Dying Mall
It’s the year 2024. Consumerism continues to eat itself. The past grows brighter by every passing day. If you are like me then you find comfort in what once was. The only way to make sense of the present is to revisit the past. I have fond memories here. I remember the original water fountain and then the subsequent renovation in the early 2000’s. Twenty years ago, my friends and I filmed a social experiment in Paramus Park mall where I walked around in traditional Islamic clothing around the fountain on the first floor. I was given a lot of stares by people back then. If I were to repeat it today there would be no one left to give me stares because it seems like everyone has moved on. Half the stores in this mall have seemingly shuttered. Only a few food shops remain open on the food court. The fountain that was once the center piece of the main entrance has been replaced.
The main Old Navy Entrance to the mall.
Walking through the front lobby you go past empty stores to find the what used to be a water fountain replaced by plants. I’m guessing this was done to save money.
A huge downgrade from a water fountain.
The massage here was awesome and affordable.
I made my way to the Macy’s section of the mall. Everything is much smaller than I remember it being. I pick up my lenses from lens crafter. Somehow my information has still been preserved in their system from many years ago. I worked hard so I reward myself with a massage. It’s been years since I have gotten one. There are a million knots in my body and it feels weird to have them worked out. After I’m done, I notice there is an entire Chinese Spa that I am taken to in order to make payment.
Life size chess. Forever ruined by that one Harry Potter meme.
I walk back to the center of the mall and encounter some teenagers playing chess. This is a great idea and something like this could never happen in Garden State Plaza. Malls need to pivot to more activities. Bring arcades back. Bring anything. Paramus doesn’t have a town center so malls are crucial in giving it some semblance of cohesion.
Healthcare advertisements are everywhere. Not sure how the new owners of this mall are but dental surgery doesn’t seem like the right move to bring in more customers.
The food court is empty except for a handful of stores. Not even Chik Fil - A can bring a crowd. They should try Crumble Cookies.
I worked very hard to take these pictures so I reward myself with Mr. Cupcakes. After all my swim lessons got canceled so I might as well double down on being fat.
This statue has been here for as long as I can remember and was preserved through the renovation. I forgot to take a picture of the plaque but it explained that the name Paramus comes from the Lenape Indian tribe. It means the land of the wild Turkey,
Christmas decorations are already up on the west side of the mall.. We haven’t celebrated Thanksgiving yet but I guess there isn’t much to market with that holiday.
This shop was a pleasant surprise. A trading card game store in the mall. I guess the upside of the mall almost shutting down is that stores like this can thrive again.
Lots of nerd stuff here. I feel like I am back in Japan again. Definitely have to come back and give this place more business. As I already told you before I have been working real hard and I just want to feel care free again. I see a display of Pokemon cards behind the counter. “Are those the latest sets?” “Yes, they are” “I’ll take one”. “Which one?” “The one with the pikachu on it.”
More clever ideas. I think my nieces and nephews would love these.
The west side of this mall is anchored with Stew Leonards. This store is awesome and has some of the best dairy you can buy in the area. However its status as an anchor store has not done anything to help populate the mall around it. They have attempted to put seats out here so people who buy the hot buffet can enjoy themselves here.
With five minutes remaining till closing it was time for me to leave. I’ll definitely come back here on another day to see if it’s more lively. All pictures were taken on a Fujifilm X-Pro 2 with the Portra 400 film preset.
