonely child a backstory.
4. Mt. Pocono Mall—Mt. Pocono, PA, USA
For some odd reason, Kmart seems to be a hotspot for ghosts. Let’s start with the one in Mt. Pocono Mall, where employees working at night regularly report seeing a lady in white wandering around.
The ghostly lady seemed quite sociable, as she called out to one of the mall employees twice, using their name! Occasionally, feminine products would mysteriously fall off the shelves as well. The Mt. Pocono Kmart is now permanently closed.
Speaking of a Kmart closure, New York’s Astor Place Kmart shut down last year. In response, people shared tributes, including ghost stories. One individual described shopping there as reminiscent of the zombie apocalypse. Not exactly terrifying, but perhaps the final creepy Kmart tale might win the prize.
Kmart #7625 in Los Angeles used to be a Zody’s Store, where a love triangle led to a gruesome double homicide and suicide. The story goes that a man caught his girlfriend in a compromising position with another male employee. In a fit of rage, he grabbed a box cutter and murdered both his girlfriend and her lover. He then used the same cutter to slash his wrist.
After the tragic event, employees often heard screams coming from the stockroom. Sometimes, they would see a girl running through the store. The creepiest incident occurred when an employee was slashed with a knife that seemingly appeared out of nowhere, leaving a seven-inch wound on his chest. And they say ghosts can’t harm the living.
1. Tiring Building—Cairo, Egypt
3. Silverburn Shopping Centre—Glasgow, Scotland
When it comes to ghostly encounters, one account can be easily dismissed as an overactive imagination. But in the case of Silverburn Shopping Centre, multiple individuals have reported seeing a woman in black period clothing gliding through the mall. That’s right—gliding, her feet never touching the floor, sending shivers down the spines of many visitors.
The numerous sightings were troubling enough for Silverburn’s management that they reached out to Glasgow Paranormal Investigations. The investigators suggested that the spirit of the woman may have been disturbed during the mall’s construction or the building of the new cinema, explaining her ongoing presence in the area.
Many people enjoy spending time at the mall, but it seems that ghosts do too. It’s tough to determine the reality of ghosts since not everyone experiences them, and they can’t exactly share their side of the story. However, the important thing is that in most of these tales, ghosts are harmless. They might startle you, but they pose no real threat. As for the Zody’s slashing incident, there was no conclusive evidence linking the ghost of the scorned boyfriend to the injury.
2. Harrisburg Mall—E. Harrisburg, PA, USA
Harrisburg Mall is the second Pennsylvania shopping center to make this list, which raises an interesting question: Why are so many places in Pennsylvania reportedly haunted? In fact, this question tops the list when you search for information about the state. Some believe it’s because Pennsylvania was a key location during the Civil War, where many soldiers tragically lost their lives, and now their spirits roam the land.
However, Harrisburg Mall doesn’t seem to be home to any soldiers. Or at least, there’s no solid evidence pointing to one. Nighttime security guards working at the mall claim that a figure would often stare at them through the glass doors when the JCPenney store was closing. This eerie experience would leave them with an unsettling feeling. The strange sightings reportedly ceased when Boscov’s took over the store.
Could the ghost have been a loyal JCPenney customer? Only time will tell.
The Tiring Building was one of Egypt's pioneering department stores. It still stands in Cairo today, though it no longer serves as the vibrant commercial hub it once was. This shift reflects the natural evolution of Ataba Square, which has transformed into a historical and cultural center for Cairo's business district.
Ataba Square is now home to the largest marketplace in the city, with the Tiring Building's many rooms repurposed as storage spaces for the goods of local vendors. However, there's one area that vendors refuse to go near: the attic. Legend has it that the attic was once an execution chamber. The space has been left untouched for decades, sealed off with chains and locks. Locals believe that disturbing it could unleash the ghosts of the past.
