EPISODE · Feb 16, 2026 · 42 MIN
Secret Mall Apartment
from Crime Writers On... · host Partners in Crime Media
Combing passages within the newly-built Providence Place mall, a group of local artists located an unused, overlooked space within the building. They sneaked in furniture and construction supplies, and fashioned a small apartment under the noses of management and security guards. Though the confederates used the space like a club house, they considered the project a political and artistic commentary on gentrification and consumerism. They filmed themselves for four years, but they could not avoid detection forever. The 2024 documentary film “Secret Mall Apartment” is now available on Netflix. It shows Michael Townsend and his crew building and maintaining the space. The film shows how the clandestine project was more than just a plucky urban legend, but also an artistic statement about community and capitalism.OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF "SECRET MALL APARTMENT" BEGIN IN THE FINAL 13 MINUTES OF THE EPISODE.In Crime of the Week: Home (Alone) invasion. For exclusive podcasts and more, sign up at Patreon.Sign up for our newsletter at crimewriterson.com.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What this episode covers
A group of artists discover an unused space within a Rhode Island shopping mall and build themselves a secret apartment. Is it a prank, a political statement, or performance art? We’ll talk about the documentary “Secret Mall Apartment,” now out on Netflix.
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Secret Mall Apartment
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