A Mall Today Is Completely Different Than What It Was 60 Years Ago | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

A Mall Today Is Completely Different Than What It Was 60 Years Ago

Not only have they changed over time, but they are extremely mainstreamed in society, yet change dramatically from one location to another.

29
A Mall Today Is Completely Different Than What It Was 60 Years Ago
Pexels

The American shopping mall has started to change over time as new technology rounds the corner. Shopping malls have had a change in demographic over the past few years that has also affected security. The comparison between shopping malls/centers from the 1950’s today is a large difference. Today, each mall is very different from each other, Bay Park Square Mall in Green Bay is certainly different than Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Has the average mall today changed from the average mall sixty years ago? Are malls in the United States different from each mall to the next?

In pre-1950’s or ‘post-war’, many “malls” were located downtown in a very urban area and the strip was outdoors. At this time, shops were more convenient downtown because of transportation issues, it was easier to use city transportation to get to shopping areas in the city. Also, window shopping played a huge role for consumers. People would walk by and see the huge display in the window and some would go in and shop because of these extravagant window displays. Shopping was also a very social thing for women to do as well as men but it was not a family activity. After the 1950’s shopping started to progress. Instead of having shops on the streets they started building shopping malls/centers built in the suburban areas as more and more families were moving to suburbia and also invested in automobiles. Malls became a private place where protest was hard to have in front of stores since this was private property technically it did not interfere with the freedom of speech amendment. Shopping centers were now becoming a place for families and teens to hang out for the day at. This created the downfall of more and more downtown shopping strips.

Today, at a small to mid-size mall like Bay Park Square, you will likely see most of the same people and type of stores, you have your mainstream name brand stores like Bath and Body Works and DEB along with department stores such as Younkers. Also at that size mall are families that come and go and sometimes you will see a group of teenagers or pre-teens pass by. The culture at a small to mid-size is very straight forward and “people watching” is somewhat minimal. Since Mall of America is very large there is a large demographic of people and a wide arrangement of stores, restaurant, and entertainment. When someone walks into Mall of America you will quickly see a wide arrange of people who would encompass a variety of target audiences. Families of many different cultural backgrounds such as a Somali family, Hmong family to a Hispanic family all in a small bench area. The wide arrange of stores makes a difference as to who is in the mall as well. High-end stores like Burberry, Juicy Couture and Michael Kors aiming at the upper/upper middle class to stores like Dollar Tree and Rainbow where the products sold there are not particularly high-end and would be considered as a place that sells normal goods.

Today the popularity of malls has taken a decrease, technology, and convenience being the main reason. Strict security policies also affect teen traffic unparticular. “Atlantic Station is strict with teenagers. After 8 p.m., no one younger than 17 can buy a movie ticket or walk around without an adult. And after 11 p.m., people between 17 and 21 years old aren't allowed on the property. These rules make it pretty hard for teens to have much fun at Atlantic Station, especially since none of us are ready to head home by 8 o'clock.” (NPR) These security procedures restrict the freedom of teens. Some malls have different policies but most have at least somewhat of a restriction on teenagers. "I would definitely say that technology is the No. 1 factor affecting the mall culture today. More so than the danger of going to the mall and the waste of time," (Alison NPR) Technology makes online shopping incredibly easy at the touch of a button and it gets delivered straight to your doorstep. The convenience of online shopping has made staying at home relaxing a more convenient thing as well. "I definitely will sit in the house watching TV or Netflix for several hours straight and just be like, 'I feel fat and like I need to go move.' But then again, Netflix is so wonderful," (Alison NPR). Many teens would rather stay in at home than go out. Also, most malls are located in the suburbs today, or far from the downtown area of the city.

With today’s technology and security breaches, shopping at malls have become considered “inconvenient” to the average person. Yes, many families and friends go to malls to shop and hang out but not as many as before and it has forced many American malls to close their doors. Attacks and large fights have also taken place in malls creating a sense that some shoppers fell they are unsafe, therefore security has been greatly increased in malls across the nation. For example, at Mall of America in Bloomington, MN has put in place strict rules for kids. “We welcome all youth to Mall of America®, however on Friday and Saturday evenings youth under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older from 4 p.m. until close,” (mallofamerica.com) These rules are enforced by security officers throughout the mall and any person can be stopped and asked to show identification after 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and it does happen quite frequently. A shopper that an officer may think could be under the age requirement may be stopped six to seven times from 4 p.m. to close (9:30 p.m.) and that is normal.

Shopping has made a big change in the last one hundred years, where shops are located, who and with are people shopping, what kinds of items are shoppers purchasing. Security and picketing has changed and also who is actually spending time at these malls. Now malls are seen as an ever person hang out where as 90 years ago that wasn’t the case shoppers were separated more by class in each store and the stores were not exactly ‘together’ as they are in malls. Yes malls are set up a certain way to make it more convenient for each shopper to get to their selected store but when the food court comes around everyone from every store is there and every class and ethical background are put into a big melting pot.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

179228
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

6389
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

451906
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22965
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments