When was the last time you visited a shopping mall? For me, it had been almost two years, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. I knew things had been doing downhill before that, when Macy’s closed and Sears pulled out. Still it was a bustling place with rows of boutiques and specialty shops to meet every need. Retail therapy was alive and well. Now fully vaccinated, I drove across town to look for a new fall sweater. Drove around to Penny’s and found they’d blocked the back entrance. The front entrance was lit up as always, and my spirits lifted as I walked in the door. Headed straight toward the inner mall. Then, the shockwaves hit. Most of the stores along the hallways were dark and empty. Gone forever! Only a few holdouts remained; surprisingly, a shoe store and a nail salon. A wave of apprehension washed over me. Creepy glost malls are a scary sign.
I needed something to bolster my spirits. Coffee! Headed for the food court. None of the three remaining food bars served coffee. Only bottled beverages. The seating area was deserted.. That made everything seem worse. But of course, it made sense. How many people sit down to eat in a dying mall?
Of the three boutiques left that sold women’s clothing, none had a black cardigan. The merchandise was all picked over, and there were sale racks everywhere. I saw more clerks than customers. Empty handed, I returned to the car. Now I was hungry, but most of the nearby restaurants were shut down. Finally drove to a Chick Filet, where they no longer sell chicken salad sandwiches. Only fried stuff. Most of the seating area closed, Lots of people ordering carryout. The cashier checked in the back and found me some coffee, so I sat down and took off my mask to drink it, along with some little chicken nuggets.
Why is the stock market at an all time high, and home sales booming? The feds tell us everything is coming up roses. But how? Millions of dollars in merchandise, jobs, and potential income have been lost forever in the mall and surrounding areas. Some of that brick and mortar money went to e-commerce, but not all. There has to be a lot of empty pockets. Are we headed for a recession? I don’t know, but creepy ghost malls are a scary sign.
