Villa Oaks Shopping Center Redevelopment

          Before demolition, this was once something I am unsure of, but as far as I know, its was Bally's Total Fitness, then LA Fitness, they closed, and opened a year later, possibly was to remodel, then closed. Now the store front is being demolished to a future that I am uncertain of, what is coming to the Villa Oaks shopping center?

          I did a Malls in Songs post about a group called The Orwells, and they feature in there music video driving down Roosevelt Road. The LA Fitness was still opened at the time of taping.

Loopnet

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Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee, Illinois Before Renovations Begin

           I have been saying this for years, the Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee, Illinois is finally receiving some renovations and new design accoutrement's. According to an article by the Daily Herald, Spring Hill mall will receive additional renovations on top of demolition of the former JCPenney and food court, to bring a modern, lifestyle center addition to the otherwise enclosed mall.

          Here are my pictures taken a few days before this section of the mall I presume is now closed off. There were signs on each store that said the day these were taken was there last day, that or they already closed, or in the process of leaving.

Food court

'

Wing

Former furniture store

Former JCPenney store.

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Family Guy Makes Fun of Payless in Stop 'N' Shop

          "Brian In Love" is episode 4 of Family Guy season 2 when Brian's emotions for Lois take control over his bladder, and when shopping at Stop 'N' Shop, Brian looses control and lets it go all over the floor. Peter comments on Brian's actions and says "where do you think your at, Payless?", saying that Payless is to such low standards that customers are welcome to going to the bathroom on the floor with no problems.

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The "Needless Markup" Joke

It seems when you Google "Needless Markup", the second search result is Neiman Marcus. Its funny to read the Urban Dictionary definition that refers to a Target shirt is 5 dollars, and the Neiman Marcus shirt is 105 dollars.

In American Dad, Snot's cousin is having his bar mitzvah and is registered at Neiman Marcus.

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Trip to the Mall Merchandise

Needless to say, these are not for sale just quite yet, but are ready to be voted on, there is a series of basic shirts with the logos on them and are ready to be bought.

Make sure to check the shirts out on Trip to the Mall Facebook page and comment for the ones you like the most.

Here are the mens shirts that will be available...

Here are the womens shirts that will be available...

I hope you like them and cannot wait for feedback.

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Contempo Casual was the Cornerstone to Every 90s Teen Wardrobe

          Some might ask, whatever happened to Contempo Casual?, well first, they were a store that sold teen and young adult clothing in the 1980s and 1990's, famously known for being mentioned in the timeless 1995 hit film Clueless, and since then, in 1995, competing clothing chain Wet Seal bought all 237 store from Nieman Marcus Group. The stores continued to operate under the Contempo name until 2001, before the rest of the stores were changed to Wet Seal and the Arden B. concept that was launched in November 1998.

Here is a store somewhere in the Northeast in the 90s.

Really cool logo...

The 1995 movie Clueless quote...

What do you think?, thank you for reading and remember to ask questions and comment below and do not forget to check out Trip to the Mall on Facebook.

Pittsburgh Dad Travels Back in Time to Hills!

          You know how much of a fan I am of the Pittsburgh Dad series on YouTube, where Curt Wootton plays the Pittsburgh Dad who's life is centered around the observations of his blue-collared comedic presence and the daily life of putting up with the actions of family and friends. Back To The Future celebrated its 30th anniversary a few weeks ago, why I didn't post this then I will not know, I guess I can't go back and do it...or can I? Anyway, in this installment, Pittsburgh Dad finds himself behind the wheel of the Delorean Time Machine and goes back to points where life was better for Dad.

Here is Pittsburgh Dad in the background of the polished time icon, the Delorean Time Machine.

What a complete hipster!

There's something about this date?

Pittsburgh Dad goes to Hills, a classic staple to both the young and old residents discount shoppers of the Pittsburgh area before 1999.

Dad leaving Hills fulfilled with pretzel, drink, and bag of goods in hand, on the ready to continue to go back in time.

A time in life to remember.

Thank you Pittsburgh Dad for doing a Back To The Future tribute!

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Neat Series of Pictures of Familiar Settings: PART 1.

(THESE ARE NOT MY PICTURES AND I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO CLAIM THEM MY OWN)          

       
          I have known about this particular site link for a while, but now came across it again to re purpose around my opinion. This has several photos of stores that I have either gone to, or known about, and others that are just plain cool to look at and appreciate the setting as a whole, the cars, people, how these moments in time seem to look so different to how looking at the world through a lens has changed.

Based on the stores, whether closed or still open at the time these pictures where taken, I assume its 2003 or 2004, the cars in the surroundings are the best way for me to determine what the time period is.

Here is a shopping center off Interstate 80 near Oakland, California, which features common stores like Kmart and Home Depot, and local chains like former grocery store Pak 'n' Save.

The Kmart in the distance is now Target.

I like this rather large sign of the street, meant to be seen off the interstate, features an interesting combination of namesakes. I thought Sportmart was only a Chicago area chain, but guess not.

This is in San Leandro, California, and was told it was a Chrysler factory.

When Wal-Mart kept there stores looking independent, not a bland beige and dark brown store front (this store is in Reno, Nevada).

Here is a Toys R Us store in Detroit, Michigan that closed in April 2003.

I have been here for sure, here is my post of the North Towne Square Mall in Toledo, Ohio, although it was changed to the Lakeside Centre

Here is a Montgomery Ward store in Clinton, Michigan. There is now a Lowes store in its space.

This is also in Toledo, Ohio, all the anchors are here, but no mall, there never was a mall, but cool to have two full sized anchors, the national store Sears, and regional store Elder-Beerman, both still open.

The first product of the idea thought up in Troy. This Kmart in White Lake, Michigan, although closed in spring 2014, was the first to wear the green and grey concept look to see if this would have been the future of Kmart, it never took off, and only a few of these concept stores remain open, this one, and two in Illinois are closed.

Thank you for reading and thank you to the people that took these pictures, they are great to see what was open then, and how different it looks now whether in person, or on Google Street View.