Yesterday and Today

[MysteryWho]

I think about this stuff a lot, probably because I treasured certain stores as a kid and as an adult I've worked in several of them.
Here in Hamilton, a few of the malls have been ripped down in favour of big individual stores grouped together. In most cases,
it was time for something to be done. The Centre Mall, for instance, was in sad shape. It had been home to one of the oldest
Sears locations in Canada. I actually worked there while they were moving to Eastgate Square (Another mall on the decline,
particularly now that Walmart has departed). Being behind the scenes in that old Sears was very interesting, despite the
asbestos abatement going in various sections. It really was a time capsule.
Another store chain that I miss is Towers, especially the Aldershot location in Burlington. It's gone now, with condos coming
up on the empty lot. One day I should buy a condo there as close to where I think the toy section was located. Instead of
Poltergeists it will be haunted by legions Mego Mxyzptlks that languished on clearance until a manager hid them in the deepest
regions of the stockroom. They are probably still in the ground there!
Here is a link to a great site about Towers!
http://www.towersdepartmentstores.info/index.htm

[VintageMike]

For me, back in the 70's "the mall" was like going to Disneyland

Today, it's a super chore I try to avoid at all costs.

My local mall is basically a collection of small overpriced clothing stores.

I miss record stores, comic shops, video stores, head shops and toy stores.

My local mall lost them all --- it dont even have a pizza place and arcade anymore

The nearest malls near me are pretty much still jumping because where they are located is one of biggest shopping areas in the world. That said I've watched many a great mall become not so great. For me it a "great" mall should be somewhere I could basically spend the afternoon at. The last one within a reasonable driving distance I considered "great" also got ruined a couple of years ago.
Up until then it had a classic styled Movie theater (actually the last remaining Cineplex Odeon in NJ), Great food choices and a nice little arcade across from the movie theater. Them AMC (which actually owned the theater) decided to convert it to it's upscale "dine-in" concept and as condition for this "reward" the arcade was forced to close.
The last great mall (by my standards) is now 2 hours away so it's when I'm in the area only.
That mall (Deptford Mall, Deptford, NJ) has great food choices, two movie theaters on the property, an arcade (including a classic Centipede machine you can still play for a quarter!) AND a cart where comics are sold.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

^That sounds like a cool place to go.

The one thing I miss about malls when is the unique flavor they once had, now it's all chains and they contain the same stores/selection the mall closest to your home does.

No kidding. Of the malls still here in the state, I think all but one are owned by the same company. Even the tile looks the same.

[ScottA]

Montgomery Mall - closed and empty
Eastdall Mall - anchored by Sears, JCPenny, Belks and Dillards. KayBee is gone. Has Spencers, Hallmark, jewelery and clothes.
K-Mart #1 - empty building
K-Mart #2 - torn down and a Publix was built on site
TG&Y - torn down and HQ built. That was torn down and Burlington Coat Factory was built.
Gaylords (like Ames) - now a flea market
Gayfers (Montgomery Fair) - now a flea market
Toby's Toys - now a uniforms store
Bellas Hess - empty building
Sears - gone now

[jwyblejr]

The biggest nail in any mall's coffin was the death of KBs.

[nvmbrsdoom5]

The SEARS that I grew up with is still standing thankfully (Calumet City, IL.), though the area has really changed and become rundown, as a result the store itself isn't so hot, poorly stocked and managed, it's a shame. But I will still shop there occasionally just because of loyalty and nostalgia, in fact it still smells like it did when I was a kid, which really brings back memories. I have great, fond memories of going there with my grandparents and my dad, all of whom have passed on now, so for that reason alone I still like to visit there.