Dragon City has changed over the years. I dropped by in mid-July to fetch dinner from Juicy Dumpling, which is on the first floor of this mall. You can enter and exit this eatery to get to the mall.
I used to take Cantonese classes as a teen a block away. Afterwards, I had the option of hanging around this mall and then heading home by streetcars, or I'd go nuts and walk all the way down to Eaton Centre, hang around, and then go home.
I loved malls back then. I can't say that I feel the same way these days. This mall is a shadow of itself, which is a shame.
It used to be cool seeing vendors in the lobby. I got a sterling silver ring here when I was in grade 11. I still have it. Excellent quality. It still fits, too!
Back then, bubble tea wasn't as popular as it is now. I did love getting iced pineapple drinks from a vendor in the basement. Sadly, it's gone, along with most of the food court down there. I saw two eateries in the basement that were left standing.
The eateries are scattered on the ground, second, and fourth floors. Frankly, I don't know why the designers skipped naming the fourth floor the third floor. Chinese culture doesn't like the number four because it sounds like death when you say it out loud. Weird.
The ground floor is the most interesting because it has the most stores. Sun Wah Bookstore has been kicking around for decades. It was nice seeing it again. Tung Tung Dan Quen King has bubble waffles and more. Sugar Marmalade is next to Juicy Dumpling, so you can stuff yourself with carbs and then go on a dessert high next door.
There were a couple of Chinese herb stores, a pharmacy, a gift store, an optical store and more on the ground floor. It's such an eclectic, odd mix of stores.
The second floor had six or seven businesses that were open. It was sad seeing half this floor vacant. There's a claw machine place called PaliPali Claw. I suck at claw games, so I didn't go in. Owl of Minerva, Clay Pot Rice, and Canteen are you eateries.
I've never been to the fourth floor, There was a sign saying that Sky Dragon Chinese Restaurant is there. It's interesting that it's the only business up there. I hope that there's a rooftop patio or something up there, too.
Forget hitting the washrooms here. They are gross. You're better off hitting the washrooms at Chinatown Centre where they are passable.
It was nice to return, but the Dragon City that I loved as a teen is long gone. Instead, I embrace ice cream, bubble waffles, and dumplings. Here's to new memories!
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