When Buildings Get A Second Career: 72 Amusing Repurposing Examples

Most buildings are built to last, often for decades and sometimes even centuries. But the people living in them or the businesses operating there don’t always stick around that long. So over time, plenty of places get repurposed and end up taking on a completely different role than they were originally designed for.

This can lead to some pretty unexpected and often hilarious transformations. A former bank might become a McDonald’s, while an old bowling alley could end up as a thrift store. We’ve rounded up some of the best examples below. Scroll down to check them out.

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

Señior Colonel

Seeing a church turned into a nightclub or a shopping mall used as a university can definitely feel a little strange at first. We tend to associate certain buildings with one very specific purpose, so it can be surprising when they suddenly take on a completely different role.

However, these transformations are actually part of a common approach to architecture known as adaptive reuse, which means taking an existing building and changing it so it can serve a new purpose instead of tearing it down.

Image credits: Dafracturedbutwhole

Walgreens That Used To Be A Historic Bank. Chicago, IL

According to the University of the Built Environment, adaptive reuse can allow much of a building’s original structure, design, and character to remain while the space itself is changed to suit a new use.

That could mean turning an old office into apartments or converting a warehouse into shops. The basic idea is to make use of what is already there rather than starting again from scratch.

Image credits: jlektro

Blockbuster Got Converted To A Book Store

One of the biggest reasons for doing this is sustainability. Demolishing a building uses a lot of energy and creates waste, while putting up a replacement requires even more materials and resources.

By keeping an existing structure and adapting it, developers can avoid some of that environmental impact and give the building a longer useful life.

Image credits: SLOOGOVS

My House Used To Be A Police Station And My Bathroom Is An Old Jail Cell, The Original Window Is Still In Place

There can be financial benefits too. The University of the Built Environment explains that adapting an existing property can sometimes cost less than demolishing it and building something new in its place.

It may also take less time. Older buildings can still be updated with modern heating and ventilation systems, which can make them more comfortable and more energy efficient once they are being used again.

Image credits: rebuffedchaff8

My College Used To Be A Shopping Mall

Another reason people choose adaptive reuse is that old buildings often carry a lot of history with them. Even if their original purpose is no longer needed, their appearance may still be familiar to the people who live nearby.

Keeping those recognizable features can help a neighborhood hold on to some of its character while allowing the building to remain useful.

Image credits: Colecaliber

One Of Our Local Libraries Moved Into An Old Marsh Supermarket

Autodesk explains that this is one of the main differences between adaptive reuse and traditional historic preservation. Historic preservation usually focuses on keeping a building as close as possible to its existing form.

Adaptive reuse gives architects more freedom to make changes, as long as enough of the original structure remains to make reuse worthwhile.

Image credits: blt08

This Trader Joe’s In Media, Pennsylvania, Used To Be An Armoury For The Pennsylvania National Guard

The changes can also be much bigger than simply renovating the inside of a building. In New York City, for example, the High Line was once an elevated railway before it was transformed into a public park.

Denmark’s Jægersborg Water Tower also found a completely new use when it was converted into student housing and a youth center. Both projects show just how different a place can become while still keeping part of its original identity.

Image credits: The_Persian_Cat

My Apartment Building Used To Be A School

So while some of the transformations in this collection may look unusual or even funny, there is often a very sensible reason behind them. Repurposing an existing building can save resources and preserve some of its history. 

On top of that, it can give the structure a whole new life. Sometimes changing what a building is used for is exactly what allows it to stay useful for years to come.

Image credits: RTSantos4894

A Former Cricket Wireless Is Now A Chicken Restaurant

Image credits: LollerskateDJ

Church In My Local Town Converted Into A Nightclub

Image credits: cmdrxander

This Thrift Store Used To Be A Bowling Alley

Image credits: danielsenandrew

This Starbucks Drive-Thru In An Old Car Wash

Image credits: quiet_musings

Apple Store In An Old Theatre, Los Angeles

Image credits: ZMONEY0823

The Subway I Went To Today Used To Be A Bank. Instead Of Removing The Vault They Just Added More Seating Inside

Image credits: [deleted]

This Medical Facility Totally Used To Be A Pizza Hut

Image credits: LordBarvis

Old Mall Turned Into College Building. Stores Were Converted Into Classrooms

Image credits: Maverick3458

Former Target Turned Into A Walmart, They Painted The Target Orbs Yellow Instead Of Removing Them

Image credits: User

An Orthodontist’s Office Used To Be A Blockbuster [hinesville, GA]

Image credits: ilikepeople1990

A Church Converted To A Grocery Store

Image credits: KrispyKayak

Former Bank, Now KFC. Owners Call It The Crystal Bucket. (Corning, NY Area)

Image credits: todaresq

Little Caesar’s Pizza In A Former Sonic Drive-In; Location Unknown

Image credits: KrispyKayak

A Bank Converted To Mcdonalds

Image credits: KrispyKayak

The Owners Ended Their Quiznos Franchise But Wanted To Run A Sandwich Shop Still

Image credits: pfohl

KFC Turned Into A Jamba Juice

Image credits: rivers2mathews

Former Taco Bell, Louisville, KY

Image credits: bowsiestaff

Former Hot Topic Now Veterans Museum Denton, TX

Image credits: hipsterdaddyo

Urban Krag Climbing Center, Dayton Oh

Image credits: Lost-Oil-2141

Allenby Theatre Built 1935, Turned Into Coffee Shop/Convenience Store In 2010 (Toronto)

Image credits: jamesisninja

This Former Pizza Hut Got Turned Into A Home! The Owners Even Added A Garage And Lawn!

