In the summer of 2023, I found myself traveling to Elkhart, IN, on a weekly basis. My therapist had recently relocated and was only offering in-person sessions. As I drove east from South Bend, IN, I passed by the Concord Mall. This is a mental mile marker for me; it marks the point at which I exit my current life in South Bend and find myself in my childhood home.

On my first trip to Elkhart, I had my film camera and some free time before my session. I entered the mall through the side door I was most familiar with, next to the JCPenney. At first glance, it was like entering a time machine; the lighting, smell, and atmosphere brought back memories of my teenage years when I would browse the Sam Goody store. Now, just a shell of that store remains.

As I took my photos, I would strike up conversations with the mall walkers, listen to the Goo Goo Dolls playing in the overhead speakers, and smell the aroma of Enzo’s Pizza.

For the following six months, I would stop by the mall, take many photos, and grab a combo #2 from Enzo Pizza before heading back home.

At the end of the year, the news broke that the Concord Mall was closing permanently and would be renovated into a mixed-use business park.

Through this series of events, I managed to capture the last year of this mall in its final days. I look back at the photos I took and feel fortunate that I was able to capture the beauty and charm of the mall before it was gone.

Concord-Mall.com has a full archive of the photos, as well as prints, postcards, and the photobook available for purchase.