Netflix House Is Coming. Could It Save The Shopping Malls Of Texas?

I believe Netflix is going to save The Mall in Texas. 

As a millennial, I spent my fair share of teenage time circling my town's mall. I must have walked hundreds of miles in its blissfully air-conditioned environs, spending less than $10 an occasion and staying relatively out of trouble.

As an adult, I still love the mall but have difficulty adhering to my previously Spartan budget. I spend nearly that on coffee as soon as I step inside. Plenty of people like me still enjoy the mall out of nostalgia and as an escape from the house and outdoor heat.

However, we all know that malls have been limping along, as consumer spending has shifted online, budgets have tightened, and new shopping centers have been built as rows of outside-facing stores.

Luckily, people are finally returning to the mall at pre-pandemic levels. But is that enough to keep the mall open? Perhaps, with a little creativity and cleverness. 

The mall in my town lost its Sears, Mervyns, and Bealls. Some of that space was replaced with a state-of-the-art movie theater, which has plugged the wound for the last 10 years. Other malls have let in Targets and Wal-Marts, allowed in "pop-ups," or began converting part of the mall into living spaces.

However, one of the most effective ways to bring bodies back into malls is through experiences. Aquariums. Rollercoasters. And now... Netflix? The thing that kept as all home for years?

Netflix House will be opening (for now) in two locations, in Pennsylvania and at the most famous mall in Texas: the Galleria in Dallas. I love it when Texas is a leader in these things.

So what is a "Netflix House"? It's an "experimental entertainment venue" that allows guests an immersive experience of their favorite Netflix shows like Bridgerton, Stranger Things, and Squid Games. My favorite is Peaky Blinders but I'm not sure how well that would translate into real life.

Bridgerton is a good example of how this will work. Imagine getting dressed up to drink tea, learn fancy dances, meet actors in period-appropriate attire, buy exclusive merch, etc. I've never even seen Bridgerton and that sounds fun to me.

I'm hoping this concept is successful, and bridges the gap between our cuddly, lovely couches and actually interacting with other human beings, all while saving the iconically American mall.