Department Stores In Your Area? - Page 7

Marienkaefer2 · ‎03-09-2010

I live on an island! We have some local stores in our main town, but for a mall experience we have to go off island.

Ten years ago when we moved here, there was a mall about 45 minutes away on the mainland (over the bridge.) It had a Macy's, Penney's, Sears, and numerous other smaller chains, a movie theater. It was a nice mall.

In 2016, there was a mass shooting in the Macy's. Six people were killed, numerous others injured.

After that, things went downhill fast. Shoppers started declining, stores started pulling out. Macy's closed completely in 2020, and the mall is now an empty shell used for some public events. I think the movie theater is still there.

Now if we want a mall experience, we have to travel either 50 miles to the north of us, or 75 miles to the south of us.

Honestly, I don't miss malls. I have gotten used to online shopping, and I also find what I need occasionally in our locally owned shops in our town.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.--Marcus Tullius Cicero

Marienkaefer2 · ‎03-09-2010

I will add that I am a Gen Xer, so I grew up hanging out at the mall, and I worked at Dillard's through high school and college.

I loved the malls back then, especially at this time of year. I worked every Black Friday, and yes, it was busy, but it was a FUN busy, if you know what I mean. Everyone was always in a good mood, the stores were all decorated to the hilt, lots of nice merchandise.

The mall was the hub of socialization, especially for my age group. I had friends who worked in the various stores, in the food courts, at the movie theater. It was fun to go on breaks and shop in the mall, or get a pretzel at Hot Sam's and just people watch.

Then, after work, meet friends and go get something to eat or go to a movie.

Good memories.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.--Marcus Tullius Cicero

Marienkaefer2 · ‎03-09-2010

@Shanus

I can totallly relate to everything you said. I actually started doing more online shopping way before COVID.

I remember going into a Macy's and not finding the color or size I wanted. Then, while standing there, going on my phone and finding it and ordering it.

In my experience, the stores started carrying less variety awhile ago.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.--Marcus Tullius Cicero

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

Here in SE PA, we have Macy's and Boscov's. Also, Target and Kohl's - if they can be called department stores. Penney's are few and far between. And the King of Prussia Mall has the nice stores - i.e, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

Calcgirl · ‎03-10-2010

@Meowingkitty wrote:
In Arizona we seem to have it all within a reasonable distance. I have Macys, Nordstroms, Kohls. Penney's, Dillards within 2 miles of my house. If I want to drive to Scottsdale I get Newman Marcus, Nordstrom, plus all of the above. No shortage in my area. I live where there is no shortage of anything.

I agree, we are lucky here in Arizona. Plenty of stores, restaurants, etc.