General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Mall Is Dead, And It's Taking Sbarro With It [View all]anneboleyn
(5,611 posts)started closing in significant numbers. That started a wave, and people also started going to outlets and Walmart/Target in bigger numbers as the conspicuous consumption insanity of the 1980s began to fade. I remember, even though I was young, that in the mid 80s our family spent some Saturdays wandering around various malls in SoCal spending money on assorted junk like candles, perfumed soaps, cassettes or CDs from now-defunct music stores, items of clothing, etc. All of the video arcades went out of business first, then the anchor department stores...It seems the massive economic hits the middle class has been enduring since the late 70s/early 80s hasn't helped either. Families no longer have money to spend during a "day at the mall."
We buy almost everything from amazon also. Two day shipping, excellent service, selection, and prices, instant movies, no driving, no crowds, perfect. Exactly. Why in the hell would we want to waste a day at a mall? I haven't been to one in years.