Strawberry Square Mall

Strawberry Square only exists because state workers and college students have lots of money. This is reflected in the fact that the mall– if it can called that– does not have Saturday evening or Sunday hours. Its only purpose for staying open on the weekends appears to be allowing businesses that sell stuff nobody needs to sell their products at low prices that nobody cares about. There are homeless people of course, but they’re not quite as bothersome as one might suspect. They like to sit and stare at the wall. It’s a difficult job, but someone’s got to do it.
The prospects for Strawberry Square staying open appear rather grim. The current Mayor of Harrisburg, Eric Papenfuse, owns and operates his pet bookstore, the Mid-​town Scholar. He recently implemented a new policy saying that people could only stay there for three hours at a time. This appears to have come in response to all the people who love the store and like sitting around all day reading books in a lovely, quiet atmosphere. Strawberry Square does not appear very different.
Now there is an Arby’s, and a Subway, and a Chinese food place, and a Japanese food place, and a Mexican food place, and a smoothie shop, and a pizza shop. Unfortunately, for most of the people alive who only happen to get hungry three times a day, this place will hold no appeal other than a place to sit in uncomfortable chairs while trying to ignore the impolite stares of people passing by.
But, it’s not all bad. I wouldn’t give Strawberry Square zero of five stars. They have nice potted plants.

This mall is very basic &simple nothing about it screams excitement or even tempts you to actually spend your money, oddly enough I liked coming here because it’s always quiet and clean no big crowds long lines or teenagers running around. The food court is decent and they have aunti Anne’s which is a plus!

Unlike some Unilocalers who mention in their reviews that they are not haters of SS, I unabashedly am because honestly the place is a total crap hole.
During the week it’s got some life because of the Capitol being across the street plus all of the government offices and the satellite college campuses which are in the building but past that what is really here and/​or what is the real point/​draw of the this place?
I’m sure some people would mention the «shopping» but I mean come on, how many people are really making this a destination for lottery tickets, jewelry, flowers or the GNC?
Well, but I guess you could bring up the fab dining what with the Arby’s that sometimes runs out of roast beef (WTF?), the Taco Bell, or maybe the Auntie Anne’s and lets not forget the two peddlers of all things MSG based in Asian cuisine.
But if you want the pièce de résistance SS experience you come here on a Saturday or Sunday in the late afternoon especially on a day when the Whitaker Center doesn’t have a concert (which is increasingly more of the time rather than less) when everything is still «open» and see how deserted/​scary everything is. I mean you’ll have your few «residents» from the street hanging around here and there checking things out and security will probably be on around a 1:1 ratio with people who are actually there to eat, shop or have legal/​legitimate business but by now you get the picture that at one point this place maybe served a function or maybe there was a broader plan but as of now SS has fallen into a healthy state of irrelevance which I can’t see it coming back from as tenants (Gamut Theatre Group) continue to leave.

This mall was a nice surprise! Not looking for anything big, just a place to look around while my husband had a business lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and found the biggest Hallmark store I have ever been in! A nice way to spend a few hours!

Not a hater, but I have noticed in the last 20 years of me living here that this mall has lost many things. I used to come here a few times a week and eat at their food court and which had a much broader variety of shops to choose from, now there’s only a handful. A popcorn vendor that made fresh caramel corn and the kinetic sculpture clock ran every day, now it’s kinda hit or miss and the popcorn guy is long gone. It’s very echoey given the openness of the place. It’s by no means a place anymore to waste time at, only to sidestep it if you are waiting for a movie next door at the Whitaker Center. This whole location needs a big olé overhaul.

I don’t understand why there are so many haters for Strawberry Square.
It’s not meant to be some Mega Mall. It’s just meant to be a quaint collection of stores, shops and eating establishments which cater to the business types and tourists. And that is exactly what it achieves!
You can find all sorts of things for all sorts of budgets. There are high end (for the ‘burg) boutiques, regular shopping options, a camera shop, Hallmark, a Food Court with lots of options (I particularly enjoy the stand-​alone ice cream shop :-), access to The Hilton, a really awesome sciencey type of ball/​lever/​funnel/​lift thing for the kids to watch, a funky clock…
So what’s to hate, peops? If you want something better, hop in a car or on a bus and go to an actual mall. I personally recommend stopping in to The Square and seeing what it has to offer.

Imagine the most depressing place you’ve ever visited, and then multiply that experience by ten. That roughly equates to the misery and gloom that defines Strawberry Square.
The potential is there, but the reality is that this place is sadly underwhelming. There’s a food court that is fairly bustling during weekdays, when State employees are taking their lunch breaks, but otherwise, this mall is drab and lifeless. Even the giant Rube Goldberg-​inspired clock in the main foyer isn’t enough to inspire more than a raised eyebrow and cynical smirk (when the clock is working, that is).
The «mall» itself consists of about 20 stores, totally mismatched (Dress Barn, Hallmark, and… a tobacco store? How about that dry cleaning place? That’s a weekend getaway spot, for sure).
Oh, speaking of weekend hours, don’t even bother. On Saturdays, it closes at five PM, and it’s not even open on Sundays. You’ll just have to buy your tobacco at the local Puff-​N-​Snuff.

This mall left me scratching my head. The property owners must have been either immensely drunk or high as a kite when they came up with the building plans. I’m guessing, equal parts of both.
I cannot, for the love of God, figure out who the intended consumer is. There’s an AVON and a Dress Barn for the.erm. stylish? ladies, while a Chiropractic and Lottery store (yup) screams «help me» for the rest of us. To add to the confusion there are also a couple college satellite locations and a mini spa I am fearful of allowing my cuticles near like, ever.
Seriously. Do NOT expect a Gap, Borders or any of the other routine mall stores. Just don’t.
The only reason for my sadly frequent visits was the food court, period. During the ridiculously 3 hour long wait transferring from Greyhound to Amtrak on family visits I would usually have lunch here as it was a quick, convenient walk. It’s decent enough and is the ONLY aspect of this mall that’s typical in that there’s a SUBWAY, Chinese options, Arby’s, etc.
Ultimately I suppose I’d give this place five stars if I wore tacky stretch clothing, purchased all my make up through my next door neighbor, had back problems and gambled but eh, other than for the reason of needing to feed, I’d pass this place up.

crappy mall in downtown harrisburg. overpriced stores filled with stuff nobody needs. check out the crazy sculpture-​thingie in the center court.
Large food court fills with state workers at lunchtime.
It’s worth strolling through if you’re going to go to the Whitaker Center or need to escape the summer heat but I wouldn’t make a special trip.