The Main Place Mall
by Brian W. Wright
Judging by recently announced expansions to both the Boulevard and Galleria malls, it would seem as though our region hopes to join the mega-mall movement, with developers creating massive entertainment and shopping centers that are destinations in themselves, complete with restaurants, movie theaters, nightclubs and high-end retailers. These mega-malls may be great for those who live in the surrounding suburbs, but downtown Buffalo continues to lack a shopping district with any sort of appeal, old-fashioned or newfangled; the Main Place Mall currently houses nothing more than a food court and shoe store. City residents will trek to the suburbs to shop, but many wish they didn’t have to, according to this week’s focus group.
Click to watchName: Susan Schallick
Occupation: Social services
Residence: Kenmore
Which mall do you shop at most often? I don’t usually go to the malls. I’ll occassionally stop at Main Place Mall because it is close to where I work. I go to other malls maybe one or twice a year, but I go to department stores a lot.
Do you go to the malls to do anything besides shopping? I go the the Main Place Mall for lunch.
What you you like to see done with the Main Place Mall? I would like to see more retail stores go in because I am downtown and it would be convenient to do shopping.
Name: Dominique
Occupation: Student
Residence: Buffalo
Which mall do you shop at most often? I go to the Galleria Mall more often because it has a lot of stores, a big variety, and it has a lot of places to eat. Plus it’s the biggest mall. I go the mall instead of stores like Target because the mall has a better variety of clothing. You can also go to the different restaurants at the mall instead of just the department store.
Do you go to the malls to do anything besides shopping? I go there to eat, meet new people, play the games, look for jobs and just have fun being a teenager.
What would you like to see done with the Main Place Mall? The mall needs a lot of help. I believe that if they had a better variety of stores then more publicity…They don’t have a lot of stores, and they would have more money if they had a lot more stores like they used to back in the day.
Name: Rick Brainsten
Occupation: Information technology
Residence: East Aurora
Which malls do you shop at most often? I go to the Galleria Mall because they have more of the stores that I shop at. I hardly ever go to the department stores, but I’ll go to the mall maybe once a month.
Do you go to the malls to do anything besides shopping? Occasionally to eat. Maybe have a couple of beers with some friends.
What would you like to see done with the Main Place Mall? Probably put a couple more stores in there for shopping, and something besides shopping.
Name: Craig Badowski
Occupation: Mailroom manager
Residence: Buffalo
Which mall do you usually shop at most often? The Galleria Mall. It’s close to home and they have a lot of selection to choose from, store-wise. Lately I’ve been going to Target and Wal-Mart more because they are a little cheaper. I usually go to the mall for gift shopping.
Do you go to the malls to do anything besides shopping? No, not really. I’m just there to pick up something. I like to get in and get out as quick as possible.
What would you like to see done with the Main Place Mall? They definitely need more stores there. There is not really a lot there, so why would you go there? If there were more stores there would probably be more of a reason to go down there.
|
Issue Navigation> Issue Index > v5n34: Old McDonald Had a Farm (8/24/06) > The Main Place Mall This Week's Issue • Artvoice Daily • Artvoice TV • Events Calendar • Classifieds |
Current Issue