Old School Mall Stores That Need to Make a Comeback

Despite changing consumer tastes and the rise of Amazon.com, the mall is still a treasured American pastime, a magical place where consumerism, entertainment, and mindless meandering collide. While a trip to the mall is still as legit a way to kill time and cash on a Saturday afternoon as it was when we were teenagers, our former stomping/shopping grounds have since disappeared from malls across the United States. Still touched by the memories of rabble-rousing in their aisles and the dope items we procured, we present Old School Mall Stores That Need to Make a Comeback.

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Years active: 1985-2009
Wares: Apparel

If you ever wanted to rep a college, television show, or superhero, Steve & Barry's had plenty of officially branded goods for next-to-nothing prices. Most things were between $5.98 and $9.98, and nothing was more expensive than $19.98. And, in sports pop culture lore, they'll forever be remembered as the home of the $14.98 Stephon Marbury "Starbury" basketball shoe.

Years active: Unknown-2007
Wares: Discovery Channel related merchandise and educational books, tools, and toys.

For the kid scientist in all of us, this was the store to go nuts in. Mom and dad would try to steer us towards the ant habitats and butterfly kits to teach us valuable lessons in elementary school biology, but all we wanted were the seven foot inflatable sharks.

Years active: 1988-present
Wares: Novelty gifts, clothing, entertainment merchandise

Yes, this store is still around and is actually thriving, but for all the wrong reasons. Hot Topic doesn't need a comeback—it desperately needs a re-branding. It used to be the one-stop Goth Depot, but now it's become nothing more than a place to get Adventure Time t-shirts. Selling the merchandise of popular television shows and movies is cool, but let's call it what it really is—selling out. Bring back the Hot Topic that bucked the trends and gave the freaks a place to call home.

Years active: 1977-2005
Wares: Video games

EB Games, formerly known as Electronics Boutique, was the OG video game spot, the game stop before GameStop even existed. Ironically, GameStop bought out EB Games in 2005, and in one fell swoop, monopolized the video game retail industry. With only one place for gamers to go to for tech support and used game sales, a new, independent series of EB Games outlets are needed for the sake of good, 'ol American competition.

Years active: Late 1980s-2003
Wares: Educational children's toys

Back in the day, we thought of Imaginarium as the "smart" Toys 'R Us, which was a scary thought for some children because it meant they didn't sell Nerf guns and Transformers figures. But, once upon a time, educational toys were some of the most tech-savvy ones in the game. Cool enough for a comeback? Yes, please!

Years active: 1922-2009
Wares: Jewelry, bedding, housewares, and furniture

Where else could you go to for a pair of quality earrings for your lady, a sturdy new desk for your crib, and an amazing set of high-thread-count sheets? Fortunoff was the place for middle-aged moms and grandmas to shop to their heart's content, while dad and the kids went off to do, um, fun things in the mall.

Years active: 1977-2008
Wares: Speciality consumer items

For any kid, The Sharper Image was reason enough to tag along with your mom to the mall. Although you never actually bought anything (that $400 remote control helicopter was never more than a Christmas wish), these stores were basically a luxe Toys R' Us. Plus, who doesn't love a free massage (even if it is courtesy of a chair)?

Years active: 1965-Present
Wares: Speciality consumer items

Due to different branding styles, Brookstone was just a second-rate version of The Sharper Image, but that doesn't mean it wasn't awesome. If the massage chairs at The Shaper Image were all in use, the less-populated Brookstone was always across the mall, and you can bet we were booking it there.

Years active: 1991-2001
Wares: Merchandise based on Warner Bros. movies and television shows

The Warner Bros. Studio Store was the ultimate place for window shopping that often turned into actual purchasing. With Bugs Bunny, Superman, Batman, and other timeless characters crafted into dolls, t-shirts, and posters, once a kid got in there, they weren't leaving without ONE THING. That is, unless mom and dad wanted to deal with a nasty public temper tantrum. We had our ways...

Years active: Unknown-2001
Wares: CDs, DVDs, and video games

Like Sam Goody, Record Town, and the Suncoast Motion Picture Company stores, Coconuts was bought out by Trans World Entertainment, and turned into a crummy f.y.e. The laid-back clerks and fun west coast personality of Coconuts stores were replaced by the corny, corporate-imposed stylings of f.y.e. and its horrible acronym. Ugh. Please bring back Coconuts.

Years active: 1971-2011
Wares: Books, maps, CDs, DVDs, magazines, and board games

Borders, a.k.a. a sqautter's magazine and new bestsellers library, is sorely missed. Who didn't spend at least one afternoon taking in a whole brand new book or magazine, and then putting it right back on the shelf? Maybe that's why it closed its doors two years ago.

Years active: 1922-2009
Wares: Toys, electronics, board games, dolls, and video games

Toys 'R Us stores were never placed in malls, so KB Toys was an essential stop on the mall tour. And because they were so much smaller in size than the typical Toys 'R Us store, but was still just as well-stocked. Every KB Toys was packed to the brim with an overwhelming amount of toys, making the hardest choice at the mall not what color pants to get, but what color Power Ranger to buy.

Years active: 1947-Present
Wares: Clothing, speciality toys, and gag gifts

Spencer's was literally the only place in the mall where you could get a piece of rubber dog poop, a whoopie cushion, and a beer pong table all in one place. Appealing to anyone with a sense of humor and an immature, filthy mind, kids, practical jokers, and college bros all loved this place. Spencer's is sorely missed, and seriously needed back.