Not so nice mall- University Square Mall
Nice mall- all 4 other malls in the county

LOL the cross county IS the worst! I hardly go there, and even though I've lived here for two years, I feel like I always get lost for a little bit, it's so damn confusing.
The Westchester Mall is hoity toity with Louis Viutton and Lord & Taylor, etc.. it's nice but I don't go there much... The Galleria in WP is ok... I go there for Forever 21 and Old Navy (but the Old Navy in Cross County is bigger and usually has the better sales...)
There is also Palisades which is right over the tappan Zee (yes 4 dollars to come back over...:rolleyes:) but I usually just go when my friends have EZPass lol.... The Palisades is nice, HUGE and good if you need about 5 bath and body works (there is one on every floor :rolleyes:) but there's a target and just about anything else you need (plus a huge movie theatre with overpriced tix ...) I don't go shopping much anyway but as far as grocery stores go, Stew Leonard's is the best (a GREAT liquor store...) and fresh produce... don't get freaked out by the animatronic animals though (I do... hahah)

Fairview Mall in Toronto used to be a very nice mall and even had a Holt Renfrew store back in the 80s. In the 90s, it started to go downhill and became a hang out for the local high school. But things are changing. They're going through a makeover and they're becoming more mid-tier to upscale (though not as "upscale" as say, Bayview Village (mostly pricey boutiques) or Yorkdale) A BCBG will be opening in the spring.

Is there any reason why malls are going more for the 'outdoor strip' look?

Because people hate walking so far to get to 1 store! Also...it's the newest thing.
Any Atlantans here?
I used to haunt Lenox and Perimeter. Lenox is keeping it up, but Perimeter seems to be going downhill. :( And that one in Alpharetta (can't remember the name) just seems to have the same old. Mall of Georgia has ALMOST everything...ALMOST.
Any other newer malls? I only get to Atlanta once every two years, so I have to make the best use of my shopping time!:p

The new outdoor malls up here consist mostly of big box anchors around here.

I actually like Perimeter more than Lenox. Lenox is so crowded and I end up getting annoyed every time I'm there. Plus a bunch of women were getting mugged out in front of Lenox in broad daylight a few months ago - some guys dubbed the "Buckhead Bandits" were holding the women at gunpoint and demanding that the women give them their engagement rings/wedding bands.

Atlantic Station is the new thing. There's not many high end stores but it's in a great location and the concept is nice. Plus the big H&M store will be opening in Atlantic Station sometime this spring.

I usually go to Cumberland since it's close to my house (I'm in Smyrna/Vinings). The mall was going downhill for a while but it's been on an upswing ever since they put in PF Changs, Maggiano's, Ted's, Cheesecake Factory and Stoney River. I like going to Cumberland in the morning before the crowds come in. I find it much easier to do my shopping when you're not having to wait for a dressing room or push through a mass of people while walking through the mall.

When we were in Chile and looking to leave, my husband had two job offers for back in the US - one in South Dakota and one in Connecticut. When he was interviewing at each place, they gave him a bunch of brochures for the area. In each packet was a brochure for the local mall.

Well, he said I could choose the place. Connecticut had the better mall, so that's where we moved.

And, in all honesty, there was more (his mother in Boston was in hospice). But the mall played a big part in it.
:D

We just had a new outdoor mall open up in my town last year, The Promenade. It's really nice!

There have been a lot of Chicago-area malls discussed already. Some others I like: Fox Valley Mall in Aurora, Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora, Yorktown in Lombard.

Not-so-good malls: The first one I think of is North Park Mall in Villa Park. North Riverside Park Mall used to be good, but now...not so much.

You have very good priorities! ;)

Seriously, had you ended up in South Dakota, you would have been on first name basis with several catalog people.

Where I'm from, we have Bellevue Square, which is an awesome mall. Then across town there's Factoria Mall, which stinks.

I saw the list I made in 2004, and it is a little dated.

