When making plans, the options are endless. I could shop at a local plaza, go get food or watch the sunset while driving around. But something that always comes up is the mall. But then it makes me think, are malls still a popular option in teens’ heads? Some may argue that they are not as famous as they previously were, but in my opinion, malls are still alive and thriving.
Why do some think malls have lost their fame? In the 21st century, media is one of the biggest influences. However, during COVID, people were stuck in their houses, contributing to a real drop in mall attendance, influencing the rise of online shopping. Amazon, Ebay, and many commercial stores were all online, with people purchasing clothes with a click of a button. Some students at AB say that they don’t necessarily think malls are dead here, but in other states, mall-goer populations might have dwindled. ESW writes, “In the US, an estimated 266.7 million shoppers do so online.” This emphasizes how culturally online shopping has risen to fame. Additionally, according to ESW, online shopping also personalizes the experience. Sites can automatically recommend clothing unknown to you, or some clothing that could be online only. This way, more people are drawn to these personalized sites where they can find what is best for them. ESW continues, noting how online shopping has also become more of a social activity. When I’m scrolling through Instagram, a majority of influencers promote brands or showcase a haul from stores they shop at. Instead of going out and searching endlessly for clothes, the online algorithm could just tell me what to buy. But overall, to me, online shopping is just not as fun as real shopping. You aren’t living the shopping experience the same way through a screen.
To really emphasize a commercial mall’s strengths, I think about what is in the mall. I define a dying mall as a mall with no trendy stores. I remember visiting the Solomon Pond Mall and there was an old timey vibe to it, but also a lot of vacancies. There were also stores that I have never heard of, like Blush and Joy and Hannoush Jewelers. Locally, we have the opportunity to go to malls that are very popular. The Burlington and Natick malls restore hope to the mall culture. For me, the mall has always been a big trip with my friends and, in the past, having my mom drop me off with a purse and money, hoping just to find one shirt. It’s a day with my friends, full of laughter, mall browsing, and always ends with me being exhausted. And I wasn’t the only pre-teen who was doing that. Now, whenever I go to the mall I always see groups of girls with their Lululemon fanny packs, and their Starbucks on the hunt through Hollister for clothes. Going on these adventures is an important part of growing up, and this age group only helps grow the popularity of malls. They are a way for kids to socialize, mature, and get them off their phones. Malls still represent a lot of important life moments for people. Whether you finally find that one shirt, or you get together with your friends, malls are energetic and thriving atmopsheres. All in all, there is a rise in the joy of online shopping, but in general malls are still popular.
People still explore different shops, getting their Christmas shopping done, while also having the rich mall experience. Malls also cannot be that unpopular, or else I would have a much easier time parking!