The "Nice Mall" vs. the "Yucky Mall"

tld221 · #1 03-24-2008, 01:18 AM

Up here in Yonkers, there is Cross County Mall, which has got to be the WORST excuse for a mall I've ever seen. First, its an outdoor mall. Second its being renovated. Third, their anchors are Macys, Stop-n-shop, Sears and freaking Home Goods/TJ Maxx/AJ Wright (in my head theyre the same thing). I always feel like little kids are peeing in the parking lot and what not. It is definitely one of those "ghetto malls."

Buy if you drive about a 1/2 hr north, there's this mall in White Plains (i forget the name of it) that's kinda nice, i think there's a Crate and Barrel there, among other stores.

But yes, i will almost always take the drive to Roosevelt Field for mall shopping. Even if its like 45-60 minutes away and have to pay a toll.

ZTAMich · #2 03-24-2008, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tld221

Up here in Yonkers, there is Cross County Mall, which has got to be the WORST excuse for a mall I've ever seen. First, its an outdoor mall. Second its being renovated. Third, their anchors are Macys, Stop-n-shop, Sears and freaking Home Goods/TJ Maxx/AJ Wright (in my head theyre the same thing). I always feel like little kids are peeing in the parking lot and what not. It is definitely one of those "ghetto malls."

Buy if you drive about a 1/2 hr north, there's this mall in White Plains (i forget the name of it) that's kinda nice, i think there's a Crate and Barrel there, among other stores.

But yes, i will almost always take the drive to Roosevelt Field for mall shopping. Even if its like 45-60 minutes away and have to pay a toll.

The nice mall in White Plains is called The Westchester. It's beautiful inside. I was just there Friday. Has Nordstrom & NM as dept. stores. The Galleria Mall is also in WP with Macy's & Sears.

DaemonSeid · #3 03-24-2008, 10:46 AM

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

AnchorAlumna · #4 03-24-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

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!

Taualumna · #5 03-24-2008, 11:30 AM

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

catiebug · #6 03-24-2008, 11:33 AM

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.

honeychile · #7 03-24-2008, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catiebug

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.

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.

ZTAngel · #8 03-24-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnchorAlumna

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!

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.

Sister Havana · #9 03-24-2008, 11:49 AM

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.

PeppyGPhiB · #10 03-24-2008, 01:15 PM

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

KSUViolet06 · #11 03-24-2008, 02:09 PM

The malls in my area (northeast OH):

Nicest: Summit, Aurora Farms Outlets, Beachwood, Legacy Village (these malls have Coach, Nordstrom, and more high end department stores and other specialty stores that most malls don't have).

Okay: Chapel Hill, South Park (they have all your basic mall stores like AE, A&F, Hollister, etc. They're okay)

Worst: Rolling Acres (I honestly don't even think it qualifies as a mall anymore), Richmond, Randall Park, Tower City

elusive47 · #12 03-24-2008, 04:39 PM

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.

AlethiaSi · #13 03-24-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tld221

Up here in Yonkers, there is Cross County Mall, which has got to be the WORST excuse for a mall I've ever seen. First, its an outdoor mall. Second its being renovated. Third, their anchors are Macys, Stop-n-shop, Sears and freaking Home Goods/TJ Maxx/AJ Wright (in my head theyre the same thing). I always feel like little kids are peeing in the parking lot and what not. It is definitely one of those "ghetto malls."

Buy if you drive about a 1/2 hr north, there's this mall in White Plains (i forget the name of it) that's kinda nice, i think there's a Crate and Barrel there, among other stores.

But yes, i will almost always take the drive to Roosevelt Field for mall shopping. Even if its like 45-60 minutes away and have to pay a toll.

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...

) 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

) 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)

Taualumna · #14 03-24-2008, 10:23 AM

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.