When You’ve Seen One, You’ve Seen the Mall

I never dreamed I'd be spending my retirement in a mall. Don't get me wrong. I haven't become a shopaholic willing to squander my 401K distribution in the pursuit of materialism. *

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, ca. 1880. Edizioni Brogi Firenze, Wikimedia Commons

To be more precise, I live above a mall, in a sixth floor, two-bedroom aerie with a panoramic view of Southern California’s San Gabriel mountains, which my son — now relocated to the rugged Pacific Northwest — likes to remind me are more accurately 'foothills.' Whatever they are, I find sustenance in watching them as they change their aspect at the bidding of clouds and sun, at long last glowing purple and gold in the sunset.

Like some 400 or so other apartment dwellers in my mall complex, I am just an elevator ride above all the action in our trendy open mall of stores, theaters, bandstands, restaurants, fountains, kiosks, and bowers of bougainvilleas — all situated smack in the center of a small city. It is even possible to get married in a lovely outdoor atrium on the second level. Not that I ever expect to be needing that particular service.

When I moved here three and a half years ago, I was instantly impressed by its sheer convenience. But since then, much to my disappointment, both mall anchor stores have closed. One was an up-scale locally-owned super-market, where I could load a cart with groceries, roll it to an elevator and up to my apartment, then leave it in the corridor to be rounded up later.

The other anchor store, at the opposite end of the mall, was a three-story Macy's. Apparently neither emporium made enough of a profit to justify remaining in the high rent district. As it is, Macy's has another larger and more imposing store just a few miles away. As for the grocers, despite its excellent service and merchandise, shoppers living elsewhere didn’t appreciate the time and hassle required to find and validate parking space in the mall's cavernous underground garages.

Both large spaces have remained empty for over two years. One has been used annually for a mega-holiday flea market run by a local charity. And after lengthy and contentious negotiations, the separate building once occupied by Macy's is about to be bulldozed and replaced by a 170-room boutique hotel. It's directly across the street from the City Hall on one side, and the municipal auditorium on the other, a prized location for visitors to the city. Perhaps the guests will even do some shopping at what is left of the mall.

The smaller shops here have likewise felt the brunt of decreased business. There are frequent turnovers of tenants when leases expire. The next long-time store slated to close will be the World Bazaar. Many of the surviving mall attractions offer food and entertainment. A 12-theater Cineplex allows customers to choose their own seats. Sports bars, ethnic restaurants, and wine bodegas continue to attract crowds. And a popular gym franchise is going strong.

Pages: 1 · 2

Home and Shopping, History, Culture Watch, Moving and Retirement, Senior Women Web, Articles, Sightings, Doris O'Brien, Authors, What's New

When You’ve Seen One, You’ve Seen the Mall

More Articles