Shopping Mall Shock
By Kareng
@kareng (64381)
United States
January 12, 2025 3:16pm CST
I mentioned earlier that we went to our local shopping mall the other day. This was my first visit there in over a year. We have had several major stores leave the mall, one being Sears not long after we moved to Mississippi.
Next came JC Penny and a few of the smaller stores. I was shocked to see that there have been several other stores that were closed on our visit. One that I will miss is one of the shoe stores that wasn't the typical "chain shoe store." They had a room sectioned off where they put their odds and ends of pairs of shoes or just a few pairs left in a style, out of style, etc shoes in on clearance. They always had good prices and I could usually find something in there for either my husband or myself.
Another big store that moved out was Goody's. This was a take it or leave it store for me, but I did shop sales there every now and then. I would peek in if I was already at the mall.
The only big stores left are Beal's, Marshalls, and Bath and Body Works. I'm afraid that this mall is on the brink of closing! It was also mainly deserted when we went on a Friday afternoon.
I will be sad if this mall closes, because that will mean an additional drive to Brookhaven, MS or Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Do you have a mall near you that is thriving or is steadily going down as this one is?
Photo Credit: Pixabay, Public Domain
18 people like this
17 responses
@AmbiePam (95107)
• United States
12 Jan
I haven’t been to my local mall in about six years. Curious, I just now called my dad to ask him if he’d been in our mall recently. He said he went to JCPenney’s (in that mall) about three months ago, and the mall was thriving. I think I’m going to have to go to that Claire’s store, you know, with those cheap earrings? I haven’t worn earrings in so long, one of the holes in my ear cannot get through. So a visit to the mall is likely in my future to get one ear pierced again.
It makes me a little sad when malls disappear. I loved going to the mall as a teen with my friends, shopping, and then seeing a movie that was either inside the mall or right next door.
5 people like this
@kareng (64381)
• United States
13 Jan
@Marilynda1225 Yes, and like I mentioned above, by the time my girls got old enough to shop there on weekends, it wasn't safe for the to go alone. My husband didn't even want me going with them. Gotta love a hubby in law enforcement.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83416)
• United States
12 Jan
You brought back such a great memory. I took my daughters there to get their ears pierced. It was always fun to shop there
3 people like this
@1creekgirl (41991)
• United States
13 Jan
One of the main malls (60 miles from us) should have already closed. The only stores still open are Penny's, Belks, Ross, and two or three shoe shops. I couldn't believe it when we went there recently.
It was actually kind of scary. No open stores, no one walking around, and dim lights.
3 people like this
@kareng (64381)
• United States
14 Jan
@1creekgirl That was a horrible experience and I don't blame you for telling her that. Was your car close to the front entrance? I had to exit one in Baton Rouge years ago and walk around the outside of the mall to get to my car! Pityful!
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41991)
• United States
14 Jan
@kareng That day I went, I walked all through the mall to get to the inside entrance to Ross. When I got there, it was closed off and was told I had to find an outside exit, then walk all the way around that huge building to come in the front door! My back was killing me and there was no way for me to do that. The manager (through the bars) was so hateful, I told her I wouldn't shop in that store if I were dying.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (183609)
• United States
12 Jan
It's funny you should mention this. I was at the mall closest to me and noticed Macy's which was one of the anchor stores there was gone and left no trace. I was kind of sad. I got a toaster oven there once.
3 people like this
@kareng (64381)
• United States
13 Jan
@snowy22315 Several smaller malls in the Baton Rouge area did the same thing, come to think about it!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (183609)
• United States
13 Jan
@kareng Another mall sort of close to here went completely defunct and is now Somme kind of sports complex.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51905)
• Canada
12 Jan
We have a couple of traditional malls like you describe here left in our city.
One of them has alot of office spaced where stores used to be on the upper level.
That seems to be the way of the malls.
Here, in our city, shopping in a mall is not safe.
There have been about 3 robberies at chain jewelry stores in the past month.
It is usually a group of at least 4 young men and the will have hammers and walk into the store and smash the glass showcases and take what they want and run out.
It is very bold given the cameras inside and outside of the stores as well as the outside of the mall and the neighbouring stores as the staff are always on the lookout.
3 people like this
@kareng (64381)
• United States
13 Jan
That is what happened at the original mall in Baton Rouge. Upper floor all leased out and the stores on main level stayed for awhile, but the crime was up and the whole mall shut down about 2 years later. The building was then divided up and part sold to the State of LA and Cox Cable bought another section. Not sure who else is in there.
I see the same thing in forecast to happen at the new mall in Baton Rouge. Crime is up and the smart people quit going and all that is left are thugs and more crime happens.
It's sad!
3 people like this
@Juliaacv (51905)
• Canada
13 Jan
@kareng I prefer shopping at the old type of mall like these than going to the new ones where it is just a strip of stores and you have to exit the building to go down the sidewalk to the next store. That can be a pain when it is cold, raining, snowing or windy, but the threat of crime is lower.
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (109712)
• Marion, Ohio
12 Jan
Ours hasn't had much for several years now.
3 people like this
@kareng (64381)
• United States
13 Jan
@wolfgirl569 That's sad and it seems to be happening all over.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (109712)
• Marion, Ohio
13 Jan
@kareng I won't be surprised if they do
1 person likes this
@kareng (64381)
• United States
13 Jan
@rakski This mall was always a little high for the holiday rentals that are the small booths in the open areas of the mall. I checked in to that a couple of years ago for my business and they wanted almost $1,000 a month AND you had to purchase signage from them that was another $1200. No thankies!!! I may inquire again close to the holidays this year. It will be interesting to see if they are charging the same price, more or less.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (81617)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Jan
I have not been to a mall since I lived in Latvia, It always amazed me how some malls in Riga, Latvia remained open because most of the stores were always empty and there were never many people walking about,
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (81617)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 Jan
@kareng oh, this would be at least 10 -15 years ago,
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (83416)
• United States
12 Jan
We have a small mall nearby and the same thing is happening. Its really sad to see so many stores close and the mall be almost deserted. Wonder if malls will just be a thing of the past at some point.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (117559)
• Anniston, Alabama
13 Jan
Yes since the strip mall are back. With hobby lobby, pet smart and that sort.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (28870)
• Philippines
13 Jan
There is a mall about 10 minutes away from me, and it is quite thriving, although the selection of shops is limited.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (39681)
•
13 Jan
For some reason, our mall is thriving.
To be honest, from about 2016-2019 it was terrible. Huge groups of young people would congregate there, go in groups to stores and steal everything they could, and leave. There were some shootings there. It really went downhill in a hurry. The owners of the mall stepped up and made some rules, hired a lot of security...no kids under 15 may shop alone, they must be with an adult. No extremely large groups. I think they installed metal detectors at the doors. Was all that necessary? It seemed like way too much--but it works. We now have our pleasant mall back that feels very safe.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (39681)
•
13 Jan
@kareng
It was either that or shutter the mall for good. Some people didn’t like it at first. But now no one objects to all of the safety measures. They also put up a ton more cameras, which was fine with me!
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (161539)
• United States
13 Jan
One of the two major malls in Wichita closed last year. I have seen at least one in another city nearly die and then re imagine itself. Personally I have not been to a mall in ages.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183946)
• United States
13 Jan
We've lost big stores at our mall; but I haven't been inside it in decades. Have a good week.
1 person likes this
