Why Shopping Malls Meant Everything To Me As A Teen

My First Trip To The Mall

The first time I went to the mall with my friends without supervision was in 2006. We were in the 8th grade, and our parents agreed we could finally be alone for a couple of hours. While some of my friends were more concerned about boys, I was excited to visit the stores my mom didn't like to spend a lot of time in — Wet Seal, Limited Too, and Forever 21. I cared more about imagining how I would dress as an adult, trying on a bunch of clothes I'd never buy. One of my best friends and I spent at least 30 minutes trying on different outfit combinations, comparing notes about what we liked or didn't like with every outfit.

That's probably where my love for all things fashion and style was born — in different mall dressing rooms. Looking at magazines and cutting out clothes to make my own paper dolls was one thing, but actually trying them on was another. I'm not ashamed to say I still love to try on clothes...but this time I buy them if I really like them!

How The Mall Shaped Me And My Interests

When our plans didn't include window shopping or swooning over cute boys, my friends and I convinced our parents to let us go to movies alone. I'll never forget when AMC was first introduced to one of the malls in my Florida hometown. It was like having our own version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. We would pool our money together to buy popcorn, sour gummy worms, and soda — usually Sprite or Coca-Cola — to have something to munch on while watching the latest movies. We saw movies like Dreamgirls, Step Up, and The Devil Wears Prada, each holding a special place in my heart to this day.

The Future Of Malls Across America

Times have changed and going to the mall isn't as popular as it used to be, but I know I'm not alone in my mall nostalgia. According to a recent study, 50% of Americans actually do miss going to the mall. A lot of us grew up during a time when the mall felt like one of the IT places to be. In a way, it was our refuge from school life and a way for us to spend as much time as we could with our friends before going our separate ways post-graduation.

So maybe brick-and-mortar malls will come back (according to that same study, 40% of Americans wish they had a mall near them). Maybe they won't. But no matter what happens, I'll never forget the impact going to the mall had on me and who I am today.