Man Secretly Builds Hidden Sanctuary in Mall, Lives Undetected for 4 Years

Man Secretly Lives in Mall for Four Years Without Being Noticed

Living in a Shopping Mall

Do you enjoy visiting shopping malls? If you work in one, the appeal might not be the same. But imagine actually living inside a mall! That’s exactly what one man did when he discovered an unused space hidden within a shopping center.

The Discovery

In 1999, a massive shopping mall was completed in Providence, Rhode Island. Spanning 1.4 million square feet, the mall featured 160 stores. Every day, artist and drawing instructor Michael Townsend jogged past the newly built structure.

During its construction, Michael stumbled upon what he called the “unintentional room.” This small, seemingly purposeless space was tucked away within the mall and didn’t resemble a store or a functional part of the complex.

Inspired by an Advertisement

Between 2003 and 2004, Michael heard a radio ad for the mall. The enthusiastic commercial suggested that the mall had everything a person needed to live comfortably and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This sparked an idea—what if he actually lived there?

Turning the Hidden Space into a Home

By 2003, Michael noticed that the small room inside the mall remained vacant. Initially, he planned to stay there for just a week as an artistic experiment. However, that single week turned into four years.

Michael described the space as a 750-square-foot area originally used for storing construction supplies. Once the mall was fully operational, the space remained abandoned and forgotten—until he moved in.

Over time, Michael transformed the hidden room into a livable space. He even had plans to complete a kitchen, install hardwood floors, and add a second bedroom. However, before he could make those upgrades, mall security finally discovered his secret apartment.

Caught After Four Years

Michael was apprehended while leaving the hidden space. He later admitted that he was shocked to have gone undetected for so long. He praised the security team for handling the situation professionally and expressed regret for not revealing his unconventional living arrangement sooner.

No Legal Consequences

Laughing Squid

Surprisingly, Michael faced no legal repercussions for his four-year stay inside the mall. However, he was permanently banned from the premises. He later clarified on his website that he was not homeless and had a job during the entire time he lived in the mall.

The idea that someone could secretly reside in a busy shopping center for years without being noticed is mind-boggling. Michael Townsend’s story is truly a fascinating glimpse into creativity, resourcefulness, and the unexpected ways people can adapt to their surroundings.

My head dropped when my daughter revealed what she saw! Read full story

Both Dani and Nathan felt they were meant to be together when they first met in high school. They got married after a few years and anticipated a great life together. But after just two years of marriage, Nathan made a change.

Dani didn’t know if the two having a newborn girl into their lives had anything to do with that shift. Ultimately, Nathan was an excellent father, thus it was most likely not the cause behind his harsh criticism of Dani.

He began to feel self-conscious about her appearance and advised her to take better care of her beauty. “Dani, you’ve just let yourself go.” he remarked. “Always dressed in such dowdy attire. Do you believe that’s how you’ll maintain the spark?

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Despite working from home and spending a lot of time with tiny Ellie, he also accused her of being a bad mother.

“It’s the computer screen that you’re always behind. Even so, are you paying Ellie enough attention? It doesn’t appear to be. Every night when I get home from work, she is by herself.Dani tried everything to please Nathan, but she finally gave up because he was never delighted with whatever she produced.
Dani saw her marriage disintegrating and made the decision to let it go because she lacked the strength to battle something that was confined to her husband’s imagination.

One day, Nathan informed Dani that they had to relocate since he had a job opportunity. Dani was okay with the decision to move to a different city because Ellie was in the first grade and she worked from home. She secretly hoped that the adjustment would have a favorable effect on their marriage.


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After Ellie transferred to a new school, Dani saw that her daughter was beginning to behave badly when she got home. She even discovered her sobbing in her room one day.

“Honey, what took place?” Concerned, Dani enquired.

“Miss Allen is not the mother I desire! You should become my mommy. Ellie started crying.

Dani felt a cold rush through. Ellie’s instructor was Miss Allen.
She questioned, “Why would she become your mother?”

As Ellie began telling her mother everything she had learned over the past few days, tears streamed down her face. She felt as though the burden bearing down on her shoulders was gradually lifting.


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When Dad picked me up from school yesterday, Miss Allen asked me to wait outside the door while she had a conversation with Dad. Though I didn’t hear everything, I did hear her promise to be a better mother to me. Dad chuckled at her comment.

Nathan was involved in a romantic relationship.

Dani poured Nathan a drink that night after confirming Ellie was asleep.

“Okay,” she started. “With Ellie, Miss Allen seems to be really good.”

He questioned, his eyes brightening. “Really?” “Ellie liked her, I knew that.”

“Enough for her new mother to be Miss Allen?” Dani enquired. “What’s going on, and please don’t tell me a lie.”


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Embarrassed to look up, Nathan turned to face the ground. However, he acknowledged visiting his daughter’s instructor. Not long after they first met, they began their affair. That wasn’t all, though. He had an affair with a different woman back where they used to reside, and she began to demand more of him than just being his mistress. For this reason, he chose to move and change occupations.

Dani realized then that her marriage was over.
She moved Ellie to a different school in the days that followed because she needed to be loved and safeguarded and not get entangled in her father’s adulterous activities.

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Dani went to a new home and filed for divorce. Nathan is allowed to see his daughter anytime he wants.

Do you believe Dani made the proper decision?

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