I recently took my daughter and her friend to our local mall, and as I watched them bounce in and out of stores, I was flooded with memories of my own teenage years. Back then, the mall was our entire world. It was where we experienced all the quintessential activities of ’80s youth—shopping, gossiping, working, eating, and, of course, chasing after boys.
Our mothers would drop us off at the entrance, and we’d do our best to tune out their affectionate reminders of “I love you!” and “Be back here by 4 PM!” For us, the mall symbolized freedom; it was a second home, a place where we often felt more comfortable than anywhere else.
We would gather with friends in the food court, a dazzling neon paradise. The choices seemed limitless. We could grab a bite at McDonald’s, Sbarro, or the local pizza joint—the one with the jukebox that played everything from Donna Summer to our favorite hair bands. After a hearty lunch, a stop at Mrs. Fields for a cookie was a must, or maybe we’d swing by Orange Julius or TCBY, where we’d often run into kids from school.
And shopping? Oh, the shopping! The mall was a treasure trove. First stop: Waldenbooks, where we’d race to the magazine aisle to grab our latest issue of Tiger Beat or Bop to see what the two Coreys were up to. The academically inclined might pick up a Christopher Pike mystery or the latest Sweet Valley High, carefully concealing V.C. Andrews titles from our moms, who were also reading them. If it was nearing summer vacation, we’d snag a book off our reading list.
Our next adventure would take us to CVS, where we’d browse nail polish, maybe pick up a bottle of Sun-In, a banana clip to replace the broken one, or, most importantly, lip gloss—whether it was Kissing Potion, Bonne Bell Lip Smackers, or Village Lip Lickers. The smells were simply divine. We’d even grab some gum for fresh breath, just in case we crossed paths with a cute guy.
And there were plenty of them! Most of the boys we knew spent their time in Spencer’s Gifts, where we could find everything from funky pins for our denim jackets to posters and even novelty items like fake ice cubes with bugs inside. The back of the store was a mystery we dared to explore, filled with risqué items that required a little courage to ask about.
Clothes shopping was non-negotiable. We’d look for a pair of ripped jeans for the school dance or a stylish Benetton shirt for Friday night fun. If we had saved up from babysitting or our mall jobs, we might splurge at Contempo Casuals. 579 was perfect for coordinating outfits long before it became a trend.
If those stores didn’t satisfy our cravings, we could always check out The Gap, Lerner, or, for those of us lucky enough to have birthday cash or a parent’s credit card with a note, The Limited. When it came to semi-formal dances, Deb was our go-to for affordable dresses and dyeable shoes to match our dates’ cummerbunds and wrist corsages.
After the shopping spree, it was off to either Perfumania or the fragrance counter at the big department store to choose our favorite scents: Love’s Baby Soft, Navy, or Liz Claiborne. We’d ponder which color triangle bottle to choose—red, blue, or yellow—while our friends helped us decide. A quick glance at the time would remind us we had to rush to the photo booth for a snapshot with our best friends, followed by a trip to the bathroom to tease our hair, spray on Aqua Net, and reapply our lip gloss.
Then it was off to RadioShack to grab those headphones for our Walkman before heading to the record store. Sam Goody or Tower Records was the place for the latest cassette, or if we wanted to keep it simple, maybe a cassingle. Why just listen to music when we could record our own voices singing along, dreaming of becoming the next big star? Who knew, maybe we’d bump into Tiffany and slip her our demo tape!
When our time and money finally dwindled, we’d dig a dime out of our shoes and head to the payphones to call our parents for a ride home or meet them at the York Steak House for a well-deserved dinner. The day would leave us exhausted yet elated. Those mall outings stirred up a mix of nostalgia and joy for us ’80s kids, a sentiment that remains strong to this day. For more on this topic, check out this engaging post on Modern Family Blog.
In summary, revisiting the mall not only rekindles fond memories but also highlights how those experiences shaped our lives. Whether it was the thrill of shopping, the joy of friendship, or the excitement of a crush, those days were truly unforgettable.
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