The Way of the Dodo
By MrsJ
@SophiaMorros (5044)
Belews Creek, North Carolina
July 16, 2019 6:28pm CST
I don't usually go to indoor shopping malls. I'm not overly fond of shopping and, as you might know from my previous posts this week, I'm not overly fond of crowds either.
The last time I wasn't in a shopping mall was more than two years ago when I picked up a Lego Saturn V for my husband's birthday.
Today, I am in Roanoke, Virginia. The city is hot and I won't be headed into the mountains until my husband arrives from the other side of the state.
I needed an air-conditioned place to hang out while I wait. There is a mall very close to where my husband usually stays so I thought I make use of the facility to add some more steps to my daily total.
The mall opened in the early 70s and photos indicate it was once a bustling place. Now more than half of the store sites are dark and deserted and from my vantage point in front of an empty anchor store, I can see a whopping total of two other people.
It's a quiet place. There are lots of places to sit. The WiFi seems to decent and the temperature is quite comfortable.
Not at ALL what I was expecting.
In many places in the USA, big indoor shopping malls are no longer thriving. Life moves on and trends change. I've seen a few malls die in the past 20 years. Have you?
10 people like this
11 responses
@xFiacre (13152)
• Ireland
17 Jul 19
@sophiamorros Malls have their uses but I’d really rather not be in one. Horrible places where folk try to get as much money out of you for not very much in return. Places of worship for the decadent materialist.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13152)
• Ireland
17 Jul 19
@SophiaMorros It’s sad that going to look round shops at things you can’t afford is seen as a great day out by so many people. Futile, boring and very worrying.
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
17 Jul 19
I think that last sentence sums it up pretty accurately.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
17 Jul 19
I think they all just go to Wal-Mart. That place is never without customers.
1 person likes this
@sophie09 (34236)
• Indonesia
18 Jul 19
@SophiaMorros yeah it is always full off people
1 person likes this
@psanasangma (7280)
• India
17 Jul 19
For veggies and other groceries stuffs I still need to go shops/ malls and for me online shopping is somewhat still secondary option
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
17 Jul 19
Grocery stores tend to not be in the big indoor malls. They can usually be found in strip malls.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
17 Jul 19
The strip malls and regular malls that I know of are still thriving. I'm glad you were able to find a quiet place to sit and keep cool. I am not a fan of crowds either, and can only stand so much of the mall before I must make a beeline for the exit.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
17 Jul 19
That was one thing we noticed when we first moved to the area; very few empty businesses. In our previous town most if the businesses had moved, with the wealthier residents, to the newer part of town and left their old buildings vacant.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
17 Jul 19
@SophiaMorros There are several shopping centers around here that stil have some vacancies and yet more shopping centers are being built. Of course these are all newer buildngs. Mckays is moving in October, the building they are moving into is atleast 30 years old and is in the process of being renovated. That whole shopping center sat empty for over a decade.
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
17 Jul 19
Online or Wal-Mart. That's a store that is always teaming with people.
1 person likes this
@Morethanamom (1948)
• Canada
17 Jul 19
Brick and mortar stores are definitely going the way of the dodo. There is a photo journalist by the name of Seph Lawless who documents abandoned shopping malls and amusement parks. His technique and the subject is intriguing. It was a few years ago, but found some pictures of the old Rainbow Center in NF, NY. I remember that place fondly and as of now, don’t know how much is still left.
1 person likes this
@Morethanamom (1948)
• Canada
17 Jul 19
@SophiaMorros the fountain, the tunnel to the convention center.
I think the last time we went there was to take family pictures in the garden.
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
17 Jul 19
It depends a lot on the area. In NC most of the malls I know of are thriving. Come to think about it...I think there is one over in High Point that is mostly vacant.
I have lots of fun memories of the Rainbow Center...and the Winter Garden...
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
17 Jul 19
That's one of the urban planner;s problems - what to do with the facilities,
A structure is only good for a number of years. A house may last half a century, with maintenance of course.
This day and age, who would want old structures.
Like you, I don't patronize malls and shopping.. But now in my country, malling has become a way of life
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342104)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Jul 19
It's always sad to see empty shops. I'm sure it doesn't do trade any good either.
