For generations of Americans, malls served as a place for community and commerce. These were where families would gather before venturing out to obtain school supplies, where teenagers would go out to get their first jobs, and where they would spend Friday nights with friends. They’re the malls that were immortalized in movies like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and that we still remember today. https://time.com/3805133/flashback-to-the-timeless-malls-of-the-1980s/
In the 1990s, malls began to decline due to competition from online shopping. But even today, most of us still miss them as places where we will compare prices, get a new set of sneakers, and go out with friends. Fortunately, some of the very iconic malls from the 1980s are reopening, and a few others are building a comeback.
Whether they are being reimagined or reconstructed, the newest generation of shopping malls is a newer, open, and attractive space. As opposed to being an accumulation of sterile stores, these new malls frequently have parks and a lot of seating for individuals to hold out. They’re also a destination for a see live music and other performances. Some have food courts, so people can grab a quick bite before or after their shopping trip.
While it’s true that lots of malls are closing, the ones that do exist will probably remain popular in the future. People will probably visit a mall more frequently to eat meals and watch a movie than to shop for clothing or other goods that can be purchased online. But the notion of walking right into a huge, airy, and brightly lit mall to comparison shop, go out with friends, and splurge on some designer clothes is one that we all hold dear.
Flashback to the Timeless Malls of the 1980s
The 80s were an amazing era. It had been the decade of disco, of mullets, and of malls. Malls were the hub of American communities, and the right place to exhibit off your latest jeans or purchase a record for your mom’s birthday. In the event that you weren’t hip to the indie music scene, you can always count on the local mall music store to really have the latest Kenny G album or even a new Peter Gabriel release.
Photographer Michael Galinsky recognized the magic of the mall when he started taking photos at one in Long Island for an NYU photography class. His project eventually took him across the country, capturing a number of the purest candid shots of men and women interacting in these once-bustling spaces. These photos, now in a guide titled Seeing America’s Malls, serve as an occasion capsule of what our malls used to be. Check them out below.
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