I feel like I was one of the last generations to grow up in that amazing “mall time.”
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When I was a young lad in Kitchener, Ont., I would frequent our local malls. We had Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener and Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, Ont., the neighbouring city.
I would often go with my parents and my grandparents and I remember how small I felt walking through those halls. Well, I was small, so it made sense why it felt larger than life. It was an amazing experience.
Here in Lloyd, the LloydMall entered the picture back in 1973. The original draws were Safeway, which is still there, and The Bay.
Most of the shopping of the era was done in downtown at 50 Ave. and 50 St.
With the new player in town, shopping shifted onto 44 St.
Many recognized the importance of being able to have such a shopping establishment under one roof and moved into the mall. Charles Lamb Photography was one of the original tenants. He firmly believed in the power of the mall, while some believed it was a passing trend.
In 1979, the mall completed Phase 2, doubling in size and bringing in a Zellers.
Today, the mall still stands as a proud symbol of not only Lloyd’s history but its shopping needs.
When I moved here, I was shocked at how much is in the mall. I’ve been to and lived in plenty of small to mid-size cities, but have never seen a mall as active as this one.
It goes to show people still like the mall experience. I love walking in, seeing all the stores and knowing I may spend hours in the mall. You can grab food, do some clothes shopping, or check out the public library.
I’ll never forget being a kid in a mall and seeing all the people shopping, all the different noises and sounds. I got to enjoy plenty of family time and see my friends walking around. Whenever I go back and visit Ontario, I often head back to a mall and I still see familiar faces.
Here in Lloyd, whenever I walk into the LloydMall, it takes me back to a much simpler time.
Not only can I get my shopping done under one roof, I can also reminisce.
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