What's Become of the Emerald Square Mall?

By Mya Miller
Lion’s Roar Staff

It's 2010 and you are at your house, hanging out with a friend. You remember that 50% off American
Eagle coupon that was handed out to you last weekend at the store. You go ask your mom if your friend
and you can go shopping, and she obliges. You hop in the car to head to Emerald mall.
Fast forward a decade later…
It's 2020 and you are at your house, laying on your bed, watching Tik Tok on your phone.Your mom
tells you to get up and do something. A notification pops up on your phone saying you have received a
50% off coupon for American Eagle starting today. Quickly you pull out your laptop and open up a tab
for American Eagle.You scroll down and it's time to start online shopping!
With online shopping becoming all the rage, what is their left for local indoor malls? Online
stores such as Amazon are quickly becoming America’s favorite online shopping centers with fast
shipping, cheap prices, and easy access.
Not only are indoor malls feeling the heat of online shopping, but also the burn of outlet malls.
Outlets such as Smithfield, Lincoln, and Wrentham have every type of store and restaurant available,
department, grocery, clothes, and so much more. Outlet stores conveniently have every type of store so
customers can get all their shopping done in just one plaza. While most indoor malls, such as the Emerald
Square Mall, only contain clothing stores, restaurants, fast food, with a few additional activities.
Indoor malls such as Emerald Square Mall are a Friday or Saturday night adventure compared to
online shopping. Shopping is a fun event to do with friends, while online shopping is just convenient.
Sadly, so many stores are becoming bankrupt due to Coronavirus. During the time of quarenting
many stores received a shortcoming of customers with all of their retail stores closed.
At the Emerald Square Mall many stores have been doomed to foreclosure. Within the last year
more than a dozen stores and restaurants have left the local indoor mall. Fast food restaurants and stores
such as Planet Smoothie, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, PacSun, Justice, Sears, GNC, Olympia Sports, Cali
Trends, Gymboree, Abercrombie & Fitch, and many more are all closed or are closing currently.
What will the Emerald Square Mall become with these three issues, online stores, outlet malls,
and Coronavirus, attacking the local indoor malls?