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Mall Rats Unite

I guess I should not have been surprised. Still I was in a little shock when we walked inside the mall located at the first exit in Washington, Pennsylvania. We had arrived early for a nearby doctor’s appointment and decided to walk around the inside of the mall to kill some time.

It was cold and snowy outside so the mall would allow us shelter from the storm. But when we walked into the mall, it was a chilly reception to say the least. If the heat was on, it was not competing well with the outdoor temperatures.

As we walked inside, our footsteps echoed loudly as the place once teeming with people and stores was now nearly empty. Even the food court was absent of all signs of restaurants. The space once filled with the scents of pizza and french fries was only crowded with empty tables and chairs.

The further we walked into the belly of the mall, the more it looked like a scene from a horror movie. I strained to see anything that resembled this once thriving retail mecca. I remember making many trips there when Macy’s and Sears were among the anchor stores. But they are long gone.

The only people we encountered were a man “mall walking” and a woman pushing a cleaning cart. Looking around, I was curious what chores awaited her in such a vacant space.

My husband was able to locate the train store that was still in operation down a corridor. Just a year or two ago we brought the grandkids here and took pictures in front of holiday displays. I doubt they would remember this place now.

As my husband talked trains with the store owner, I grabbed a seat and noticed a sign that said there were a number of businesses in the mall. However on this day, I found few to be open.

There are some major businesses on the perimeter of the mall parking lot. A large and well-stocked Rural King is there, along with Ollie’s bargain store and Marshall’s. These are no longer accessible from inside the mall, which I found to be a detriment to business.

While I did make a few purchases at perimeter businesses, it was such a kick in the gut to see what has happened to the in-person retail business. I know that the days of downtown retail have been in the rear-view mirror for decades, but I am hoping malls and strip plaza retailers will survive the online buying trend.

I still enjoy going to the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville where the scent of pretzels and pizza give you a reason to sit a spell after shopping. I’m just not ready to give up on the mall experience. Who is with me?

Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.

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