You are right! The last time I took my Mom, who was in a wheelchair, to the mall, it was like being surrounded by hungry hyenas and young lions. Gangs of surly, glaring, unfriendly punks were everywhere, just standing around or leaning against the walls staring at us as we went by. I fully expected us to get mugged, beaten and left for dead any minute. We couldn’t wait to get out of there. We have never gone back.
Online shopping is partly a response to a world that seems to be going Mad Max. The once relatively safe public square has been surrendered to them. Our government, schools and culture has helped birth this pathetic mess. I miss my old USA.
There are still places such as you describe. I am fortunate to live in a small town with a vibrant town center, no vacancies, and the town filled with people. The Chamber of Commerce, City Council, and local PD do a great job keeping it an attractive and safe place for families. There are multiple family oriented events throughout the year, good festivals, and weekly farmer’s market during the summer. There are many neighborhood associations that do similar things and block parties abound in the summer. It really is the “old USA” you miss. The country is filled with such towns.
Stores like Walmart and Target have many items.
And the open shopping centers with rows of stores seem to be replacing malls, since you can walk or drive between them but there is far less meaningless congregating.