What Happened To The Mall I Remember?

Summary

The author reminisces about the drastic changes in a once-bustling mall from their childhood.

Abstract

The author stands in a nearly deserted mall, a stark contrast to the lively, bustling place it once was during their childhood. They recall the mall being full of life, with every store occupied and busy with customers. The author shares their fond memories of visiting the mall almost every weekend with family, following a routine that included eating at Friendly's restaurant and visiting the Payless shoe store. They also remember the mall's bookstore, which, although replaced by a different one, still holds a special place in their heart. The author notes the dramatic change in the mall's atmosphere, from a lively and noisy place to a quiet and almost empty one. They express their nostalgia for the mall that used to be.

Opinions

The author has a strong sense of nostalgia for the mall as it was during their childhood.
The author feels that the mall has lost its liveliness and is now almost eerily quiet.
The author has fond memories of the mall's routines, including eating at Friendly's restaurant and visiting the Payless shoe store.
The author expresses a sense of loss for the stores that are no longer there.
The author appreciates the mall's bookstore, both past and present.
The author notes the dramatic change in the mall's atmosphere, from a lively and noisy place to a quiet and almost empty one.
The author feels that the mall is now a shopping ghost town, with more stores closed than open.

My childhood memories of visiting the mall

I stand in the middle of an almost eerily quiet mall. With the majority of the stores gated up, the mall is dead and feels like a shopping ghost town. There are more stores closed than there are open.

I stare at one particular gated up and permanently closed business — a place that used to be the Payless shoe store. And then I look over at some for restaurant that has nothing but soups. Interesting concept I suppose.

This wasn’t what I remember. I shake my head remembering that this very place used to be Friendly’s restaurant.

I remember so much more of what this mall used to be. It was so much different in just about every possible way when I was a kid.

I have fond memories of visiting the mall almost every weekend with family. However, it was nothing like this!

First off, it was so much more lively and busier. Every store space was occupied and every store was busy with customers. It even had the 90’s nostalgia induced Orange Julius.

Visiting the mall had its routines and these routines are the best things that I remember about it.

Almost without fail, the first thing we would do at the mall is get a bite to eat at Friendly’s before we commence our shopping. My order was always routine. The same thing without fail! Chicken tenders with honey mustard and fries. And then a kid’s hot fudge sundae for dessert.

I remember the shoe store I briefly mentioned. As much as I disliked shoe shopping as a kid (I still dislike it to a degree) reminiscing on what used to be the busy Payless shoe store still brings up happy memories.

I find myself standing inside a bookstore. I loved visiting the bookstore as a kid and I still do! I thoroughly looked forward to walking inside and finding another great book to pick out and read.

The thing is, this spot is still a bookstore. The only thing that’s different is that this is a different bookstore. It’s the same, yet different.

Visiting the mall was clearly the thing to do on a Friday night / weekend. The atmosphere was lively and noisy as people from all directions passed us by. Almost all of the benches were always occupied making it hard to find an empty seat.

Now you can be lucky to see a family or two pass by and finding an empty bench isn’t a problem at all.

A majority of the stores I remember visiting in the mall as a kid are long gone.

It’s quiet now. I smile at another gated up business and remember fondly of yet another store now gone. It’s just me and my memories of a mall that used to be.