• Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Archives
  • Privacy Policy

Irish American Mom

Celebrating Our Irish Heritage Together

  • Irish Cooking
    • A Taste of Ireland
    • Recipe Index
    • Bread, Muffins, Pancakes And Scones
    • Drinks And Cocktails
    • Favorite American Recipes
    • Irish Appetizers And Party Food
    • Irish Breakfast
    • Irish Cakes, Cookies And Desserts
    • All Recipes
    • Irish Main Dishes
    • Irish Side Dishes
    • Irish Soups And Stews
    • Reader Recipes
    • Irish American Mom’s Pancake Roundup
  • Irish Culture
    • Blessings
    • Irish Books
    • Irish Crafts
    • Irish Expressions
    • Irish Life
    • Irish Movies
    • Irish Music
    • Irish Poetry
    • Irish Superstitions
    • Irish Television
    • The Irish Language or Gaelic
    • Symbols Of Ireland
    • The Irish Psyche
    • The Spud Saga
    • What I Miss About Ireland
    • Wise Old Words
  • Visiting Ireland
    • Ireland – County By County
    • Land and Culture
    • Why Tourists Love Ireland
  • Immigrant Tales
    • Stories of our Ancestors
    • Stories from the Present
    • Genealogy Resources
  • Ramblings
    • My American Journey
    • Why I Love America
    • Blogging
    • Holidays
    • America the Beautiful
  • Giveaways
    • Giveaways
    • Gifts
  • Buying Irish Food
You are here: Home / Ramblings / My American Journey / America’s Love Affair With The Mall

America’s Love Affair With The Mall

January 18, 2012 by Irish American Mom 5 Comments

What is America’s most visited tourist attraction?

 

Immediately I think of the Grand Canyon, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, New York’s Empire State Building, or Disney World.  All of the above answers are wrong.  The Mall of America, outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, is visited by around 100,000 people every day, making it the nation’s most popular tourist destination.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nostri-imago/2873535879/in/photostream/Image Credit

Americans love shopping malls. As the current recession continues we continually hear how consumerism supports over 70% of the economy.  So are malls an inherent part of the American Dream?

On my very first day in America in 1988 I quickly learned how malls occupy a special place in American life.  I flew from Ireland with my best friend in the world to Elmira, New York on a cold January day.  Our work visas were sponsored by the local hospital.  One of the physical therapists graciously met us at the airport to take us to our accommodation.   We traveled through an icy wonderland.  The snowy landscape intrigued me.  Suddenly as we drove across an overpass our new friend exclaimed triumphantly:

 

“Look left.  It’s the new mall. We love the Arnot Mall.”

 

I dutifully looked out the window, only to see a large, warehouse-like building.  It was late.  Empty, sprawling parking lots outside this massive construction, did not look like anything I had ever seen before.  (I left Ireland before the boom times).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eridony/429839815/in/photostream/
Aerial View Of A Mall

Image Credit

I must make a confession.  I had no idea what on earth I was looking at, what a mall was and why this lady was so proud of, what seemed to me, a boring-looking building.  My friend and I just smiled.  We did not want to ask any questions, for fear we might sound like we just ‘got off the boat’, or the plane in our case.

Even the word ‘mall’ meant very little to me back then.  I had heard the word, pronounced differently, as in Pall Mall in London or the South Mall in Cork.  My understanding of the word was a street.  The concept of an American shopping mall was completely new to me.

I am sure young Irish people today would laugh at how ‘green’ I was.  Malls or shopping centers now feature significantly in Irish society too.  I look back and can’t believe how naive I was.  But rest assured, it did not take long to figure out exactly what this famous Arnot Mall was, and it’s significance in Elmiran society.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Water_St._from_Lake,_looking_west,_by_Van_Aken,_E._M._%28Elisha_M.%29.jpg
Water Street, Elmira in the 19th Century

Image Credit

The very next day my friend and I decided to take a stroll downtown in frigid temperatures to discover our adopted hometown.  To our great dismay, only a few stores survived in this beautiful, old city.  When we got back to the nursing school where we were staying, we asked where all the stores were.  The young students looked at us strangely, before declaring:

“They’re at the mall, of course!”

http://www.flickr.com/photos/indraneel/1215416645/in/photostream/Image Credit

And so, that is how I learned what a mall is.  Over the years I quickly realized how malls are temples of American consumerism.  To this day, I really do not know whether I love them, or hate them.  Whichever emotion a shopping mall evokes, there is one undeniable fact.  They are everywhere, and distinctly similar no matter where you wander.

Some Americans visit frequently for entertainment and shopping, but like many others, I try to avoid them.  Before I had kids, I visited only when I had a specific purchase to make.

Tiled promenades, water features, fountains, fake plants, and mirrors dupe us into an accepted familiarity, relaxing and beguiling us to part with our hard earned cash, to purchase things we probably don’t even need in the first place.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lancerrevolution/3258188219/in/photostream/Image Credit

Somehow, every time I visit a mall I feel a sense of control and manipulation surrounding the whole experience. I always get a little frustrated when I nip upstairs to visit a specific store and then have to walk half the mall to find the escalator down.  Nothing is unplanned from the location of the food court, and elevators, to the specific ambient glow of the lights, to help turn us into mindless, efficient consumers.

