As more Americans turn to the internet to buy what they need, shopping malls across the country are closing their doors. But one historic mall has found a creative way to repurpose its former retail space: America's first shopping mall, the Westminster Arcade in Providence, Rhode Island, has now been turned into micro lofts, offering people the chance to truly live inside a piece of history.

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Courtesy of Rhode Island Collection

The Westminster Arcade opened in 1892, introducing the English-style indoor shopping experience to the United States. But in recent years, like so many other retail locations across the U.S., the mall had fallen on hard times. Despite undergoing a renovation, the space ultimately closed its doors in 2008 due to economic reasons.

But instead of being demolished, developers decided to give the mall a second life: Though the first floor is still being rented out as commercial space, the top two floors have been turned into micro apartments. The 38 units, which range in size from 225 to 300 square feet, are designed to accommodate the growing masses cramming into Rhode Island's urban areas. So far, residents are generally young professionals who don't have much stuff, and so don't mind living in such cramped quarters. Rent starts at $550 a month, and there's already a waiting list of those eager to move into the "cozy" spaces.

Courtesy of Ben Jacobsen via Northeast Collaborative Architects

Courtesy of Ben Jacobsen via Northeast Collaborative Architects

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