In a bustling seaside town lies an abandoned shopping center lost in time.
Once vibrant and thriving with colorful shops and eclectic items, now weeds have encroached on the tarmac and every building is empty.
Arlington Arcade is located beneath one of Kent’s most iconic buildings – a brutalist 1960s tower block on Margate’s seafront.
While almost everyone has seen and experienced Arlington House, many don’t know the story of its shorter, much-missed sister.
In its heyday, the arcade had a joke shop, a burger and donut stand, a tattoo parlor and many other options for shoppers.
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But around 2009 it started to deteriorate and shutters appeared on most of the windows.
It is not clear exactly why the center closed, and vendors were reportedly told to leave one by one by tenants of Freshwater.
Asbestos in 1960s buildings is said to be the cause.
It now plagues the “eyesore” area, which is blocked off from the public by a tall metal fence.
The exterior has been covered in graffiti, while other parts are used to advertise the neighboring Dreamland.
Local photographer Frank Leppard remembers the mall well.
He told KentOnline: “The smell of donuts wafted from the passageway to the front and gunshots could be heard from the open tattoo shop.
“Everyone would be throwing the mittens on the floor that pop out of the Joke Shop, which was most people’s favorite place.
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“It was a wonderful community of shops – kind of like an open-air version of Margate’s Old Kent Market.
“It always had a good vibe and it was 10 seconds from the beach.
“You could get everything from a quick kiss-me hat to a stink bomb.”
“It is still sorely missed by locals today.
The complex, along with the block of flats, is technically owned by Thanet District Council (TDC).
However, the local authority’s involvement ends on a rent basis and all responsibility lies with Freshwater, which holds the site on a long-term lease.
A council spokesman said: “Thanet District Council has its own interest in the land where Arlington Arcade was located.
“It occupies a piece of land which is leased to the owners of Arlington House on a very long lease term.
“Arlington House, the arcade and the associated car park are owned and managed by the lessee.”
In 2011, a Tesco store was expected to replace the parking lot and dilapidated stores.
But the proposals were met with fierce opposition from neighbors who argued it would destroy the coastline.
The supermarket eventually backed out of the scheme due to “changing consumer habits”.
Arlington House residents hoped it would mean a makeover of the once-popular shopping destination.
No such luck.
With the center still derelict, some say it represents a dampener on the rest of Margate’s vibrant and thriving waterfront.
Debbie Loh and John Darbourne live in Deal and regularly visit Margate for a day.
Ms Loh explained: “I think it has let the rest of the waterfront down.
“We came from the station, and when you walk in, this is what you see.
“We’ve been to Margate before, but if that’s a first impression, it’s not a good one.
“This is what visitors could take away, as well as people returning to Margate who live and work here.
“It’s not great to see when there are so many beautiful buildings in the area.”
Mr Darbourne, 59, added: “Now in Margate you’ve got these wonderful monuments and that’s a bit of a pain.
“It could really do with updating and upgrading so that the local community can use it.”
Ms Loh would like to see something done about the area.
The 58-year-old said: “I would like to see him come back to life because he has been abandoned for so long.
“It will bring more people to town.” It will be good for jobs rather than leaving it empty and neglected – that will encourage people to mistreat it.
“It would be good for the area.
Arlington Arcade was popular with residents of the well-known tower block next door.
Lyndon Brand, who recently moved out after 24 years, is saddened to see the state of the mall.
The 60-year-old retired ambulance worker recalled: “It used to be fantastic.
“It really was. Not only because there were some lovely shops and nice people, but it was also quite a shortcut. Instead of walking around Arlington House, you could walk through and it was covered so the wind wouldn’t blow you away.
“Too bad they closed it down.”
“There was a small shop where you could buy almost anything – like a small grocery store.
“Actually there used to be quite a few shops, even at the front, but now they’re boarded up. Now you wouldn’t even know they were there, but there was a bookie, an aquarium, mobility scooters and a laundry.
“A lot of people in high-rises used to do laundry there because it was easier than trying to fit a washing machine in a tiny little flat.
“It was fun and there were nice people, but they just shut them all down. They just said, “On your bike – we’re closing it.”
“They just didn’t give those people any real answers as to why.
“It makes me sad to see it in the state it is now.
Freshwater says discussions are at an early stage but that it is looking for ideas for the dilapidated site.
A spokesman said: “We are considering a number of options to bring this important space back into use.
“However, all discussions are at an early stage at this time and we are not in a position to comment further.”