Acadiana Mall — Attraction in Lafayette

Although the mall had the things my Granddaughter was looking for, there are several things that are not so good. They don't need someone to tell you how to get to a store, just a map with the layout & names of the stores would suffice. The food court is nothing like it used to be. Many of the really good eateries have pulled out due to the loss of mostly good quality stores & services. Almost all of the major stores have pulled out leaving this place a shadow of it's former self. It's a shame that a city as large as Lafayette could not find the time, money or effort to keep good quality stores here. The malls are a dying breed of store. So much easier to order what you want over the phone or computer without having to pay for upkeep, taxes, or paying personnel to run or maintain the stores. SAD that these companies chose profits over people's jobs and saving on taxes to serve us the customers, so they become wealthier, for the sake of themselves. There are literally no discounts here, except for already...

Has a wide selection of stores, is generally very clean, and has a very friendly and helpful security staff. The biggest problem though is how the mall's layout feels antagonistic towards lingering. Despite the occasional chair, there never feels like there is a comfortable place to just sit or meet up. Despite malls being socially recognized as a gathering spot for shopping and congregating, it feels not too dissimilar to online shopping:

go in, get your stuff, and leave, and just like online shopping, its full of ads. Not in the literal sense so much, but more that between every store in its spacious corridors aren't social spaces, but more shops looking to sell you more things. While the vendors would feel acceptable in most situations, and of course the mall exists to sell you things, the lack of social spaces make the experience feel like you're being herded down and shoved through an Amazon page full of products. While Amazon is convenient, its not what I go to...

I love everything about this place. The food court foods are good and fresh, the kiddie play area is clean most of the time and full of kids enjoying themselves (though some would benefit from their parents watching them better, I'm tired of my two little ones being pushed around and I have to comfort them and explain they wasn't doing anything wrong because bigger kids are just rude and not taught better) the cookie store does sometimes under cook their cookies but mostly they are great. Some of the vending machines keep the cokes hot. Spencer's is there and bath and body works is in there too. The restrooms could use a bit more cleaning but I'm generally in there in the busiest times so it's probably just the people making it trashy and I don't hold that against the whole mall. I love going to the mall all in all and love taking my kids to the little play area and will never stop going. May take my kids tomorrow for the...