I'm not sure if it's this way in other parts of the country (I know it wasn't when we lived just outside Phoenix), but if you grew up in the suburbs of Detroit then everything was about which mall you lived near. "Oh, he lives by Lakeside"; "Oh, you're out by Eastland!"; "She lives all the way out by Fairlane(s)" (everything in Michigan gets an "s" added to the end); "My friend Mark moved by Macomb Mall" and so on ...
Until the time I was 7, we lived at 10 1/2 Mile between John R and Dequindre (it's so Eminem, I know), making Universal Mall "our mall." Then when my sister was born we moved to 13 Mile and Dequindre, and the more upscale Oakland Mall became "our mall." What a treat it was to come across this blog called Malls of America, which is filled with hundreds of vintage mall photos from around the country, including my beloved Oakland Mall, photographed in its 1970s heyday (above).
That center court fountain area was the site of a lot of hanging out -- plus numerous visits for my sister to sit on Santa's lap. And Bosco's Barber Shop was the scene of many tear-filled haircuts. (I favored the Kristy McNichol look in those days and didn't appreciate it if any ear was showing whatsoever.)
When I forwarded the mall link to my brothers and best friend Mark I got a reply from Mark telling me that the blogger (Keith Milford) behind the site actually went to sixth grade with us back at Page Middle School in Madison Heights (only Mark would remember such a thing).
If you're a mall connoisseur like I am, you'll get a kick out of Keith's blog. And if you're reading this, Keith, have a slice at the Green Lantern in my honor -- and say hi to Ms. Sadowski for me!
7 comments:
I can't BELIEVE you fessed up to Universal Mall!! But alas, no better for me, I grew up near Pontiac Mall (now Summit Place Mall) then graduated up to Oakland Mall then Somerset COLLECTION and now live near Twelve Oaks Mall. I laughed when I read this because it is SOOOO true how we refer to places here by which mall is closest. However, I never add the "s" to stores making them Meijers, KMarts, etc.. My boyfriend's brother goes ballistic when people do that!
OMG I am in tears here reading this post! My hair! I put Jaclyn Smith to shame with those feathered wings! And you have more the "Dorothy Hamill" than Kristy McNichol! LOL
I've never been to Oakland Mall, but that mall photo still makes me feel right at home...like I've just popped out of JC Penney with my new terrycloth shirt and Ocean Pacific shorts, ready for a milkshake at Farrell's! (My childhood mall was University Square in Tampa, Fla...unfortunately not yet featured on "Malls of America.")
I didn't know you grew up in Detroit! I lived there until I was 12, when my wicked stepfather moved us to Chicago.
Lived in the 'hood until I was 8: State Fair between Woodward and John R; and then in north suburban Shelby Township in what were then known as the Apple Grove Apartments, which were located Dequindre between M-59 and Auburn Rd. (specifically 46606 Jonathan Circle - I can't believe I remember that!).
So that made us Lakeside mall rats - the originals, as the mall was just going up when we moved to Shelby Township!
Oh, and while living in the city my grandparents always took me shopping at Oakland Mall. Clothes and shoes at Sears; and birthday parties at Farrell's!
Perfect, Wayne! Did you see that Malls of America blog updated yesterday with a hot picture of Lakeside -- with that oh-so-modern glass elevator surrounded by light bulbs!!!!
Hey! I read this blog all the time and I never realized that you were from MI. You are absolutely right about geography and malls. Now, since Somerset, I can nearly relate everything to where Somerset is...Lakeside is kinda off the radar now...
Post a Comment