The indoor shopping mall is younger than John McCain.
Depending on who you ask (many cities seek to lay claim to the coveted title of “pioneer in bludgeoning the landscape), the first indoor shopping mall either was or was not the Southdale Center near Minneapolis.
(Thanks to Matt for the tip!)
i must be out of it tonight…can you explain the picture?
Comment by Ali — August 18, 2008 @ 9:11 pm
granted, it’s very obscure…. i want to see if anyone else gets it.
Comment by admin — August 18, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
David Byrne riffs on malls in “True Stories” — long before Starbucks became the ubiquitous Third Place.
And yes, Southdale was first — because Minnesota is really f-in’ cold in winter. It’s located in the heavily Republican suburb of Edina, which locals joke is an acronym for “Every Day I Need Attention.” Southdale used to have a fab midcentury vibe, until it got repeatedly facelifted. *ahem*
Comment by Jen — August 18, 2008 @ 9:46 pm
My guess is that you’re thinking of the lyrics to “Nothing But Flowers.”
Rob (of “Jackson Browne” concert fame).
Comment by RCS — August 18, 2008 @ 9:58 pm
i have vintage postcards of milwaukee’s 1st mall. i rewatched the mall destruction scenes from blues brothers.
but it is could up here in the north.
Comment by pansypoo — August 18, 2008 @ 10:54 pm
“Y’know, it’s these highways that make places like Virgil possible. Someone once said that these highways are the cathedrals of our time… Not me.”
Comment by Matt from Winchester — August 19, 2008 @ 7:27 am
The guy in the picture is a UPS driver and the subtle suggestion is that online retailers are now destroying the shopping malls business……
Comment by Nigel — August 19, 2008 @ 7:58 am
ebay is killing antique dealers!
Comment by pansypoo — August 19, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
Actually not quite true. Providence, RI hosts the first indoor shopping mall in the United States: The Arcade, built in 1828, I believe.
Comment by boliyou — August 19, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
Why is David Byrne in this picture?
Comment by Martin R. — August 19, 2008 @ 10:00 pm
#10,
Well the pic was taken at a David Byrne concert…
Comment by Matt from Winchester — August 20, 2008 @ 8:12 am
I concur that the Arcade in Providence was the first.
Comment by Daniel — August 20, 2008 @ 9:29 am
We in Edina believe that we were the first, also, we are not that conservative any more, Kerry won here.
Comment by minnesotaprogressive24 — August 21, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
I really would’ve expected to see a picture of Tiffany in a post about indoor malls…….
Comment by Chancy — August 21, 2008 @ 4:52 pm
14 -
yeah, that would’ve been good too!
Comment by admin — August 24, 2008 @ 10:02 am
the cherry hill mall in nj was totes the first mall!
Comment by jrzy — August 31, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
David Byrne is appearing at the Count Basie theater in Red Bank NJ on November 3, 2008 (night before the big election)
Comment by Martin R. — September 30, 2008 @ 7:07 pm
This is a cool post about coupons.
i need this info for my site.
Comment by Michel — October 16, 2008 @ 12:44 am
OK, what’s with all the posts thanking you for information about coupons and online shopping? I don’t see anything about that here.
Comment by Lyn — November 14, 2008 @ 9:42 am