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
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.
A good laugh: Wife left instructions for the repairman but he decided not to listen
Many people who work as a handyman find that it is an interesting job. They never know what they are going to run into from one day to the next and sometimes, they may even be in for a surprise or two.
If there is one thing that any repairman will tell you, it’s the fact that they need to listen to what is told to them as far as instructions are concerned.
If you don’t listen to the instructions, you might find yourself in some trouble and the repairman in this story found himself in a very bad situation.
Many people who work as a handyman find that it is an interesting job. They never know what they are going to run into from one day to the next and sometimes, they may even be in for a surprise or two.
If there is one thing that any repairman will tell you, it’s the fact that they need to listen to what is told to them as far as instructions are concerned.
If you don’t listen to the instructions, you might find yourself in some trouble and the repairman in this story found himself in a very bad situation. Share
Laura’s dishwasher quit working so she called a repairman. Since she had to go to work the next day, she told the repairman, “I’ll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill on the counter, and I’ll mail you a check.
“Oh, by the way, don’t worry about my bulldog, Bob. He won’t bother you. But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk to my parrot! I repeat, do not talk to my parrot!”
When the repairman arrived at Laura’s apartment the following day, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking bulldog he has ever seen. But, just as she had said, the dog just lay there on the carpet watching the repairman go about his work.
The parrot, however, drove him nuts the whole time with his incessant yelling, cursing, and name-calling.
Finally, the repairman couldn’t contain himself any longer and yelled, “Shut up you stupid, ugly bird!”
To which the parrot replied, “Get him, Bob!”
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