In ancient times, this was the old Lancaster Mall (#1). My fond memories of being here as a youngster have come full circle, as I came back here recently to see it as the semi-newly branded Willamette Town Center. If this is Lancaster Mall 2.0, it looks the part. The feel on the other hand, is a whole 'nother story.
Willamette Town Center got hit pretty hard by the pandemic. Minus the clean, super bright, and modern digs, it is on the verge of becoming a dead mall. There are empty storefronts, almost zero activity on a weekend, and one of the saddest food courts I've seen in a mall. What was once a bustling place of Salem's retail seekers, has become a shell of itself.
The only things filling up the parking lot are the stores directly outside of the mall. This place needed a facelift decades ago, but it seems the renovation came just a little too late. Timing is never good and even as Salem changes, it stays the same in many ways.
One positive note: I was initially sad to see the Orange Julius location replaced by Burlington Coat Factory (#2) but realized it simply moved to the food court. It really has been the mall's most constant business. (#3)
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(#1) Lancaster Mall: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lancaster-mall-salem
(#2) Burlington Coat Factory: https://www.yelp.com/biz/burlington-coat-factory-salem
(#3) Orange Julius: https://www.yelp.com/biz/orange-julius-salem?hrid=6RdTLR3md6dXaKrLyunrGQ read more