My refusal to take part in Black Friday (which is the Friday after Thanksgiving, the biggest shopping day of the year, for those who don't know) could be a result of my mall phobia.
I think it's fair to say I loathe shopping malls. Trying to maneuver a massive, overflowing parking lot gives me a headache. Crowds of rude shoppers — you know, the ones who cut you off in the aisles, snatch items from your reach, or run over your feet with baby strollers — make my blood boil. And, frankly, mall prices leave me cold.
Except to attend the occasional movie, I haven't been to the queen of shopping malls, Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, in ... oh, I guess it's been years.
This mall phobia I have is undoubtedly the result of growing up in the country, where shopping was a necessity, not a contact sport. I lack the skills to succeed, I readily admit.
However, I refuse to let a phobia run my life, so I have found a few malls I can stomach — at least on an average Tuesday. Two of them are in the city of Milwaukee, and I thought I'd let you know why they don't scare me like the others ... in case, like me, any of you are mall phobes :)
Frankly, they are not like other malls in metro Milwaukee ... which can be a bonus for anyone looking to change up the holiday routine. The fashions, for example, are decidedly urban, which works for me and mine.
Midtown Center takes over Capitol Court
I never had the (dis)pleasure of shopping at Capitol Court. It was long gone by the time I moved to Wisconsin almost 15 years ago. Yet, people still bring up Capitol Court when talking about malls in Milwaukee ...
Apparently, it left quite an impression. (Yes, I've been told both the positive and negative reasons, but let's not dwell.)
Today, the Midtown Center stands in its place at Capitol Drive and 56th Street.
Midtown is an open-air center, which means it's not enclosed like Mayfair or Southridge malls. (As with outlet malls, all the stores have doors facing parking lots.) I usually like the open-air concept: When I want a specific store, I can (a) easily find it from the comfort of my car, and (b) get in and out of that store quickly. Of course, when it's raining or freezing cold, I'm not such a big fan.
Midtown is also an "affordable" mall. It's anchors are not major department stores; in fact, its anchors are the popular, numerous Wal-Mart,* Pick 'n' Save, and AJ Wright.
I checked the Midtown Center's Web site for accuracy; all 35 tenants listed (with Web sites, if available) are indeed still open — including a Milwaukee Police Department substation, for those who worry about crime at the mall.
Some highlights: Teenage girls and young women, like my daughters, love the fact that discount clothing retailers Rainbow, DOTS, Fashion Bug, Simply Fashion, and Best Price! are together within walking distance.
Stores not listed as tenants but located nearby include Lena's Food Market, City Trends, U.S. Cellular, Playmakers, Manna House, McDonald's, and rare-in-the-city Taco Bell.
Unfortunately, Lowe's home improvement store came and went already.
The mall suits me well because I can spot and avoid crowds before getting out of my car. Parking can be a bit challenging during busy times, like after school lets out, but there are enough out lots to provide overflow space. (I recommend approaching the mall from 60th Street, which is the least busy of the five bordering streets.) And the stores are both practical and affordable.
*Side note: I know that Wal-Mart is a lightning rod among consumers, who love, hate, or love/hate the retail giant. The first time one opened where I lived, I refused to shop there, based solely on the fact that the corporation censors the musicians it agrees to market. However, when the first Wal-Mart opened in the city of Milwaukee, I decided to give the retailer a chance. After all, it was the only big-box, discount retailer willing to build multiple stores within our city limits, despite the crime statistics. Plus, I needed a place to buy inexpensive undergarments :)
The Shops of Grand Avenue will not die
Enter the east end of The Shops of Grand Avenue, housed inside historic downtown buildings on Wisconsin Avenue just west of the Milwaukee River, and you get a glimpse of the former Grand Avenue Mall's struggles: Empty store fronts outnumber full ones.
However, if you move west through the mall, the shopping improves. "It's the best place for shoe shopping," claims shoe-aholic daughter Cherish. Plus, "it has the best food court of all the malls," daughter Angel notes, adding that she and boyfriend "come here just to eat all the time."Grand Avenue is anchored by a department store, Boston Store, in the mall's west-end building. Not officially considered part of the mall, Borders Bookstore is located in a separate east-end building on the river.
Myriad stores are found between these two "anchors," with all the buildings connected by skywalks. A few of the stores open to the street, like Office Max and Walgreen's.
Again, I checked the online list of 73 tenants, and all the retailers are open. (I didn't check the restaurants specifically, however.)
Highlights: Brew City Beer Gear; Planet TV, featuring all things sold on TV; Torrence's House of Threads and Danielle's, both featuring distinctive evening wear; hard-to-find-these-days photo booths; Peddler Jim’s Produce, with to-die-for berries; and the food court, which is conveniently separated from the stores in that it occupies the entire third floor of a building by itself.
Apparently, guys and gals love the shoe selections of Famous Footwear, FootAction USA, and all three Foot Locker stores: Kids, Lady and regular.
Also popular are sportswear store Fan Fair and hat and cap retailer Lids.
And, of course, the holidays mean a visit from the Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra, with a castle backdrop. Children of all ages love the animated bears, who perform holiday classics.Gone, unfortunately, are recent tenants Linens 'n' Things and Old Navy.
The buildings that house the mall also house a YMCA, Marriott Courtyard and Residence Inn hotels, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education, which means steady foot traffic and added security.
The mall suits me well because, well, it's rarely crowded (*sigh*). You must pay for parking, although it's a mere $1 per hour with store validation. (I usually park at a meter on Milwaukee Avenue for convenience, but I'm in and out quickly.) And many of the stores are unique to Grand Avenue, which makes the trip worthwhile.
