Anyone who has not visited the closest large Regional Shopping Center?

Question

About five miles from where I live there is a very nice Regional Shopping Center with almost 300 stores. On a Saturday Night there is thousands of people there and it is jammed with shoppers, people going out to eat and movie patrons. All in all a pretty fancy spot and a good diversion for a weekend.

At a recent neighborhood party we were all talking about shopping and I mentioned the nearby local Regional Mall and a number of people who have lived in the area for years told me they had never been there. I was shocked. I though everyone shopped there.

I can understand not liking large Malls but one would think that everyone in the area would have visited this Mall at least once. How about you? Have you visited the large regional mall near you at least once?

I put this under sociology because I think it a study in human nature.

Answer 1

Many years ago; but I have avoided them. Not for me. I prefer local shopping.

Answer 2

I've never liked them, though for convenience, I have gone for the occasional marathon Xmas shop.  In general, these Malls have replaced town squares as meeting places.  I find it sad that consumerism has become such a mindless form of entertainment.

Answer 3

I'm guessing they disapprove of the big chains, and prefer to shop at locally-owned stores.

One thing about chains is that everything you get there is identical to what 80% of everyone else is wearing or using.

Also, big malls are big, and full of people. Nice, smallish stores are a more pleasant experience.

And movies on tiny screens are less enjoyable than on giant screens.

And usually the food sucks and is over-priced.

But if you want to know, why didn't you ask THEM?

I live in a city-ish area. I have been to the big mall sort of near -- I'd go there for Christmas shopping, as we didn't have good places nearer.

Haven't been there for many years though.

Answer 4

It's not a study in human nature it's consumerism. "Regional Shopping Centre" is a bit of a generic term, I'm sure most people have visited their local shopping centre although personally I'm not a shopping mall lover because the environment is too controlled for me. I'm not sure where you're from but in the UK we have enormous shopping centres (of course) but what we also have are our High Streets, which have far more character and originality about them than some sterile, child-squealing, fake-fountained shopping centre!.

Answer 5

I used to shop at the mall, but they're so crowded now, and you have to walk so far.  I have arthritis, and the walking is very difficult for me.  There are so many rude people, and huge groups of teenagers.  People let the doors slam on you, push you out of their way...it's just not worth it.

Malls are losing their popularity here.  I live in St. Louis.  One particular place, Crestwood Plaza, used to be a large strip mall type place.  The stores were all connected, but you went outside to get to the next one.  In the 1960s, malls were becoming more common and very popular here, so they added some more stores, another big department store, and enclosed the whole thing.  Now the mall is failing, stores closing all the time, restaurants that have been there for years closing.  They're going to remodel it into a big strip mall again.  

There are more shopping centers called Commons here, or sometimes Crossings.  There'll be a couple big stores, like WalMart or Lowes or Target, and a variety of other stores, like a beauty supply, maybe a Chinese restaurant, a shoe store.  This type of setting is really gaining in popularity.  It's much easier for me, because I can park right outside the store and walk inside.  Then I can put my purchases in the trunk and move the car.  You can't do that at a mall.