That conversation with my dad about the old food court hit me hard

I was telling my dad about my last trip to the Granite Run Mall near Philly, and he just got quiet for a second. Then he said 'you know, that Sbarro pizza tasted better when I had to share a table with strangers.' It made me realize the empty spaces aren't just about stores closing, it's about losing those random moments with people you'd never talk to otherwise. He told me about this guy he met in 1987 who gave him stock tips by the lemonade stand, and he actually made $200 off that advice. Now I walk through those halls and just see silence and cracked tiles. Has anyone else had a parent or older friend change how you see a dead mall by sharing a memory from back when it was full?

2 comments

2 Comments

stellat879d ago

That Sbarro line really got me...

faith_perez8d ago

My cousin tried that at the mall food court once. Ordered a whole slice and told the guy "I always knew you'd be famous." The cashier just stared at him. Took a bite and realized it was stale. Now every time we pass a Sbarro he brings it up. Kinda ruined the bit for me honestly.