In a matter of months, the coronavirus has infiltrated nearly every aspect of our daily lives. The impact of COVID-19 can be felt across pretty much every aspect of our “new abnormal” world today.

It’s altered the way we work and learn, the way we spend our days and receive our health care.

But it’s also changed the way we socialize, the way we spend our Friday date night and our Saturday with the kids.

And that may mean that the pandemic has sounded the death knell for the traditional brick-and-mortar shopping mall – not just in Indiana, but across the United States. At the very least, those that do survive the pandemic are probably going to look and operate far differently than the hometown mall we grew up with.

A hastened demise?
Let’s face it: Shopping malls weren’t exactly thriving before the COVID-19 outbreak. Fierce competition from online retailers, combined with an increasingly tech-driven culture, meant that teens, young adults and families with children were no longer spending their Saturday nights at the mall. Now,  there are literally thousands of entertainment options right in the palms of people’s hands.

If you’re more interested in shopping than in simply finding something to do,  your local mall is probably going to lose out in that arena as well. Consumers are increasingly finding online shopping to be more convenient and more economical than mall shopping. After all, why would you invest the time, effort and even  gas money in visiting a physical store when you can get the same item – often at a better price – with the click of a button or the swipe of a digital screen?

Once storied national chains like Macy’s, JCPenney’s, and Lord & Taylor were already struggling to survive the e-commerce onslaught and a retail environment worsened by recessions and ongoing economic uncertainty. It’s unlikely that many of these major retailers will have the wherewithal to survive the pandemic as well.

That’s not good news for Indiana’s shopping malls, most of which – like the majority of malls across America – rely largely on the strength of their big-box anchor stores for their own survival.

Not so fast
Things might look bleak for the post-pandemic future of America’s shopping malls, but don’t start planning the funeral just yet. Indiana is already well into its reopening, with plans in place to have the state back at full capacity later this month.

Not only that, but Indiana is also offering generous financial support for businesses impacted by the pandemic. While that may not save the major national chains from permanently shuttering their doors, it may rescue smaller local businesses and might indeed prompt new ones to reopen in the place of the large anchor stores.

So while you might not do much shopping at Nordstrom or Gap or Express during your next mall outing, you’re likely to discover some great new mom and pop shops to fill the void. And that means that the mall is going to look a bit smaller, a bit cozier and more familiar. It may just look and feel a bit more like home.

A different (mall) day
No question: Brick-and-mortar malls are going to look and operate a lot differently after lockdown, at least for a while. When the malls reopen, for example, you’re going to see a lot more open space to better allow for social distancing, especially in the food courts.

In addition, pretty much everywhere you look, you’re going to find face masks, hand sanitizer and sterilizing wipes aplenty. You’re also probably going to notice markers on floors and walls to help direct foot traffic and minimize higher risk person-to-person contact in shared spaces.

You’ll likely be greeted by mall workers who have been intensively retrained to help safeguard against the spread of the virus. They’ll be wiping down high-touch surfaces and enforcing social distancing and other new safety standards. Retailers across the country are already updating workplace policies in order to ensure that safety standards and security requirements meet legal guidelines and protect employees and customers.

And that’s where you come in as well. Because, at least for the foreseeable future, a public outing like a mall trip isn’t just going to be a weekend diversion or a routine shopping trip. It’s also going to bring with it a burden of responsibility, not only to protect yourself, but also your family, the mall workers and your community.

So before you venture out, make sure that you are familiar with and ready to abide by the safety guidelines in place. Practice stellar hygiene both while you’re there and before and after you leave. Keep your hands thoroughly washed and sanitized, wear a mask and if you think you might be getting sick or you are in a high-risk group, stay home.

The takeaway
The coronavirus pandemic has certainly changed how we get out and experience our community, including that great all-American experience of the mall day. But the reality is that the pandemic may just have accelerated a change that we were seeing not only in Indiana but across the nation. As we return to the brick-and-mortar shopping mall, we’re not only going to find ourselves practicing social distancing and pandemic protections. We’re also likely going to find exciting local businesses springing up to take the place of the old familiar, but no longer really viable, big-box anchors.

Beau Peters is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest with a passion for purpose-driven business content.