I have no recollection of anything other than stores and restaurants in malls while growing up, but it seems like in the last 10 years the business of small stands in the actual walking aisle part of the mall have popped up EVERYWHERE. Some sell bad gold jewelry, others sell sports hats, calendars, purses, etc. Those are not quite so offensive, annoying that they take up walking room, especially when you have a stroller, yes.....but offensive no. The other brand of stands that are terribly annoying are the ones pimping products where they want you to try it out - who hasn't been approached to have them try their hair straightener on their hair, or try this dead sea hand rub, or hey try this fake cigarette thingy.....it's like a pushy infomercial that's all up in your face. I HATE these stands - I come to the mall to shop and relax, not be pressured to try or buy your crap that I'm forced to walk by. But that's not what really gets me....what I find incredibly odd in malls now-a-days is the odd services stand smack dab in the middle of the mall. I'm talking about massages stations, teeth whitening, aqua massage, eyebrow threading all right out there in the public for every single person who happens to walk buy to watch. I just don't get it. I love me a great massage, but having it done in the middle of a mall seems kind of counter productive when it comes to relaxation.
So, I vote let's take malls back to the focus on what they are which is shopping. For those of you that actually utilize these services - I simply don't get you.
