Mall rats

Never mind teenagers; we seniors are the real mall rats. There we are marching up and down the aisles with our mall walking group, before the stores even open. Or we’re having a coffee in the food court and catching up on news with our friends. Or maybe we’re just relaxing on a bench, watching people go by. If you just want to get out of the house and while away a few hours, you can’t beat the neighbourhood mall. It’s safe from the weather, climate-controlled, it has washrooms and security guards and comfortable seating. We can just fit in with the crowds and stay as long as we like, with no admission fee to pay and no obligation to spend. It’s not what they were designed for, but neighbourhood malls have turned out to be wonderful, accessible gathering spots for seniors.

But times have changed. Major department stores that used to anchor these malls have disappeared. Many people now would rather shop online than take a trip to the store. Big box power centres and large upscale malls like the Eaton Centre and Yorkdale are still thriving, but many neighbourhood malls are in decline. Indoor malls are expensive to heat in winter and cool in summer. Some are trying to reinvent themselves. A few are building condos onsite, then surrounding them with medical offices, some basic stores, and maybe a community centre or small park. Some have decided to focus on the upscale and high-fashion youth market. We seniors may love our malls, but mall developers may not love us back. They’re not generating much profit from a senior who occupies a food court seat and just sits there sipping a cup of coffee for two hours. If they want to attract a hip younger crowd to the mall, then the presence of a lot of seniors spoils the vibe. The old Don Mills Centre was a magnet for the large local senior population. Redeveloped as the Shops at Don Mills, it’s now a grid of outdoor streets with trendy fashion stores for young people. They designed us right out of there.

All we seniors really need is an indoor mall with a food court. I hope at least some neighbourhood malls survive the changing times. I can’t imagine what could take their place as gathering spots for seniors.