The security guard at Westgate Mall told me he's been there 22 years

I was at Westgate Mall in Springfield last weekend, trying to get a shot of the empty fountain. This older security guard, his name tag said 'Ray', just walked up and started talking. He said he's worked there since 1998, back when the food court had a real arcade. He pointed to a spot by the shuttered Sears and said, 'My daughter got her first job right there, at the pretzel stand. That's gone too.' He wasn't sad, just matter of fact, like he was watching a slow sunset. He said most days now he just makes sure the last few store lights get turned off. It really stuck with me, how someone can watch a whole place fade like that. Has anyone else had a long chat with the last people holding down the fort at a dead mall?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryan_stone5d ago

Talked to a janitor at the old Valley View Cinema for an hour once. He said he misses the smell of popcorn more than the people. I just went in to use the bathroom.

sanchez.robin5d ago

That's a pretty good line from the janitor. Honestly, I'd probably miss the popcorn smell too, since I usually spill most of mine on the floor before the previews are over. Makes me part of the problem he had to clean up.