I'm gonna miss malls.
Indoor shopping malls specifically.
I'll be honest, I never really appreciated the indoor mall spaces until they began to disappear. I took for granted the ample handicap parking spaces at every entrance (good luck getting the ONE, maybe TWO provided at every strip mall).
I failed to realize how much I utilized automated doors...
In the new strip malls, nearly all points of entry are pull handle doors. Even the alternative entrance for the revolving door has no automation to activate for access, but requires someone to assist. (Hello? Anyone available?) Disappearing are the open and inviting entryways welcoming me into every store I might wish to visit.
Did I mention the food court?
I could get something to eat without the hassle of trying to get in and out of an eatery (strip malls and stand alone businesses usually have double doors, no automation available).
There were places for me to eat that didn't require moving my equipment to some other location because it was "in the way."
Then there were the other details.
Things often overlooked, like elevators and ramps.
Oh, and let's not forget restrooms!
Strip malls don't have public restrooms. The businesses that do (restaurants), generally restrict them to patrons only.
Kudos to those who do allow outside guests to use their facilities, but space in these places is limited and accessibility to the facilities can be tight.
Now that is the way to make an entrance!
Accessible sinks not placed directly in front of the doorway.
Changing station located apart from the accessible stall.
Often more than one accessible stall.
I didn't have to end my trip because I had to pee.
Seldom had to wait long periods of time to obtain a stall.
I didn't have to navigate tight dining spaces and disrupt meals to access facilities.
I fit with all my equipment, whatever equipment I may be utilizing that day.
Moreover, there were family and caregiver facilities to make the excursion more manageable.
I hate the thought of these retail meccas disappearing.
Many of them are being torn down and replaced with condos and strip malls. I applaud the ones that are reimagining themselves to be multiuse facilities accessible to everyone. I understand that some of these buildings cannot be easily converted or updated, but I still mourn the loss of parking places, welcoming entrances, smooth surfaces and climate control and dread a future of difficult doors and uneven sidewalks in all manner of weather.
If you're looking for me, I'll be putting the snow chains on my mobile scooter.
All pictures are my own, unless otherwise specified in the captions.
