Springfield Maul
I bought many of my Star Wars figurines at KB Toys in the late 70s. My neighbors purchased an gigantic Wurlitzer organ from Kitt's Music. I remember it being a bustling shopping and social hangout when I was a teenager in the 80s. Here is where I saw the premiere of “Spinal Tap” as well as midnight screenings of “Song Remains the Same” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show” (with squirt guns and rice). I bought a pair of parachute pants at the Up Against the Wall here. My friends got rolling papers, nun-chucks and throwing stars at East China Imports. We loitered around Spencer’s, making fun of all the tasteless crap on sale. Nowadays, the mall is nearly empty of shops, with only the big “anchor” stores (Macy's, Target and JC Penny) keeping it or us from completely drifting away. People are concerned about the crime that occurs in the huge vacant parking lots surrounding the uninhabited buildings. On the occasion I took these photos, I saw only one security guard but plenty ubiquitous unblinking cameras surveilling the desolate halls and corners.
I never was fond of malls - especially Springfield Mall. It always seemed less glamorous, and had inferior retailers and restaurants than other malls. But I find it rather sad and spooky now - knowing it's a husk that outlived it usefulness. I hear the owners plan to renovate it into a neighborhood-style commercial/residential area in the pervasive mixed-use gentrification method.
I'm skeptical such changes will lure business and customers back or engender any real community despite the name change from Springfield mall to Springfield Town Center. Springfield is not a destination like Washington, Arlington or Alexandria. It's not even a town. It's a crossroads between other destinations that seems less relevant in todays metropolis. But I hope it does succeed, for right now it's just a spooky and sad reminder of the past, slowly disintegrating and losing its relevancy.
