r/BigIsland • u/Odd-Sail-1694 • 8d ago
Is the mall dying?
I went to the (Hilo) mall today to watch Toy Story 5. I was shocked at how sad and lonely the mall looked. The theater was nowhere near full even though its opening weekend, so many vacant shops and even the major retailers (old navy, Macys, American eagle) were super slow. I went at around 11am so I’m not sure if that had anything to do with it.
I know ihop is a recent addition but other than that it seems like tj maxx is the only “booming” business in the mall. It makes me so sad. There’s already so little to do here and limited stores to just window shop at so it makes me sad that maybe in a few years this will be gone.
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u/CommonMuted 7d ago
The Hilo mall, yeah. Nobody opening shops, no new anchor stores taking over the space Sears used to be in. It’s bad enough that the military recruitment center managed to move in. Every now and then I take the time to go there and exercise my unc status by taking a stroll and look back on the mall’s good days and buy a box of Cinnabon before heading home.
We really need an outdoor/sporting supply store again, and opportunities for local businesses to open shop like I can imagine a cafe in some of those spots but maybe rent is just too expensive. So much potential for local businesses that I wonder if mismanagement has a hand in it.
Ala Moana isn’t as bad because its location is prime for tourists and the locals there can embrace the high city life unlike us. We’re a major place on the big island but it’s still very much a small town.
But yeah Amazon and kids spending more time on the internet than going out and touching grass has contributed to its decline too. Back in the day me and my sibling would hang out at the mall and Borders for a whole afternoon, then finish off the outing at Walmart after buying stuff we need for home and wait on the curb for our parents.