Mid City Mall — Attraction in Louisville

The library here--Highlands/Shelby Park--is my first & long-time go-to. The librarians include Ruth, my favorite of all time. There's a YA/Middle room as well, beautifully done, a safe space for older kids with lots of tech and a young, tech-hip librarian who is also on-page with many of the manga, comic novels, & other emerging media.

I miss some of the businesses that have moved on, but appreciate the diversity now, especially the medical clinic. Mention MUST be made of the Nearly New shop downstairs across from Jim's Gym. NN is a fountain of wonders for those looking for a bargain.

Speaking of bargains, Valu Market is a needed alternative to Kroger when you're squeezing your dimes & stretching the dollars. The meat sales are the principal ways you'll save money, but VM's meat aisle is a paradise compared to ANY OTHER MARKET in town--including Kroger, TJ's, Lucky's, and ESPECIALLY Whole Foods. The Amish-raised chicken alone is worth a special trip.

At the other end of the pedway, our world in da 'Ville would not be right without Baxter Avenue Theaters. The numerous matinees, the vast tubs of buttery corn, the comfy seats, the occasional showings of breakout films (like "Moonlight," with discussion afterward)... I don't know about youze guyz, but I try to go there first.

Mid City has its share of odd little fast-food come and goes, none of which I bother with. It's got a tiny, stalwart jewelry store, which I've never had cause to enter. It's got jazzercise and kid dance classes and related activities, and there may still be a very good autism school there. It's a special place. Here was located a Winn-Dixie. People have driven their cars into it. I saw "Black Panther" here. Mid City Mall is an institution, dudes, and don't...

Mid City Mall, nestled in the heart of the Highlands, has always been a convenient spot for locals, but it’s hard to ignore that it’s a shadow of its former self. The parking situation is a plus, with plenty of spaces available, making it an easy stop for anyone driving in the area.

One of the mall’s highlights is its movie theater, offering a cozy spot to catch the latest films. The public library is another gem, providing a quiet refuge for readers and students alike. For grocery shopping, there’s a store that caters to the more eclectic tastes of Highlands’ hipster chefs, offering a range of unique ingredients you might not find elsewhere. Dining options are available too, although they are limited.

However, the mall is struggling to stay relevant in today’s retail landscape. Like many large malls across the country, Mid City Mall has seen better days. Most of its shops are closed, and the few small businesses that remain are barely hanging on due to the lack of foot traffic. It’s depressing to walk through the mall and remember what used to be here—bustling stores and vibrant restaurants that have slowly disappeared.

This decline mirrors the challenges facing the Highlands neighborhood itself. As more homeless individuals move into the area and new developments and investments are directed north towards the NuLu neighborhood, the once-thriving community seems to be fading. Mid City Mall stands as a stark reminder of this shift, a place that used to be a hub of activity now struggling to find its place in a changing city.

Overall, while Mid City Mall still has some valuable features, it’s clear that it’s fighting an uphill battle to stay relevant and vibrant. It’s a place of nostalgia for many, but its future...

Mid City Mall is kind of a weird place. It always has been. Calling it a 'mall' is really an overreach, yet, I'm not sure what category it would actually fit into. It's definitely a dying model and quite unlike any I've ever been in. But, it's a familiar, comfortable, weird place. Until recently, I lived about 3 minutes walking distance away, and I could cover almost all of my needs, some until 9 pm and some until 2 am. It has a neighborhood, almost, small-town feel, that is nearly becoming extinct. You get to know the clerks at Value Market and Family Dollar, and they know you. I've almost filled my punch card at Nearly New Shop, downstairs, which has some great, second-hand, finds, and the very patient librarians, at the Highland- Shelby Park library, have assisted me countless times with numerous issues, Mid City is, then, rounded out with great food at the very popular, Ramen, movies at Baxter Ave or live humor at Comedy Caravan. You can finish your evening, with a late night cocktail and snack, around the corner at the oddly, eclectic, Back Door, and when you can't find it--anywhere-- the most helpful, handsome, funny, security in town, Avri, will point you in the right direction and make you laugh at the same time.. All in all, you have a complete 'mall' experience. Weird, but complete. That's probably why I like it. We have the...