You’re at the mall and you’ve got, say, four hours to shop, flirt, eat and in general hang out. How do you fit it all in e asked several serious mallrats at the mall of malls, Mall of America (MOA), to share with us their strategies and tips. All live near MOA, visit weekly and spend at least four hours at a time there. Like we said, S-E-R-I-O-U-S.
Here’s what they said about…
…meeting girls and guys
“Go to known hangouts,” said J’Yhneyce W., 15, of Richfield, Minn. Good bets? “Food courts, mall entrances, cool shops,” she said.
“Look over the railings”on the upper levels, advised Nikole N., 14, of Napa Valley, Minn. “And go to the arcades.”
“No way,” disagreed Liz S., 14, of Minneapolis. She and her punker friends try to meet guys at music stores and club scene novelty stores like Hot Topic.
If he sees a girl he likes, Adam I., 14, of Minneapolis said simply: “I’ll follow her.”
Adam’s friend Nate M., 13, of Minneapolis prefers to take a bird’s-eye view of the action from a top-floor balcony or a parking garage.
(Mmmm, J’Yhneyce also mentioned meeting guys at a parking area where buses to and from Minneapolis drop off and pick up riders. Is there something to this transportation thing?)
…shopping
Nikole N. said she does the mall of malls “one level at a time,” window shopping until she finds something she likes.
Most of our mallrats, like Kevin M., 13, of Eagan, Minn., know what they want and where to get it–before they even set foot in a mall. Kevin, for example, is obsessed with black-light posters. So he makes a beeline for retro novelty shops like Spencer Gifts.
But let’s say you’re an amateur or visiting a new mall. It’s simple, really. Use the directories at the entrances, said Nikole N. Many malls–like MOA and Chicago’s Water Tower Place–make it easier by providing maps you can take with you, J’Yhneyce W. said. Don’t be afraid to use them out of fear you’ll look uncool. Looking lost is truly uncool.
…eating
Kelly B., 13, of Minneapolis suggested eating “an hour or two after lunchtime” to avoid the crowds.
Get something fast and simple, “like a slice of pizza,” said David J., 13, of Eagan, Minn.
…hanging out
Some kids go to malls just to hang out. Take Liz S., 13, of Minneapolis and her friends. “We don’t have any money,” Liz admitted.
Plus, wandering aimlessly with “no destination” is half the fun, added pal Jackie D., 14, also of Minneapolis.
Nate M. agreed: “We don’t figure out what we’re going to do until we get to the mall. Sometimes we end up not doing anything.”
