the mall (inside) itself really is sad indeed. the last time I went in was a couple years back. i…read morewas curious so I cut through from kohls and did a quick stroll to barnes & noble and back. there were able 5 shoppers in my sight total. in there, i found a dollar store, payless shoes (or equivalent), a cheap jewelry/accessories store (like claire's), a tobacco/lottery/snacks type of corner stand, maybe a haircut or nail place, among a couple other random things. i did remember secretly rejoicing at the fact that the tobacco store stocks cigars, not that i ever went back to get any.
i'm giving the place 4 stars not because of the above, but because i'm counting the "outer rim" businesses as part of the mall (they do situate on the premise), also the fact that the management does make an effort to revive the place despite current sadness: jo-ann fabric and petsmart opened this past year, texas roadhouse and "something" fitness joined in a couple years back, and a few more smaller establishments (a battery place, a froyo place) popped up as well. there are also small but helpful changes on the outer roadways made recently to ease/de-tangle mall traffic. numerous crosswalks were added around the lot.
they also invited Santa over during the holiday season! i never saw him myself but couldn't help but see the gigantic signs hung around outside, even along route 1. so yeah, management does still care, and that's very commendable in the days and times we live in.
the only "complaint" left to make, since ever, is really the fact that the mall/parking lot is not accessible to/from the mcdonald's side. meaning, one can only go in/out by coney street, or route 1 south (from north you'll have to wait at that intersection light, then turn into coney or make a u-ie). small inconvenience, but nothing one can really do about it.
parking lot is huge enough to support the patronage though -- mostly to the few brand-name stores (kohls, b&n, old navy, bath & body works, office max, party city, gym, etc) and restaurants (chili's, panera, taco bell, five guys, panda express, texas roadhouse, etc) on the outer rim. the multiple entry/exit points along route 1 s really makes sense too. there was never a problem going in and out, even on weekends and black friday, no matter how long your stay is.
overall, this mall is very beneficial to locals and has a reason to stay. i have lived around the area for years and this is my go-to place when a need pops up: from food, books, gifts, supplies, to quick/specific/holiday shopping, i can find it here. this is NOT the type of place one should be looking to make a whole-day family outing out of, nor is this the place to satisfies all needs (though it still kinda does, in smaller scale). for those needs, there are legacy/patriots/providence place(s) at your service.
yeah the lack of foot traffic inside the mall is really depressing, but that's for the store owners to worry about, not consumers. i probably overlooked the little play area (with climb-y, crawl-y structures, coin-op cars/horsies) inside last time i was in there. in-laws recently took my child there and he had a blast! my kid was not being trampled to death by tens of other kids, and he could play as long as he wanted without the crowd or elevated noise level which one should come to expect on any playground at peak hours. fewer users also (hopefully) means, relatively cleaner structures.
now who is to say there is no upside for a deserted mall? :)
