Posted on 10/23/2019 9:10:58 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Shopping malls have always been a hangout for bored teenagers or families looking for something to do on a rainy day. They've probably also been around a lot longer than you might think. Long before Americans made malls their own, residents of ancient Rome met in the marketplace to buy goods and catch up on the latest gossip. In Victorian times, arcades with covered walkways became the precursors to today's malls. With the rise of the suburbs and automobile culture in the mid-20th century, what's generally accepted as the first enclosed mall in the country opened near Minneapolis in 1956. Others quickly followed as the idea of having a central place to shop became increasingly appealing to a growing middle class.
In Asia, the Middle East and Europe, modern malls also rapidly grew in popularity. Although they're sometimes called a shopping plaza or shopping center in other parts of the world, theyre the same thing: A collection of independent retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Travel through the decades with our photos of malls through the years to see what things were like when the shopping trend began.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Yep. I even saw that on a billboard.
My dad was stationed there late ‘60s - early ‘70s.
I really loved that place. Hated to leave. Great place to be a kid.
most of the pics are from the sixties.
I hope Natick Mall lasts for a while longer because I love Wegman's and it's a great place to walk in bad weather.
Malls sorta destroyed downtown and the homeless ended up there. Now the malls are ruined by the internet and the homeless ended up at the mall. Sorta a full circle thing. At least the internet wont end up with homeless. Lol.
Good point. That might play a role. The newest mall, a couple of miles away, seems to be thriving and doesn’t seem to have the bad element problem. However it is in an upscale area.
The largest long standing mall in our area was raised to put in low income housing. The city bought the land, not that they had a lot of free cash laying around to do it, and decided that they wanted to develop it. The original developer bailed on the city.
The area sat for 5 years as a nice grassy field and just now they finished building low income apartments and a theater. I wonder how much revenue was lost while the land sat vacant.
There were several built during the Victorian era in London. They were essentially streets with roofs overhead. Some were enclosed at the ends, some were not. Got the info from “Joolz guides” on youtube.
CC
Spent many hours hanging out in the Southdale Mall growing up, starting around 4th grade I imagine. Riding our bikes the 5 miles to the mall, hanging out, dropping dimes in pinball machines in the basement. My buddies got the big bird (Cockatoo?) that was in a cage built into the wall of the pet store to say my name. Sounded like my mom calling me in for dinner!
I’m guessing that mall is still in pretty good shape - the nearby area is still growing and getting upgrades. There was (still is I think) a large public outdoor pool near the mall. And a couple of ponds we would fish for sunfish and perch in.
Did not think malls rose up until the 70s. I think of the six malls that were in my area all were built in the early to mid-1970s. Only one remains.
You’re wrong. Northland shopping Center in Southfield Michigan northwest of Detroit was the first shopping mall, opening on March 22, 1954.
Today, Pall-Mall is a cigarette and a mall is where people smoke Pall Mall's and fight to the death for sale items on holidays.
I say bring back the good old tree-lined parks.
No gang problems backbthen. Well except West Side Story dancers.
Malls used to have teens. Now they have teens and Brawls. Brawl being the plural word for female teen
-— They also have Shootings - the plural word for black kids
#28 Head over to Brookdale... oh wait you cannot as it was torn down for the most part. Sears is still there.
Mostly empty I have read.
I was last there in 2004 and it was mostly a swap meet inside. Photos https://tinyurl.com/y68rwb8p
Rode our bikes to the Macomb Mall in Michigan. They had an Orange Julius stand, with the oranges hand-juiced/pulped to order. Awesome with a big warm pretzel!
(Todays Orange Julius is a pale comparison.)
Wasn’t enclosed until 1968. Story is about enclosed malls
I didn’t see any shoplifting deterrents.
I grew up in Western MA. There was the Springfield plaza, but it was the late 60s before we had under one roof malls.
Why not Minot? Freezin is the reason!!
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