Fashion District Philadelphia — Attraction in Philadelphia

⭐️⭐️✰ — In sum: @fashiondistrict DO BETTER.

I’ve had decent experiences with some individual stores in the Fashion District, but the mall itself—specifically its management and security operations—is a mess.

Despite having security guards on-site almost constantly, employees from multiple stores have reported feeling unsafe, especially at night. And it’s not just talk: GUESS is permanently closing their location in this mall after expressing repeated concerns about staff safety. Their ask was simple—better, more present, more effective security. The mall’s response? A rent increase. Not action. Not accountability. Just a higher price tag to stay in an unsafe environment. GUESS walked, and honestly, who could blame them?

This incident speaks volumes. Rather than delivering coordinated security efforts, guards act on personal preference—some shutting down entryways 30 minutes before official close, while others leave doors wide open. It’s inconsistent, confusing, and gives the impression that security is more focused on clocking out early than keeping anyone safe.

That kind of disjointed, self-serving behavior not only undercuts guest experience but actively hurts the stores trying to stay open until close. It discourages last-minute shopping, drives away regulars, and sours trust. Meanwhile, storefronts are shelling out huge sums for rent that’s supposed to include reliable security—yet find themselves picking up the slack when management shrugs off its responsibility.

The Fashion District was supposed to be a comeback story. Right now? It’s squandering that shot.

Here’s the breakdown: • Mall cleanliness: 4/5 • Atmosphere: 3/5 • Safety/security: 2/5 • Consistent enforcement of policies: 1/5 • Store-level experiences: 4/5 • Communication w/ stores through mall contact systems: 1/5 • Transit access: 3/5 — the MFL drops you at a major entry, but that’s only helpful if they haven’t closed it early.

Total: 16/35 → 46% → 2.3/5

Photos show purchases made at various stores within the mall, not the mall itself or security concerns—because those are harder to photograph, but...

In the pantheon of digital-to-celluloid adaptations, Minecraft: The Movie stands—not unlike a solitary dirt block atop a mountain of obsidian—as an improbable yet sublime manifestation of chaotic artistic intent. It is at once a postmodern triumph and an unapologetic affront to all that is sacred in classical cinema. Watching it is akin to spelunking into Plato’s cave, only to discover the shadows are 8-bit renderings and the fire is fueled by raw meme energy.

But before I delve into the thematic undertow of this cuboid opera, I must confess something of a personal nature—an anecdote that, while perhaps unbecoming of one in my station, is nonetheless essential to fully understanding the power of this film. At precisely forty-three minutes into the runtime, during a sequence in which Steve attempts to seduce a villager with nothing but a stack of raw porkchops and a series of unintelligible grunts, I experienced a paroxysm of laughter so violent, so transcendentally convulsive, that I lost control of my corporeal faculties. Yes, dear reader—I soiled myself.

In that moment, surrounded by horrified patrons and a palpable scent of shame, I recognized the rarest of cinematic phenomena: a film so audacious in its absurdity that it breaks down the barrier between critic and clown, rendering us all mere spectators to the chaos of genius. The ushers, I should add, were remarkably professional.

…And though I left the theater humiliated, damp, and with the reluctant assistance of a janitor named Kyle, I also left forever changed.

Minecraft: The Movie is not merely cinema—it is an existential crucible forged in bedrock and fire. It dares to ask: what is art, if not a man screaming at a Creeper before being blown into oblivion, and then rebuilding, block by block?

In short: it is absurd. It is brilliant. It ruined my pants.

And I would watch it again tomorrow.

Five diamonds...

The Fashion District leaves much to be desired, it lacks desirable anchor stores (Burlington Coat Factory doesn't cut it), it has a handful of branded clothing stores, but little else. Much of Fashion District is vacant.

The food court is very limited, niche, and expensive. There was a hot dog specialty retailer where their average price was $10 per hot dog, but they closed in the summer of 2025. As of fall 2025, the food court has a Cinnabon, Philly Pretzel Co., quick serve Thai, quick serve Chinese food, and a I think a niche buger place (but it always seems to be closed). If you dig it, there is a Starbucks kiosk..

I have mixed feelings about the cinema, I think it is nice to visit on the rare occasion I attend, but the seat reservation system makes no sense and when I last used it caused unnecessary conflicts.

Many more of the supposedly major fashion retail tenants have closed; gradually they have been replaced by a mini golf center, something that seems like an off brand Chuckie Cheese for kids, and a laser tag place.

The pop up shops promised have never really developed, there's maybe three of them on the bottom level near Strawbridges end of the mall, all three market to one very narrow demographic.

Now that the Giant Heirloom grocery store closed at the old Strawbridge and Clothier there is just another unfilled retail space that doesn't seem to have a lot of potential prospects.

As a city resident, I hoped the Fashion District would be convenient Mall and shopping center I could public transit to and visit during lunch at work, it's not and offers little. I long for the old Gallery with Strawbridges, KMart,...