In Defense of Malls

I took my daughter to Circle Center the other night. Friday night. It was so empty. In a away, it was magical as my daughter skipped down the empty hall, dancing to Taylor Swift coming out of the speakers. She draped herself across the benches and looked up at the glittering ceiling. I’ve watch Circle Center decline over the years. I remember when Nordstrum closed—where would I buy my fancy bras now? I also watched Circle Center be built. In High School, my mom had me write a “paper” and my head article was about this new place downtown. Downtown was already a pretty magical place in my mind. The first tie I went up all of those escalators to the game area at the top—it was almost breathtaking. Circle Center closed yesterday. Closed for good.

They tell us in four years it will reopen as a walkable living and shopping area. I am sure it will be lovely. But I won’t trade all my lunchbox meals in the arts garden for anything. I got a seasonal job there: Carson Pirie Scott. Back when Borders bookstore was across the street and I read books slowly, one break at a time. The magic became somewhat normal, with only a few lemonades at Chick-Fil-A, because they gave me a sugar rush. I rented my own parking space downtown and met some amazing people like Susie and Joyce. I wrote poems on the back of receipt paper and why was life so full of adventure back then?

My daughter didn’t notice all the missing stores. How Chick-Fil-A and Carsons were gone. I felt a sadness at what once was and now is not. I felt curious about why this change and how current culture is. I felt joy that I got to have this time with my daughter in a place that still had some magic because the ice cream store was still open. I know there will be plenty more places I can go now that Circle Center is closed. I just want a moment to breathe and remember it. I wonder what places will be magic for my daughter?