90's Mall Nostalgia

      One night, you drive by your old childhood mall, which has been closed for several years, only to see the lights on and cars in the parking lot. You park and go inside to investigate. Once inside, you can’t tell if you've fallen into the past, a dream, or even a haunting; all you know is that whatever you have found, you feel safe.

It’s been a long, disappointing day. Your workday seemed to be one dumpster fire after another. When did weekends become full of unsatisfying work rather than friends and fun? Oh, yeah, when you grew up and got a job. If only you could be a kid again, you think as you drive by the old mall.  

Flashes of light catches your eyes as you almost completely pass the mall. Wait, are the lights coming from the mall? The parking lot as well as the store signs are actually on. Since the last store closed years ago, no one has bothered to turn on the lights, in fact you assumed the power had been shut off. Has the mall reopened?  If so, why hasn’t the news been posted anywhere?  

You slowly pull into the parking lot and park close to the food court entrance. The old fashioned neon light flashing the mall’s name and the light spilling from the glass doors gives the appearance of being open once again. You look around and see a few other parked cars before you decide to go inside. 

The food court doors open easily as though they have not been locked for years. The aromas of French fries, strawberry smoothies, pretzels, pizza, and your favorite soda greet you like old high school friends. Unlike the last time you visited, every food stand seems to be operating.  

A smile creeps across your face as you remember sharing fast food and gossip with friends after school. You treat yourself to your favorite snack and drink while you indulge in some people watching.  The other tables are similarly occupied, couples, groups of friends, and a few individuals are all enjoying their evening. After you finish eating and return your tray, you leave the food court to explore the rest of the mall.  

You walk past the decorative fountain you assumed had long since broken, now glittering with falling water and coins glinting against the pale blue tiles. You smile and toss a penny into the fountain with a wish before continuing to the shops.  

Like the food court restaurants all the shops seem to be fully open to all the evening shoppers. All your old favorites are back. One store has center display filled with stuffed animals from animated movies amidst a brightly colored store lined with life sized statues of other beloved characters.

Another store is much darker but no less nostalgic, with its castle like wrought iron gates, chandeliers, gothic jewelry, clothes, and accessories. Creepy dolls watch from coffin shaped boxes Rows of dark nail polishes and other cosmetics pop like jewels against black velvet. 

Next, is perhaps your favorite of all, a bookstore, filled to the top shelves with best sellers, mysteries, comics, picture books, biographies, and pretty much every other genre you can think of. There’s also racks of bookmarkers, highlighters, and tote bags. Yuu could spend hours in this shop alone, but you eventually tear yourself away to visit the next store. 

Store by store, it’s like a visit to the past. It’s not even about making purchases; it’s about losing sight of your troubles and taking your time without feeling guilty for allegedly wasting time. It feels as though no time has passed and you are a teenager again, just browsing the mall before going home to dinner and your favorite weekly TV show before bedtime in your room surrounded by your toys, books, movies, and posters.  

Sweet Dreams