Alton Square Shopping Center

I hate to kick any business while it’s down, but Alton Square Mall is a miserable place to shop. They have a few decent stores left (Maurice’s, Finish Line, Bath and Body Works) but it’s a pretty sad excuse for a mall at this point. I was there yesterday to go to the NY and Company outlet store that I had previously loved here, and it wasn’t here anymore. There’s still a Macy’s and a JC Penney’s. The Macys has a ton of «Last Call» sections with deep discounts but nothing really worth while. The entire upstairs looks abandoned, and there’s even a library here. How tragic. While there yesterday, I said to myself that this mall seems like the type of place that only people paying their bills would go to. Why a few minutes later I was talking to a friend that I was there and she said that her grandmother goes to that mall to pay her bill?! I’m not even joking! Sad…

I feel sorry for Alton square mall! One reviewer said the mall is like a ghost town. I can totally agree with that. I remember 20+ years ago that this mall was the best place to go to! Maybe because I was a kid and there was an awesome arcade! The last time I was here was about a year ago and before that many moons ago. There are a few stores there but they really need to be renovated. Like Macy’s…the store looks so old, lightly dimmed, scary, dirty, and smelly. The associates seem to fall in the same category too. I’m not sure how stores survive in this mall. They just need to knock it down and do something else. Actually, the entire town needs some renovation. Just my opinion anyways.

This place is a waste of time. They have only a very few stores. However the Philly shack in the food court (if You can call it that) is really good. There is a JCPenny and a bath and body works so if that’s ask you need it is quicker than going to a real mall but if you need more than that just keep driving.

This mall was jumping with business in the 80’s and early 90’s. Unfortunately as stores move out so did the people. There are very few places to go here & even fewer of the original businesses left. The Cookie Factory & Olga’s are originals. There’s still Claire’s & Hallmark too. The food court is almost non-​existent last time I was in. It’s just a shame. Rumor has it that the mall was bought out & prices were raised on the rents, so big name stores like, Jean Nicole, Foxmoor (sp.), 5−7−9, etc. all moved out. They had a hard time getting good stores in after that.

I was needing to mail some important packages. I did some research and they have a post office in Alton Square Mall. How awesome. I walk and people were waiting in line. The lady at the front of the line was being extremely rude to the clerk. Not once did the post office worker raise her voice to met the tone of the lady’s. She remained calm and cool. I was at the table trying to get my items into packages. Once the clerk got everyone taken care of, she asked if I needed help. I told her what I was attempting to do. She took the time to help we get everything mailed, and at a good cost. Thank you maam, What great customer service.

After getting something to eat and a stop in Kohl’s, I made my way to «Alton Square», sure that I could find a pretty cheap, «douchey» enough shirt. I was being Pauly D from Jersey Shore and I was positive Macy’s or JC Penneys would have what I needed at a reasonable price. I compared goods and went with one from Macys. I was hoping that Payless would have a cheap pair of white high tops to really pull the costume off, but they did not deliver. Spencers also disappointed me with not having a large crucifix necklace. They really have some, shall I say, adult material in there. I think I was always too nervous that someone I knew would make me feel really awkward in there, and thats still true…
The other review really hit the nail on the head. This was one of the playgrounds of my youth. I feel like I had to have been here at least once a week through about 6^th or 7^th grade. My favorite memory is running around the department stores hiding in the center section of the clothes racks. Probably supposed to be trying on school shorts. Cub scout pinewood derbys used to be held here. The Hardees and the rest of the food court were pretty awesome, complete with Dairy Queen. TILT was SWEET!
Now it is pretty much wasting away, hoping that these new owners will actually do something. But dido about the carpet. WTF? The library is sweet. Olga’s is delicious.

This is an absolute turd of a mall. The department stores are all just fine, but the mall itself is like a ghost town.
Two floors of mostly-​empty shops. Last time I was there, I counted over 40 unoccupied shops. The place is eerily quiet. At Christmas, there might be a dozen or two people coming and going.
For years, there have been rumors that some mysterious party is planning on revamping the mall and adding a movie theater. The mall has withered away waiting for it’s Prince Charming.
A couple of years ago, a new company bought the mall, and the community just knew that this was the big change we had all been waiting for. Nope. They’ve done little more than lay down carpet. …and a carpeted mall? Really? It’s not going to stay that color, I promise.
The «The Food Court» once housed Sbarro, Hardees, Dairy Queen, and a Chinese place. Now there is only an empty wing with a restroom and some quarter-​rides.
All that’s missing are the tumble weeds.
Reasons the mall still has 2 stars:
— The department stores (Sears, JCPenney, and Macy’s) are alive and kicking. The mall itself is merely the cobweb that ties them together.
— There are still a few little stores that remain nice in the sea of decay: Radio Shack, the Cookie Factory, Olga’s Kitchen, Gingiss Formal-​wear, NY&Co, Bath & Body, Christopher & Banks, Hallmark, and Payless. There are others… but that’s really about it.
— THE LIBRARY. The new Alton Square Branch of the Hayner Library is AWESOME. It’s huge, with all the amenities of a modern library. Tons of media access and study space. It’s gorgeous.
— There is a big empty parking lot where weird little traveling carnivals and circuses can set up camp. Who doesn’t love that?