The decline of shopping malls has been a quiet crisis for years, accelerated by online convenience and a changing world. But some closures are more poignant than others, leaving behind echoes of a different era. Just outside Washington D.C., a truly unique mall recently vanished – a subterranean world known as Crystal City Shops.
Located in Arlington, Virginia, Crystal City was once a thriving industrial area transformed into a modern urban neighborhood. Now part of the larger National Landing area, spurred by Amazon’s arrival, it’s a landscape of offices, apartments, and restaurants. Beneath the bustling streets, however, lay a secret: an extensive network of tunnels connecting buildings, allowing residents to navigate much of the area without ever stepping outside.
Crystal City Shops opened in 1976, a remarkable experiment in retail. It wasn’t a grand, sprawling space, but a cozy, almost village-like environment built entirely underground. Cobblestone streets, antique glass windows, and small, local businesses created a distinctive atmosphere. Larimer’s Gourmet Grocery and Jelleff’s womenswear were beloved fixtures for decades.
The mall consisted of two sections, easily accessible from the Metro and a short walk from street level. For years, it flourished, benefiting from the convenience of the Metro and a growing business community. The restaurants, bars, and food court were popular destinations, and even online communities fondly remembered quirky shops like a dollar store and a puppet emporium.
But the tide began to turn as businesses relocated, and the area faced new challenges. Locals rallied to save the underground tunnels, while shop owners fought to stay afloat. Despite their efforts, 2024 brought the inevitable: the complete closure of the underground mall.
JBG Smith, the primary property owner, announced the closure, citing the changing retail landscape and the financial unsustainability of the underground concept. They pledged to assist tenants in relocating, but the decision marked the end of an era for Crystal City Shops. The street-level section also emptied, leaving only a handful of cafes and a few relocated stores.
One Reddit user captured the unique experience of Crystal City, describing a life lived entirely within its subterranean network. “You could live, work, shop, exercise, and commute without ever seeing the sun,” they wrote, imagining a community of pale, luminous residents. It was a self-contained world, a hidden city beneath the surface.
Despite the mall’s closure, the tunnels themselves remain open. Pedestrians can still traverse the deserted space, accessing the Metro, the Marriott hotel, and surrounding buildings. The retro storefronts and quirky decor stand as ghostly reminders of a vibrant past, frozen in time.
The future of the mall space remains uncertain. JBG Smith has yet to announce redevelopment plans, and speculation runs rampant. Will it become part of Amazon’s expanding campus, or will it be reimagined as something entirely new? For now, it exists as a unique thoroughfare, a forgotten relic, and an unlikely destination for those fascinated by abandoned spaces.
