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Marc Allie's avatar

"It’s like the difference between the color yellow and biting into a lemon."

What a great line! Enjoyed this one.

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Retro Ramblings's avatar

This was such a great read. Reading about what your days at the mall were like when you were young brings back so many memories of my own. And trying to share the things you enjoyed with your kids is something I strived for myself with my own kids.

For the life of me, I've never understood why malls have died. At least in this area, they were replaced with outdoor malls. Who wants to keep going in and out of the weather and moving the card a little further down every so often. The indoor mall is just a better design.

Anyway, thanks for the great read. Always looking forward to more.

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Brent Dollins's avatar

We also had a Crossroads Mall in Greenville, TX. I think it's been shuttered for quite a few years now.

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Rob "Flack" O'Hara's avatar

I hope your memories of that one are as good as the memories I have of ours.

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Bill Osuch's avatar

I moved out of OKC in the late 80s, so I never got to see its downfall... Heck, I remember when Le Mans still had the track inside it. Every Friday was the same routine - hit the game/comic store right by the entrance on the first level (before they moved over by the stairs), then Le Mans, Radio Shack, B. Dalton's, and Team Electronics to play with the Atari computers. (And the Team BBS, but that's a different story)

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Rob "Flack" O'Hara's avatar

I only vaguely remember the racetrack inside Le Mans (but I did spend a bit of time across the street at Malibu Grand Prix). The hobby shop near the arcade was where I bought all of my D&D dice (and modules) for many years. Radio Shack is another thing Gen X enjoyed and something I might write about in the future. Drooling over computers and computer software, whether it was at Babbages or Wizards always a highlight of every mall trip. Thanks for reading and commenting.

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Retroist's avatar

Very nice, you stirred up some emotions. I don't go to the mall very often anymore. When I do, sometimes I sit and just watch people or look around and try to conjure up some of the memories you mention. Sadly, it doesn't happen.

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Rob "Flack" O'Hara's avatar

I think if I were writing a book and needed characters for it I would just go to the mall with a pad and pen and watch people for an hour.

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