My little girl loves the mall.  She frequently whispers to her Dad, requesting he watch her brothers so “Mom and I can have a girls’ day out.”  Her idea of fun with Mom is a day at the mall.  Exploring the stores, taking a ride on a carousel, and a treat at the food court is her perfect day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/uberculture/17317693/in/photostream/
Playland at Mall of America

Image Credit

I recall how I loved to “go to town” with my Mom.  We would stroll along Henry Street in Dublin, window shop, have a cup of coffee in Arnotts, and listen to the buskers as we walked along together.

After twenty-three years in America, I now understand the mall is my little girl’s city.  So whenever she needs a Mommy Day Out, I willingly bring her, and hold her hand as we explore the delights together.  Now, convincing her Mom to buy everything she wants, is a trick she has not yet mastered.

I understand how malls are a crucial part of the American Dream.  Yet I hope I can teach my little ones never to fall for their false promise of happiness through consumption.

 

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

 

Irish American Mom

Share my recipes and ramblings with the world

Filed Under: My American Journey, Ramblings Tagged With: Malls, My American Journey, Ramblings

Recent Updates from Irish American Mom

  • This Christmas May You Have Walls For The Wind
  • The Light Of The Christmas Star To You
  • May You Be Blessed With The Spirit Of The Season
  • May Peace And Plenty Be The First To Lift The Latch On Your Door
  • The First Christmas Sweater – A Christmas Tale From Ireland

Comments

  1. Liam says

    January 18, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    I think we have one of Europe’s biggest malls (or shopping centres as I still call them) back home now. Blanchardstown I think? Maybe it pales in comparison to some of the American ones, but we’ve definitely become “big-shop” lovers in the last few years. Hey, if it keeps you out of the rain….. 🙂

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      January 19, 2012 at 9:50 am

      Liam – I have never shopped at Blanchardstown yet, despite spending time in Dublin every time we visit home. I’ve been to The Pavilion’s in Swords, and it reminds me of an American mall. You’re right about our rainy Irish weather – a mall is the perfect solution for keeping dry.

      Reply
  2. Cheryl Barker says

    January 19, 2012 at 1:42 am

    Malls can be kind of overwhelming for me — especially the huge department stores. I much prefer walking into a smaller shop where I can quickly peruse their merchandise and see if there’s anything I’m interested in. The big stores have their good points, but overwhelming me is not one of them! 🙂

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      January 19, 2012 at 10:00 am

      Those big department stores are definitely overwhelming, Cheryl. When they are on multiple levels I get totally discombobulated, and don’t know where I started or finished. Keeping track of where I parked my car is another major feat. I usually remember which store I parked beside, but remembering the exact exit is always a problem. I now stop and think every time I enter – “You entered by the shoes, remember the shoes!” I am battling age and memory loss already!

      Mairead

      Reply
  3. Grammy says

    January 20, 2012 at 9:09 pm

    Ugh, I’m American to the core but I despise the Mall! I avoid it like the plague….

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search My Site

A Warm Welcome From Irish American Mom

I believe it’s never too late to explore your Irish cultural heritage and celebrate your ancestors’ spiritual legacy. Read More About The Irish American Mom Community

Mom’s Recipes and Ramblings Are Featured On Irish Central

A green background around the letters I and C in the Irish Central Logo

Thanks For Visiting

Advertising
Comment Policy
Disclaimer
Disclosure
Privacy Policy
Contact
FAQ's
Sitemap

 

© Copyright 2011-2019, Irish American Mom.

All Rights Reserved.

Previously Featured On Irish American Mom

A Celtic Cross in an Irish coastline cemetery

The Celtic Cross by SS Hampton, Sr.

Veteran's Park Flags

Veteran’s Day 11/11/11

Salmon cakes served with Irish fried potatoes

Budget Friendly Salmon Fish Cakes

A small lamb eating grass in an Irish field

Irish Sheep And Lambs

Green fertile field in Ireland seen through an iron gate

The Metal Gate – Ireland’s Picture Frame

Many Thanks to the Irish Blog Awards – Irish American Mom Won the Silver Award in the 2018 Diaspora Category

Silver glittery b for the silver winner badge in the Blog Awards Ireland 2018

Recent Reader Comments

  • Lois on How To Cook Rutabaga Or Turnip Irish Style
  • Clare Mcclure on Irish – A Language Without Words For ‘Yes’ and ‘No’
  • Irish American Mom on Homemade Mincemeat
  • Mariana on Homemade Mincemeat
  • Irish American Mom on May Peace And Plenty Be The First To Lift The Latch On Your Door
  • Kathleen on May Peace And Plenty Be The First To Lift The Latch On Your Door
  • Nuala Kelly on The First Christmas Sweater – A Christmas Tale From Ireland

Copyright © 2019 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This site uses cookies: Find out more.