Nice Malls:
1. The Avenues
2. I can't remember the name, but it is a new shopping center by the airport.
3. St. Augustine Outlet Center - I think going here can be a lot of fun, and the list of designer stores is just awesome.
4. Orange Park Mall

Nicest Mall:
1. St. John's Town Center (this mall = love) It has PF Changs, Maggiano's, Ted's, Cheesecake Factory, Capital Grille, BCBG, Juicy, White House Black Market, BeBe, Blue Mercury, Dillards, Abercrombie, Lacoste, Louis Vouiton, Anthropologie, Kate Spade, Lucky, Sephora, Coach, and I barely scratched the surface naming the stores. The mall is just a giant. If you want to see all of the stores, you are going to have to drive, because walking is just not possible. There are different sections and STILL growing. They just won't stop building over there.


Not so nice malls:
1. Gateway Mall
2. Regency Square Mall

Also under Okay: Great Lakes Mall, Belden Village
and Nicest: Crocker Park

Not only do the worst ones suck shoppingwise, I would fear for my safety at most of them.

I think Pittsburgh Mills (opened in 2005) has set some kind of new record for going from the "wow it's new!" mall to the "wow it sucks" mall. Probably because it's next to the crappiest highway on earth.

Go West, my dear and expand your horizons. Like our Kappa friend said, you forgot Crocker Park in Westlake. It's a lifestyle center, similar to Legacy, but is also has apartments above the stores and condos around it. Also, I have heard First and Main in Hudson is nice.

Also in the Okay category, Great Northern. (Similar to South Park)

In Buffalo:

Nice Mall: Walden Galleria- The Galleria has a mixture between high-end stores such as Sephora, Williams-Sonoma, Apple, Cheesecake Factory, etc., standard mall fare such as Sears, Macy's, Lord & Taylor's, and Budget stores such as Steve and Barry's, DSW, and Best Buy.

OK good mall: The Boulevard- Has your standard stores. Where UB kids go to shop.

Yucky Mall: Eastern Hills- The only notable thing this mall has is a Dave and Buster's.

Very Yucky Mall: Main Place- Has only 5 stores, A sneaker store, a card and gift shop, 2 clothing stores, and a pizza place, despite it being a 2 story "mall" on Main Street. For some odd reason, there's also a bank.

I heart living in the middle of Long Island and having way too many from which to choose! But I primarily shop in Nassau County, except for the few times I've headed out to the Tanger Outlets in Riverhead (a hike):

Roosevelt Field Shopping Mall Anchor stores include Macy's, Nordstrom's, Bloomingdale's and JC Penney's. Also includes Coach, Ann Taylor, Apple, Dick's Sporting Goods, A&F, Gap, Diesel, Armani Exchange, Kenneth Cole, Hollister, Express, Urban Outfitters, Guess, H&M and a movie theatre and restaurants. I used to live 8 minutes from RF and worked at the Macy's while in school. I love that place. I could find my way around there blindfolded :) However, it gets extremely crowded. Everyone and their mother is there on a Saturday afternoon.

Broadway Mall Anchored by Macy's, Target, IKEA and a movie theatre. I'm sad Express just closed. Contains H&M, AE, Old Navy and smaller tweeny-bopper stores. This used to be the mall that the parents used to think was "safe" and would just drop the kids off for a few hours. It was small and then grew in recent years. The mall is still teeming with middle schoolers. It's just convenient for me if I need anything, as it's on the way home from work.

The Mall at the Source Expanded after RF started growing. Includes Fortunoff, Dave & Busters, The Cheesecake Factory, Circuit City, Famous Footwear, Foot Locker, David's Bridal, H&M, Gap and Old Navy. I tend to avoid The Source. Not as large as RF. Parking is horrendous.

Americana Manhasset Also known as the "Miracle Mile." Includes Louis Vuitton, Prada, Oscar de la Renta, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren and Tiffany & Co. People with money shop here :) I like to browse.