Image credits: jackrobertskun

Taco Bell Turned Into Law Offices

Image credits: User

Gas Station Turned Into A Boost Mobile – North Carolina

Image credits: JessTheGardener

Old Toysrus Is Now The Biggest Liquor Store I’ve Ever Seen! Includes A Bar. Fun For Kids Turned Fun For Adults. (Omaha, Ne)

Image credits: [deleted]

It’s Time To Get Spooky

Image credits: arcticcloud

This “Starbucks” With Extra Pickup Lanes. So Convenient

Image credits: probablywhy

Sears Store At My Mall Was Turned Into A Fake Mega Church For A TV Show

Image credits: criticalcustard

Former Wal-Mart Now Board Of Education

Image credits: ibrentlam

Former Pizza Hut – Now La Piñata Mexican Grill, Childersburg Alabama

Image credits: jaredpointer

Former Pizza Hut Now An Asian Vegan Restaurant (Pinellas Park, FL)

Image credits: User

CVS Pharmacy Used To Be A Theatre, East Los Angeles, CA

Image credits: NERPG

Old Hollister Now A Book Store

Image credits: Bfloteacher

Value Village, Edmonton, Ab

Image credits: AsparagusOk8213

So Why Does A Hair Salon Need Three Drive-Through Lanes? (Former Bank)

Image credits: ibrentlam

Former KFC, Broken Arrow, Ok

Image credits: [deleted]

Former Toys-R-Us, Now Sdf. Indianapolis, In

Image credits: [deleted]

Reused Krispy Kreme Sign Now Kroger Gas Station (Down The Street Is A Really Old Reused Pizza Hut Sign)

Image credits: jackrobertskun

Imagine Graduating From A High School That Was Once A Macy’s

Image credits: jAxk_34

A Former Burger King Listed Online As A Townhouse

Image credits: Unknown

Spirit Halloween – Was Fraser Health Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic Until Last Week, Formerly Best Buy – Surrey, Bc

Image credits: BobBelcher2021

Last Year This Was A Jack In The Box

Image credits: Steffie18

“Chick & Burger” In A Former Chick-Fil-A At The Former Virginia Center Commons Mall

Image credits: 22408aaron

Yes, You Were Always A Wireless Store

Image credits: ibrentlam

I Coulda Swore This Used To Be A… Krispy Kreme? Naahhh

Image credits: Sea-Active5439

A Former Ryan’s Buffet Repurposed As A Used Car Dealership – Martinez, Georgia

Image credits: KrispyKayak

Planet Fitness In A Former Circuit City. Phoenix, AZ

Image credits: [deleted]

Pretzelmaker, Now Avis/Budget Rental (North Little Rock, AR)

Image credits: User

Domino’s Used To Be A KFC, Albert Lea, Minnesota

Image credits: micholob

Former Bk Converted To Chinese Drive Thru. Didn’t Change A Thing Except Signage

Image credits: Throwaway54304

Former Walgreens Is Now A Planet Fitness

Image credits: bayhenn720

Here’s A Good Find

Image credits: conjtheruler

Old Taco Bell (Hamilton, Ontario)

Image credits: User

A Former A&p Grocery Store Is Now A Store For “Heavy Duty Truck & Trailer Parts” – Gary, Indiana

Image credits: KrispyKayak

Ihop Now An International House Of Prayer

Image credits: Cutmerock

Former CVS Now An Uber

Image credits: orokro

This Black Rifle Coffee Company Location Used To Be A Taco Mayo. (Moore, Oklahoma)

Image credits: MissusLunafreya

Gresham, Or – This Was Once A Gas Station And Then A Used Car Lot Before Becoming A Jimmy John’s

Image credits: ComfortableFriend879

This Bp In Anderson Used To Be The Walgreens

Image credits: Unknown

This Muncie Liquor Store Used To Be A Taco Tico

Image credits: Unknown

This Mexican Restaurant In Chesterfield Used To Be A Pizza Hut

Image credits: Unknown

A Former Huddle House That Was Turned Into A Little Caesar’s Pizza – Lafayette, Georgia

Image credits: KrispyKayak

Former Arby’s In Norfolk, Virginia

Image credits: 22408aaron

They Didn’t Even Remove The Original Sign On The Cart Corral

Image credits: a_person_96

Former Kroger Parkersburg WV

Image credits: User

You might also like: 36 famous people who did evil things in the past, but the world sort of ignored it

Follow Bored Panda’s daily dive into internet culture on MSN for more curious finds, quirky content, and offbeat observations.

Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!