COVID Scenes: The Avenues Mall

I’m a bit of a mallrat. What can I say, I like air conditioning, clean open spaces, and window shopping. OK, so maybe it’s more plans of future buying than total unpremeditated window peaking.

Malls inspire me. Typically. Not crowded malls. Not Black Friday madness, but the simpliticy of a lazy afternoon browsing corridor after corridor of display windows. I get ideas of new outfit arrangements of the clothing I already own. I start to picture how that new look might pair with some fantastic sandals or a pair of fabulous yellow hoops.

But it’s 2020, and things are different. That vacuous shopping desire is now mimicked in the scenes around me.

Shutdown Starbucks & Scattered Chairs

Starbucks is always nearby (except for during COVID). There’s a culinary sampling of different cuisines on standby in the foodcourt (only half are open at the moment). There’s snacks, pleasant music and lots of new things to imagine wearing.

But not on this trip to the mall. No freshly brewed Pike’s Place waiting for me.

Deep in Corona Virus chaos, The Avenues mall is a bit of an abandoned space. March’s trends fill some storefront displays even though it’s nearly June.

This Train’s Not Leaving the Station

Many stores still have those clear garage door type things pulled down. There’s a polite message about caring about health safety and a clear communication to keep out.

Normally I love roaming Forever 21 for some fast fashion finds. But this time the store was half-empty and I couldn’t find the swimsuit section anywhere.

In the stores that are open, some have whole sections that are empty. Even the fountains in the middle of the mall are empty.

There are select entrances and exits open to limit traffic flow. There’s arrow stickers and 6-foot seperation reminders.

The post-apocalyptic emptiness shouts at the few shoppers present, reminding us that this thing isn’t over yet.

Looking forward to it being safe for everyone to come back out and play.