Warren Centre — Local services in Conewango Township

The mall of my youth, now an empty shell of its former self. No use in sugar-coating it: The best days of this mall are well and far behind it. It breaks my heart, because this was THE social gathering place for teenagers in my day.

A word about the "old days": There were times when this mall was PACKED with people, so much so that it was difficult to find parking. Every store unit was filled, and there was a good variety to the shops: Kay-Bee Toys, Waldenbooks, Electronics Boutique, Aladdin's Castle Arcade, Sterling Optical for eyeglasses, Radio Shack, Bavarian Pretzel, Orange Julius, the best pizza shop in town (Napoli's Pizza), Ponderosa for the family dining experience, banks, jewelry stores, catalog showrooms, sporting goods stores, J.C. Penny's, K-mart -- you name it, the Warren Mall had it! Everything seemed so modern and up-to-date, you could spend hours window shopping there, scuttling over to the cinema to watch a movie then coming back and ordering a pizza at Napoli's to discuss it with your friends!

That was over 20 years ago. Now the Warren mall consists of The Bon Ton, Napoli's Pizza, Label Shopper, and a few hair and nail salons. They've recently added a Dunham's Sports, but it should be noted that it has no entrance from inside the mall, so it's ties to the "mall" model are tenuous at best.

I know that given the current state of the economy, and recent tax reforms that have repealed the incentives that made shopping malls viable have eroded their utility EVERYWHERE in recent years, but this still utterly breaks my heart. Come for the great pizza, stay for the ghosts of...

In the grand scheme, it is an overwhelming stockpile of dry goods; shelf-stable, household, pantry and wireframing. The eye-popping amount of things American use and consume is amazing, but more importantly: the prices are not overwhelming.

Prices at any Ollie's nationwide is jaw-dropping. I have filled Easter baskets, and Christmas stockings with my reasonable and often, unique finds from Ollie's. (Fortnite board game mimicking the Monopoly brand. Let me tell you, that is a game that isn't monopolistic! But EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY AND EXTENDED, LOVED IT!) I had to get one for the price. I was so darn excited I literally told EVERYONE I KNEW... And maybe some people I didn't. You can't beat $5 for family fun. I can't.

However, unless a nap is provided, Ollie's will remain a treasure secret only to be accessed when you have a day to shop. Otherwise, just ask. Three employees are happy and helpful!

The fire stars is because it is overwhelming and you guys do need to issue a map.

Make it electronic: make it accessible...

Glad to have these stores in town, especially Ollie's. We used to drive to Erie to shop there. However, still feel a weather-protected, covered walkway or indoor hall would have been a much smarter design for a town snowbound for almost nine months of the year! All strip malls are not created equal! Also, half-demolished KMart is unsightly and depresses the image of the renovated sections and...