Google Maps is incredible for finding where to eat tonight, but it's surprisingly bad at telling you where people used to eat.

If you've ever tried to hunt down a list of permanently closed businesses—whether you're a real estate investor scouting vacant properties or an analyst tracking retail trends—you know the struggle. Google optimizes its map for what is open now. They hide the closures to keep the map clean, which makes sense for the average user, but it's a nightmare for professionals who need that data.

The "Hidden" Data Problem

Technically, the data exists. Google marks locations as "Permanently closed" every day. However, there is no native filter to say, "Show me all closed restaurants in Brooklyn."

To find them manually, you have to:

Already know the specific name of the closed business.
Zoom in extensively on random streets hoping to spot a grey pin.
Rely on outdated listicles or forums.

It’s inefficient and unscalable. That is exactly why we built ClosedPlaces.com.

Visualizing the Void

We realized that "closed" doesn't mean "useless." In fact, a closed location is often the starting point for a new opportunity. Our platform aggregates Google Maps closure data and visualizes it on a clean, interactive map.

Image: View permanently closed places on Google Maps

What You Can Find Right Now

We focus on high-value commercial footprints. Currently, our database tracks thousands of permanently closed locations across the United States and Germany, specifically targeting:

Supermarkets

Restaurants

Shopping Malls

Dept. Stores

We aren't just scraping random data. We are tracking the status change. This allows us to tell you not just that a place is closed, but give you context on its history.

More Than Just a Pin

When you identify a location on our map, we provide the metadata you need to make an initial assessment without leaving the page.

The Data Points

•The "Kill Date": Knowing exactly when Google marked it closed helps you estimate how long the property has been vacant (and how motivated the landlord might be).
•Original Metadata: The previous business name, phone number, and website are preserved, which is crucial for skip-tracing ownership.
•Consumer Sentiment: Historical review counts and ratings give you insight into foot traffic and why the business might have failed.

Who is this data for?

We've seen our data used in ways we didn't expect, but the primary users generally fall into four buckets:

Real Estate Investors

Find off-market opportunities before they hit LoopNet. A "Permanently Closed" listing on Google often predates a "For Lease" sign in the window by weeks.

Retail Expansion

If you run a gym or a grocery chain, seeing where competitors have failed (or where prime retail shells are sitting empty) simplifies site selection.

Market Analysts

Track the health of specific corridors. Are all the restaurants on Main St closing? That's a trend worth noting before investing.

Urban Explorers

Researching closed places and their heritage in urban environments. Document the changing face of the city before history is erased.

How to Start Searching

You don't need to sign up for expensive enterprise software to get a look at the market.

Navigate to our Interactive Map.
Filter by the category you are interested in (e.g., Supermarkets).
Pan to your target neighborhood.
Click the markers to reveal the closure timeline and business details.

Stop Guessing. Start Finding.

Access the most comprehensive map of off-market, permanently closed commercial real estate today.

Launch the Map

The Bottom Line

Finding permanently closed places on Google Maps used to be a manual, tedious process of scrolling and hoping. We've turned that into a searchable database. Whether you are looking for your next investment property or just curious about the changing landscape of your city, the data is now at your fingertips.

We are adding new regions and categories weekly. Check back often to see what's opening up... by seeing what just closed.