Preview of Chapter 4:
The Ghost Directory
Below is a preview of Chapter 4: The Ghost Directory from Dead Mall Rising. In this chapter, you will experience El Con Mall in the 1980s through the eyes of Generation X, visiting fourteen mall stores between 1980 and 1990.
“Remember this?” Ever receive texts that start with those two words? I get them often from my brother, Alex. They’re often followed by pictures or videos of toys, commercials, cartoons, TV shows, or movies that we experienced as kids in the 1980s. Alex and I are proud members of Generation X, the demographic born between 1965 and 1980. As of 2023, this entire generational cohort has entered middle age, with the youngest Gen Xers being at least forty-two years old. Turning forty is a significant milestone, and it’s common for people that age to experience nostalgia for their youth. One way to relive the good old days is by reminiscing about things you did when you were younger. Another way is to revisit special places, and for Gen Xers, few places were more beloved than the mall.
The mall played a significant role in many Gen Xers’ childhood and adolescent years. After our parents dropped us off, Alex and I used to spend the whole day at the mall with our friends. We’d play video games, watch movies, shop, eat, and skateboard. For Alex and me, the mall was more than just a place to shop; it was our hangout.”
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