How ‘Abbott Elementary’ Took Over an Abandoned LA Mall for Ambitious Season 5 Twist | Exclusive

Note: This story contains spoilers from “Abbott Elementary” Season 5, Episode 9.

When “Abbott Elementary” production designer Michael Whetstone first heard that executive producers Quinta Brunson, Patrick Schumacker and Justin Halpern wanted to transform an abandoned mall into a makeshift school while Abbott underwent repairs, his mind immediately went to Palisades High School, which found a new home in a retired Sears after the Los Angeles wildfires destroyed the school in 2025.

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