This is not a new phenomenon. In fact when the first completely enclosed mall in the United States opened in the Minneapolis suburb of Edina in 1956, mall walkers turned up there almost immediately. Minneapolis doctors actually counseled patients recovering from heart attacks to exercise at the mall where they could avoid the danger of extreme temperatures.
With consumerism at an all-time high in the 1980’s, mall construction skyrocketed. Coupled with America’s obsession with weight, more and more people flocked to the nearest climate-controlled oasis. Older Americans especially enjoyed the safety and socializing the enclosed space provided. Today with over 1,500 malls in the United States, walking has become a serious sport to some as they fight for their right to…mall walk.
In a southwestern suburb of Chicago, one Evergreen Plaza tried to squash their mall walking legions back in February with a notice proclaiming: “The mall will no longer be available to walkers.”
The man responsible for this lockout…a Mr. Bruce Provo, managing partner of a company that owns the mall, stated in his exile order, “We can no longer turn a blind eye to the realities of the world we live in.” Some “realities” he referred to included walkers hogging prime parking, demanding free Christmas gifts and the dirtying of buffed floors.
Angry and frustrated, mall walkers united. Within days, news vans bombarded the mall, broadcasting interviews with the downtrodden walkers. The walkers even sent out a letter to many of the 125 merchants at Evergreen Plaza, threatening to take their business elsewhere.
Local malls in the area lured shoppers away with promises of refreshments and meditation classes for their mall walkers.
Within a week, Provo crumbled and mall walkers were welcomed back to Evergreen Plaza. The seniors won the battle for climate-controlled strolls around The Gap and Mrs. Field’s. And mall owners of America learned they can’t mess with grandma.
But you don’t have to be a sneaker-clad granny to walk your mall, simply check out Tips for Mall Walkers (http://www.grandtimes.com/mags/Tips_For_... for tips on well, mall walking.
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