Anyone Consider a Big Mall Not so Cool?

[missionhome]

Open air centers are increasingly popular in Southern California. This is a picture of the Irvine Spectrum Center. I always an baffled by the tourists going to Disneyland who pour into this center and ride the merry-go-round and take pictures. It just is a mall without a roof in my opinion. By the way, this is 8AM on a Sunday so it isn't crowded.




The live and shop places are growing too. This is the new "Americana at Brand" in Glendale, CA next to LA. The lower level has shops and parks and the upper levels are pricey condos.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by Spade

They are working on that as we speak.

I know they were already building BlVD place,but are there plans to do anything about the Galleria? Also, I've seen they cut down some trees on Westhimer,Are they actually going to expand the sidewalks like they planned?? I was in Houston just in July but didn't get a chance to see Uptown.

[buffy888]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

I hate the Galleria in Houston. It's just too big for me and overkill (I hate shopping though). I'd like it better if they made the area more walkable and possible stopped building all the strip malls around it.

I think the whole point of the Galleria is its size - it has to be that big and have the variety of mainstream as well as upscale stores (and the ice rink, I guess) in order for it to have some type of name recognition. There are a ton of other malls in Houston and the surrounding areas, but if you say "Baybrook Mall" or "Memorial City Mall," for example, that wouldn't necessarily conjure up an image like "Galleria" might. I do wonder about people staying at the hotels connected to the Galleria - hopefully the mall is not their only destination in Houston?? (This is another thing that seems designed to set the Galleria apart - many malls have hotels nearby, but not many have hotels actually attached to the mall with mall entrances...) I agree that the mall is a bit of overkill and it is silly when they close stores so celebrities can shop in them without the common folk surrounding them (I've never been in one of the stores when it happened, but have seen it happen a few times). I also agree that more strip malls in the area are not really needed - there's no need to add more traffic to that area. (I did love Eatzi's, though - wish that was still there.)

As far as the OP's question... I can't imagine listing a mall as one of a city's primary features. I can see mentioning it as, "Here's something you could do if you like malls/like shopping/forgot to pack your sandals..." but if someone mentions the mall(s) in their city as one of its main benefits, I would probably question what is lacking.

[City_boi]

Originally Posted by bchris02

Lifestyle centers are nothing but glorified strip malls that encourage automobile use. In fact, the reason lifestyle centers have become so popular is because people like the convenience of being able to park close to the store they want to visit without having to walk through the enclosed mall. I hope enclosed malls make a comeback.

Originally Posted by JMT

I agree with you about "lifestyle centers." They really are nothing but glorified strip centers and encourage more driving. At least with enclosed malls people park their cars and then walk a lot, even if they do it with a gourmet chocolate chip cookie in one hand and an Orange Julius in the other. But with those stupid lifestyle centers people park their cars, go into one store, go back to their cars, drive to another part of the parking lot to go into another store, and so on.

What stupid statements! Lifestyle centers don't encourage driving any more than enclosed malls! Some can actually encourage less driving! I think people walk the same amount in lifestyle centers as they do in enclose malls. Plus, I don't think many lifestyle centers are big enough to where someone would go to one store and then drive to another store in the same lifestyle center!

I like malls. I don't see anything wrong with them. For those people who dislike malls and rudely stereotype people who shop at them, GET OVER IT!