Indianapolis

Nice Mall: The Fashion Mall at Keystone at the Crossing - Sak's, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, White House/Black Market, bebe, Cole-Haan, J Crew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, MAC, and a bunch of other stores I can't think of right now. Coming soon: Nordstrom

Yucky Malls: Washington Square and Lafayette Square malls. Gang Banger Central.

Roosevelt Mall is so the win (except on a Saturday afternoon - sheesh!) it's like a rite of passage to have worked there in HS/college (Hofstra/NCC/surrounding HS).

Hubby works across the street from Perimeter..it's getting better, lol.
Gwinnett - very down hill fast.
Mall of Ga. - yea
Discover Mills - very down hill fast.
South Dekalb - Near my work but I rarely go there.
North Dekalb and Northlake--Forget they are there, lol.
Cumberland - It's improved. Gone there a couple of times since they reopened but haven't had a chance to take my time looking.

Lenox and Perimeter - usually go to other malls b/c of the traffic problem.

My how times have changed
 

Nice malls:
Northpark- every since they expanded it, it's the largest mall in Texas. Has a lot of high end stores (lush, eddie bauer,Barney's) Plus it right down the road from the flagship Half-Price Books store. I think the bookstore is like 55,000sq feet

Galleria- I hardly every go there. Parking sucks

Stonebair- I love this mall. It's such a family friendly type of mall

The Outlet mall in Allen- nice place to spend a Saturday. Gets extremely crowded during the hoildays/ no-tax weekend

Middle Tier:

Shops at Willow Bend- Yes it has decent stores (DSW, Saks, Bare Essentials (the store is about to open nex month) It's not a very family friendly tyoe of mall. Basically, you come to this mall when you know exactly what you intend to buy. I worked at the Dillards in this mall

Vista Ridge

Collin Creek

Grapevine Mills


Yucky malls:

Valley View- Yes they did build that AMC, it's just yuck

Richardson Square- But I think they closed down

Thanks for the update, Lynn!
Cumberland...I think I was there when they opened the doors, but haven't been there since like 1975:eek:! I did love living in Atlanta.

Now...how about NASHVILLE malls? Any Nashvillians here? Surely Cool Springs is not the top mall...I mean, we have most of the stores here in the Decatur/Huntsville, Ala., area. Please give me a reason to drive to Nashville for the day!:D

"Every town has the same two malls: the one that white people go to and the one that white people used to go to"

-Chris Rock

I grew up near Indy and I love the Fashion Mall. I also like Circle Center (I think that's what it's called...we walk through it when it's cold and we're going to Colts games). I remember going to Washington Square mall when I was little...it was just starting to go south at that point.

Circle Centre still has decent shopping (Nordstrom, Carson Pirie Scott, Ann Taylor H&M), but it's overrun with shady teenagers and some gang bangers on the weekends. I tend to shop there on weeknights.

Washington Square and Lafayette Square malls are not-so-affectionately called Washington Scare and Lafayette Scare. I can't remember when I have last shopped at either place.

Green Hills mall! :D

now THAT is real talk.

LOL. :p

Definitely Green Hills... I know they've got Tiffany & Co and I'm pretty sure Louis Vuitton is going in (if it's not already there).

Cool Springs is one of the nicer malls... but not the top.

I'm ready to see what they are gonna do with the Bellevue Mall. I remember back in the day when we went there all the time because it was about 10 minutes from the house. But, when Cool Springs came in, it took all the business away. But, from the plans I've heard, they are planning on tearing it down and doing "The Avenue" kind of plan... like the one in Destin and Avenue @ The Crossing in Collierville, TN (outside of Memphis).

Cool Springs is a little more suburban - tons of outlying shopping and kid-friendly stores. Green Hills is more upscale and quiet - Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Ann Taylor, etc. There are also a lot of boutique stores within walking distance, so check out Bandywood St. or the Hill Center, as well, if you're in the area. Opry Mills has a ton of outlet stores (including Saks!) and different kinds of stores. It is also great if you just want to walk around and kill some time. However, it can get crazy-busy with tourists on the weekends. Our yucky mall is Hundred Oaks - it is scary.