Ohio Valley Mall

It's been a while since I've done a review, and although I didn't get a chance to see any malls on my recent DC trip, I did manage to squeak in a roadside local mall on the way back in Ohio. This little mall, aptly named, is near the Ohio river (meaning it's not far from the WV border), and serves the St Clairsville OH area. It can be conveniently reached by exiting I-70 onto the also aptly named Mall Road (the mall is located south of 70).



At first glance, this local mall doesn't look like much from the outside, so much so that I was hesitant to even review it. The exterior of the mall has had a facelift, probably in the late 80s, but generally looks mismatched and out of date.

Upon entering the mall, however, I was pleasantly surprised. The mall extends back quite far, and there are a large number of stores to the left and rear of the main entrance.

The compact nature of the mall is due in part to its age; we see a lot of really small storefronts, common in malls of the late 70s and early 80s. From it's design features, particularly the style of tiling and some older dark wood-grain panelling, I would guess that this mall was built in the late 70s and updated most recently in the late 80s.

The assortment of stores at Ohio Valley is impressive for a mall of its stature. Anchors include Macys, K-Mart (a mall with a K-mart? VERY 70s!), and Sears. There is also a large furniture outlet, Levin Furniture, and a crafts store. Mall staples are well represented by Bath and Body Works, Hallmark, Game Stop (two of these, for some reason), Aeropostale, Pac Sun, and Victoria's Secret. Also seen are old mall standards Radio Shack, Payless shoes, and Sam Goody, as well as relative newcomer Books a Million.



Food choices are somewhat limited (there's no proper "Food Court", which reinforces my opinion of the mall's age). A rather nice looking Japanese steak and sushi restaurant called "Osaka" is near the main entrance, and a place called Fabio's Pizza, reminiscent of Sbarro, is along the same hall. There are, however, several major food choices in nearby, including St Louis born Panera and McDonalds.

Do to it's convenience to a major highway, it's relatively impressive selection of stores, and it's classic (if somewhat understated) mall design elements, I give Ohio Valley Mall four Kiosks.

Circle Centre Mall, Indianapolis IN

I'm not sure I can say enough good things about this mall. Undoubtedly part of an urban revitalization, this mall (unlike the failed St Louis Centre) is a stunning success!

Reaching the mall is a relatively complicated task, if you're not parking there. I was already parked on a downtown street, having driving south from our hotel near 92nd street down Meridian. I wandered the street for a few minutes trying to find the La Bamba burritos at 111 S Meridian. Alas this was not to be; evidently it closed at some point in the not too distant past. After that, I wandered some more, looking for the main mall entrance. There are restaurants everywhere, as well as external store fronts, but I was looking for a main entrance. Instead, I found the parking garage, where some people from Nashville were kind enough to point me toward the mall entrance.



Once inside, I was immediately at home. Despite its distinctly urban setting, this place is all mall. Plenty of sky lighting lets in not only the sun, but visions of the urban jungle in whose heart it resides. Since my quest for a burrito had failed, I headed right to the food court, and it does not disappoint. Many of the old standards are here: a Chick-fil-a, a Subway, an A&W, and a Villa Italian Kitchen (which are beginning to replace the ubiquitous Sbarro in many malls). There's also a Johnny Rocket, a Japanese place called Maki, a Great Steak and Potato (at which I purchased a truly massive large fry) and many others. An Akoo station plays the latest and retro music videos, and Simon wifi is easily connected.

The architecture is classic white with black trim, with the common domed lighting treatments. Escalators are easy to find, and balconies give one a clear view of various levels to help you find the store you want. And wow, is there a large assortment of stores! All of the clothing standards are here, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Lane Bryant, Aeropstale, Banana Republic, Gap, H&M, Forever 21 and More. Anchors include Nordstrom and Carson Pirie Scott (thought all of these closed in the early 90s). Other stores include Hot Topic, GNC, Sungless Hut, Nine West, Aldo and Gamestop.



I could gush on about this mall for a while, but my main point is that this is not only a shopping center, it's a destination. If you're in Indianapolis, you've got to come see it.

Pluses: Huge variety and quantity of stores, great food court, beautiful urban feel and wifi.
Minuses: May be slightly confusing to get to, depending on where you're coming from.

I give Circle Centre Mall 5 out of 5 kiosks!

White Oaks Mall, Springfield IL

I have the pleasure of reviewing a beautiful classic mall today in White Oaks Mall, Springfield. This little gem is just a few minutes off Interstate 55 when travelling between St Louis and Chicago (take the 72 west exit at Springfield and go about two miles). You can tell you're getting near the mall because you'll come into a retail mecca with dozens of well recognized names such as Best Buy, K-Mart, and Walmart to name a few.

Pulling into the mall, it's easy to see it was built in the late 70s or early 80s. Much of the external architecture retains the original austere brick walls, landscaped with trees sectioned off in square brick planter areas, as visible in the White Oaks Mall signed entrance below.



Inside, we find a very well appointed two-level mall, probably redecorated sometime in the early 1990s. The atmosphere of this mall is very vibrant, though there are a few dead stores. A large carousel stands in the middle, and a children's play area near Sears on the lower level makes this mall a nice place to shop with children in tow. The lighting is very strong except in dead areas, and the skylights add plenty of natural lighting as well. For dining, there's a small food court including a Charley's Subs (a favorite of mine in the St Louis area), Subway and a couple others. Also, there's an unusual free-standing Panda Express outbuilding, and several other casual dining restaurants are nearby.



The mall includes most of the standards for clothing, such as American Eagle Outfitters, GAP, old 1970s standard Buckle, Aeropostale, and Abercrombie & Fitch. Other stores include the ubiquitous Game Stop, Dick's Sporting Goods, a Hallmark store, Spencer Gifts, Claire's, and many more.



In short, this is a beautiful little mall located in a great shopping area. If you're going past Springfield and feel the need to shop, this is definitely the place to go!

Pros: Most of the standard stores, great area for shopping

Cons: Small food court, A little off the beaten path for non-Springfield natives.

I give White Oaks Mall 4 Kiosks.

West Park Mall

I had mixed feelings while exploring this small local mall in Cape Girardeau, MO. On the one hand, it reminded me a lot of the malls of my midwestern youth. On the other hand, this IS a small local mall. It can't compete to the larger malls of urban and suburban areas. There appears to be a food court, for example, yet the only place to eat is a lonely China Star, and there is seating for approximately 30.



The mall has three wings off a central hub (where said "food court" is located, in addition to the now common bungee jumping toys) and still decked out with a lot of what is probably original 80s design (though it could also be 80s refit of a 70s mall). There is ample light treatment, though the overall lighting effect is dim, as is common for malls of this design.

When it comes to stores, this mall is actually pretty packed. Many of the required staples are here. There's a Victoria's Secret, a Claire's, and Game Stop, an American Eagle Outfitter, and anchors JC Penney and Macy's. There's also a quite adequately sized Barnes and Nobel. Food choices are VERY limited in the mall, though there are many nearby choices, including a Texas Roadhouse and Steak &
Shake. Other nearby stores include a Target, a Sears, and Toys R Us.

The mall is easily accessed via highway 55, about 100 miles south of the St Louis area. It's not right off the highway, but can be found less than a mile east of 55 on Highway K. For those traveling on 55 from St Louis toward Memphis or vice versa, it can be a welcome shopping break on a long trip. It's not worth a special trip out of the way, either for shopping or aesthetic purposes.

Pluses: Availability of most commonly expected mall stores, lots of restaurants and other shopping nearby.

Minuses: Lack of a proper food court

I give West Park Mall 3.5 kiosks