Recently, I took my daughter and her friend to our local mall. As I observed them darting in and out of stores, I was transported back to my own teenage years. For us ’80s kids, the mall was a sanctuary. It was the hub of our social lives, where we engaged in all the quintessential activities of the era—shopping, gossiping, working, snacking, and, of course, flirting with boys.
Our mothers would drop us off at the entrance, their voices trailing behind us with heartfelt “I love you’s” and reminders to “meet back here at 4!” To us, the mall represented freedom—a second home that some of us knew better than our own bedrooms.
We’d gather with friends in the vibrant food court, a dazzling display of neon lights. The choices for a quick bite were endless. We could munch on fries from McDonald’s, grab a slice from Sbarro, or visit the local pizzeria, where a jukebox played classics from Donna Summer and Blondie alongside the latest hits from our favorite hair bands. After lunch, we’d swing by Mrs. Fields for a warm cookie or hit up Orange Julius or TCBY, where we’d often run into classmates working part-time.
And then came the shopping. The mall was a treasure trove filled with everything we desired. Our first stop would usually be Waldenbooks, where we’d head straight for the magazine section to snag a copy of Tiger Beat or Bop to catch up on the latest gossip about the two Coreys. For the bookish types, a Christopher Pike mystery or the latest Sweet Valley High installment awaited, though V.C. Andrews was our guilty pleasure—books we had to keep hidden from our moms, who were also fans. If summer break was approaching, we might even pick up something from our reading list.
After that, it was off to CVS to sift through nail polishes, maybe grab a bottle of Sun-In, a banana clip (because our last one had snapped), or the holy grail of our beauty regimen: lip gloss. Kissing Potion, Bonne Bell Lip Smackers, and Village Lip Lickers were essential items that smelled divine. At the checkout, we’d grab some gum—Freshen-up or Fruit Stripe—because fresh breath was crucial in case we bumped into any cute boys.
Ah, the boys. Most of them could be found at Spencer’s Gifts, where we could find everything from pins for our denim jackets to posters and novelty items like fake ice cubes with bugs. The back of the store, featuring risqué items, was a place of curiosity and whispered conversations with friends or older sisters. If they weren’t at Spencer’s, they were likely at Chess King, checking out the latest Z Cavs or SKIDZ.
No mall adventure would be complete without a little fashion hunting. We’d search for the perfect pair of ripped jeans for the school dance or a trendy shirt from Benetton for Friday night fun. If we had managed to save some babysitting money, Contempo Casuals was a must-stop. And 579 was the go-to place for those who wanted to coordinate outfits before it was even a trend—matching shorts, socks, vests, and scrunchies!
If those stores didn’t have our style, there was always The Gap or Lerner, and for those lucky enough to have birthday money or mom and dad’s credit card (with a signed note), The Limited was a dream. For semi-formal dances, Deb was our favorite stop—affordable dresses and dyeable shoes, which made it easy for our dates to match their cummerbunds. If nothing caught our eye at Deb, we could always count on Thom McAn, Bakers, or Kinney Shoes for some stylish options.
Afterward, we’d head to Perfumania or the department store fragrance counter to select our signature scents: Love’s Baby Soft, Navy, or Liz Claiborne. Our friends helped us choose the best color triangle bottle—red, blue, or yellow. A quick glance at the Swatch watch would reveal it was already 3:00 PM! We still needed to snap a picture with our best friends in the photo booth by the food court. A pit stop to tease our hair, spray on Aqua Net, and reapply our Kissing Koolers lip gloss was essential for that perfect photo. After waiting for our pictures to develop, it was time for one last errand—stopping by RadioShack to grab headphones for our Walkman.
Finally, we’d head to the record store, perhaps Sam Goody or Tower Records, to snag the newest cassette tape or a cassingle for those who weren’t ready to commit to a full album. And why just listen to music when we could create our own tracks? We’d record ourselves singing over the latest hits, dreaming of stardom. Who knows, maybe we’d even spot Tiffany in the mall and slip her our tape!
As our funds ran low, we’d fish out a dime from our shoes and head to the payphones to call our parents for a ride home or meet them at York Steak House for dinner. The day would leave us exhausted but fulfilled. Little did we know, the nostalgia of those mall adventures would linger long after our teenage years.
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Summary
Reflecting on mall trips from the ’80s evokes a sense of nostalgia—those carefree days filled with shopping, socializing, and youthful adventures. The memories of vibrant food courts, trendy clothing stores, and endless laughter remind us of a simpler time, while also offering insights into today’s experiences of parenting and family planning.
Keyphrase: 1980s mall experience
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