[daeve9307850]

I used to shop at the mall, but they're so crowded now, and you have to walk so far. I have arthritis, and the walking is very difficult for me. There are so many rude people, and huge groups of teenagers. People let the doors slam on you, push you out of their way...it's just not worth it.Malls are losing their popularity here. I live in St. Louis. One particular place, Crestwood Plaza, used to be a large strip mall type place. The stores were all connected, but you went outside to get to the next one. In the 1960s, malls were becoming more common and very popular here, so they added some more stores, another big department store, and enclosed the whole thing. Now the mall is failing, stores closing all the time, restaurants that have been there for years closing. They're going to remodel it into a big strip mall again. There are more shopping centers called Commons here, or sometimes Crossings. There'll be a couple big stores, like WalMart or Lowes or Target, and a variety of other stores, like a beauty supply, maybe a Chinese restaurant, a shoe store. This type of setting is really gaining in popularity. It's much easier for me, because I can park right outside the store and walk inside. Then I can put my purchases in the trunk and move the car. You can't do that at a mall.