50 Years ago today 8/4/1971: "The heat is off in Austin" as Highland Mall opens

[hurl]

This was Austin's first enclosed mall. It had a good run but closed in 2015 and is now part of Austin Community College.

My dad managed one of the stores there so that was our impetus for moving to Austin, where I spent most of my formative school years growing up. Just a little personal story, but it for sure changed the trajectory of my life. I loved sneaking into Spencer's to look at the posters, black lights, and naughty gifts.

[CottonBear]

1. Northgate Mall in Tennessee was my 70s mall.

Spencer’s Gifts, Paraphanalia ladies clothes & Pier 1 were my fave spots.

[hurl]

2. Old school I still love malls

I hate to see online shopping kill them off

[I_UndergroundPanther]

3. Mall rat here

I liked hanging out with my friends at White Marsh mall the other I was at a lot was Towsontown mall .

It will be sad to see them go.

Malls were not just a bunch of stores. They had an eatery,and it was the place to hang out with friends.

And nobody pushed you to buy something or get out. So you could spend hours goofing off with friends. As parents run errands or you could get dropped off spend a few hours there and go home later.

No store is like that.

Places to socialize in a public space are dwindling.

[hurl]

4. Definitely get it

Something special we don't really have as much anymore

[TexasTowelie]

5. I lived about a mile away from Highland mall between 1988 and 1990.

While I didn't hang out there much, every now and then I would pop in to get something from either Sears or JC Penney. I also used the food court as my layover spot when I was taking the bus from either Dallas or Brenham since the Greyhound station is in walking distance, particularly in 2012 and 2013 as the mall was shutting down.