Do you still like shopping at the mall?

Sometimes change is wonderful and we love the transformation. Sometimes change is unwanted and we mourn for what was replaced. I went to Countryside Mall today (Thursday, October 24, 2024) to look around and see what I could see. I had been upset with the mall shoppers and Hooters attendees because I thought perhaps emergency responses to the Hurricane's destruction should be higher on the priority list. However, as I walked around the mall today, I realized that the people who are out there supporting any business (large or small) are doing very good work and I apologize for my snide comments.

Last year I had driven to Tampa to go see whatever became of East Lake Mall. To my surprise, the first mall that I had ever shopped at during my teen years was not a mall anymore. Other plazas and malls that had sprung into the city's geographical and economical life had dominated, and East Lake Mall had closed. Some innovative investors decided to transform the old closed mall into an office space, and the changes were a welcome success; Hence, what was once East Lake Mall is now NetPark - a great working environment for customer service reps and tech assistants.

At Countryside mall today, I entered wanting a cup of coffee and considering Dunkin Donuts. As I walked around, I noticed that Dunkin Donuts is no longer there, but I did find Cinnabon and Starbucks, so I was still able to acquire a nice, fresh cup of coffee. As I sipped on my coffee, I noticed that the ice-skating rink was covered by a temporary construction wall because of damages that need to be repaired. Not only have I enjoyed skating at that rink myself, but I have seen many children and teens enjoy that rink as I watched from the nearby seats.

I decided to walk around the mall to see what was going on at my four favorite clothing stores: Macys, JCPennys, Forever 21, and Torrid. The mall had just opened and today is Thursday, so I got to shop around without the typical weekend crowd. In the quiet moments of the morning at the mall, I get to notice different aspects of the experience, instead of simply having to dodge a stampede of people. I get to notice the beautiful architecture and the shiny floors. I get to notice the designs of the signs and artistry of the window displays. I get to notice what is no longer there, and what is there now that wasn't there before.

Dillards and the movie theater are still there. The nail salons and Atomic tattoo shop are still there. Cheesecake Factory, Red Robin, and Changs are still there. In the food court, Charley's (steak sandwiches) is still there. My four favorite clothing stores are still there.

What's gone? Chik Fil A, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, Wendys, Sears, Payless Shoe Store, and The Disney Store are no longer there. Business researchers could explain the history and reasons for their exits, and mall lovers have come to expect such changes which is why malls tend to "lease" their spaces instead of sell the spaces like a condominium sale. It makes me wonder what would benefit the mall and the businesses there more? Leased space or purchased permanent space? My hypothesis is that treating the mall's shop spaces like condo sales would benefit the mall in the long run. New Flea Market vendors don't tend to last long because they can't make enough money selling their "junk" to pay for their space at the Flea Market. Same thing happens at the mall, when the lease is too expensive.

I filled out an application at Forever 21 and had a great conversation with the manager there. I couldn't afford to buy the coat for $70 even though it fit me like a glove. I went on to look at Torrid's clearance racks (since I'm on the plus side and Lane Bryant is long gone) but even at 60% off, I could not find anything for me under $20. Finally, I scored a beautiful pair of peach shorts at the Macy's clearance rack, for only $5. Who cares about my stupid mall shopping on a Thursday morning? Maybe no one, but some of us are worried about the future of city malls. We don't want Walmart and Amazon to be the only vendors available. We like dressing rooms and face to face customer service. We think walking around the mall is a lot more fun and interesting than walking on a treadmill at the gym.

There are two malls that are still alive in Pinellas County: Countryside Mall in Dunedin, and Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg. There are two malls that are still alive in Hillsborough County: Westshore/International Mall in Tampa, and Brandon Mall. I had heard they were trying to revamp the University Mall in North Tampa, but I haven't seen or heard anything about it in over a year.

Clearwater Mall is not really a "mall". It's a plaza with a lot of great stores that I love like Target, Dollar Tree, Five Below, Burlington, Panera, MetroPCS, GameStop, Ross, and various salons. But it's not an indoor experience. People go to a plaza like Clearwater Mall, to park at the specific store (like Dollar Tree) get what they need quickly and go home. It's not a place to sit around with a snack or drink and people watch or even meet new people. It's not a place that's considered "something to do" when there's "nothing to do". While I enjoy shopping at all the stores at the plaza known as Clearwater Mall, it is not the same experience. It's the difference between going through the McDonald's drive-thru for a satisfying cheeseburger without social interaction or eating at Outback Steakhouse with your family or friends. It's the difference between going to a prayer group because you don't have a church yet or walking into St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. I have always cheered for entrepreneurs and the little guy, but perhaps we must remember to also cheer for the big guy who's been around giving us glorious civilized experiences for the past 50 to 100 years. Are there still people who ice-skate at Rockefeller Center's rink in NYC? Do those skaters know who Rockefeller is? Would they be upset if the rink closed and the yearly Christmas tree stopped going up? Some New Yorkers might think that a travesty, while some might not care at all. I care about the malls. I hope I get a job there so maybe I can afford to buy that beautiful coat.