Vancouver Mall — Local services in Vancouver

My, how this place has changed over the years! I remember the days when there was no food court, and my favorite place in the entire mall was an ice cream shop on the upper floor, where they would dip bars of vanilla into hot fudge, and roll them in toppings of your choice (sprinkles, nuts, candies, etc). That was back in the 80s, so the "kids these days" have no idea what they are missing.

Some things that were lost (like our youth!), we'll never get back, but that doesn't mean that all changes are for the worse. In fact, Vancouver Mall, for the most part, has generally improved in almost all aspects. It's cleaner, more vibrant, better lit, with modernized décor, and reasonably well-populated with stores (compared to most other malls in the area, anyway). The one-and-only elevator is still trash; probably the same one from when the mall first opened, creating a bottleneck for people with strollers or in wheelchairs who aren't willing to risk a tricky ride on an escalator.

Unlike most metropolitan malls, Vancouver Mall has a somewhat home-town feel and flair: I mean, it boasts a branch of the local library, for God's sake, as well as a children's play area and a private lounge. There's even a parlor/studio devoted entirely to the taking of selfies (ugh), complete with several different stations boasting mirrors, ring lights, a ball pit, etc...perfect for the narcissist in us all (for a modest fee, of course)! Community events are frequently hosted here, including all of the traditional holidays you'd expect a mall to acknowledge: Halloween, Christmas, Easter...basically, if you can get a picture of your kids sitting on the lap of a stranger in a furry suit, they celebrate it.

Conversely, many of its anchor stores have abandoned their massive retail footprints (as they've frequently done in malls elsewhere), giving way to new tenants not typically seen in suburban shopping centers, such as an AMC movie theater (not as good as the Cinetopia preceding it), a Gold's Gym, a massive arcade (Round One), and a Hobby Lobby. The food court itself is lackluster these days, with nothing truly compelling within, and there are a few options outside of its borders that are above average, with one exception being Los Pepes, directly below.

Even the satellite buildings surrounding the mall's exterior have morphed, expanded, or changed tenants significantly in the last few decades. Many of the chain restaurants remain the same, while also welcoming newcomers such as Voodoo Doughnut, Chick-Fil-A, Five Guys, and more. The bus depot/transit center has moved from the north side to the south, and the inclusion of a Tesla charging station helps reinforce its attempts and modernization and relevancy in a society that increasingly shirks the terrestrial retail experience in favor of the (arguably) dangerous convenience of Amazon Prime and other online storefronts.

The shopping mall will likely never regain its former glory as the nerve center of the American shopping experience, but as these storied structures continue to struggle and persist in an increasingly online environment, a few of them have managed to carve out a niche intriguing enough to draw in enough commerce to keep themselves alive. Vancouver Mall has managed to hold on, white-knuckled, as the rest of the mercantile marketplace crumbled around them. Without the advent of a new retail Renaissance, it may not be long before it too succumbs to the same disease that has eroded the foundations of Lloyd Center, Mall 205, and many of its other neighbors. It will have to continue to evolve, without losing (any more of) its soul; and if taking a picture does steal souls, as some cultures believe, then that selfie parlor is a portent of its encroaching doom!

Don't get me wrong, I still love walking its halls and plazas, but I have to wonder how much of it is nostalgia, as opposed to any particularly relevant retail reason for visiting. I keep returning, but it's never the place I remember from my childhood, and sadly, it probably never...

The main reason I go to the Vancouver Mall is for the pet store. I like the fact that it is privately owned, not one of the two Biggies (Petco & Petsmart). I have a few exotic pets with special diets and I am able to find things here that I can't get at the Biggies. You can tell they take care of their display animals, the ones there month after month. Some of the employees of this pet store are so helpful and friendly, but a couple of them are downright cranky and rude. I think the worst is some sort of co/owner/manager. I avoid the pet store when he is working. Their cricket sizes tend to be more consistent than the Biggies, but run smaller - i.e. their small is Very small, so for a large, ask for an extra large or adult. If they aren't the right size, don't hesitate to ask for a different size - unless it is the cranky employee. :) He will do it, but he may scowl the whole time.

There are exceptions, but the employees in the smaller stores tend to be bored and distracted. I frequent the Starbucks, and have been in the Teavana and the employees in these establishments are almost always very friendly and helpful. The Teavana is worth a visit, even if you aren't a tea drinker.

Probably, the biggest draw in the Mall is the movie theater and I've heard good things about it, but have not been in there myself.

One of the treats I like to give myself when I go to this mall is at a kiosk between the Starbucks and the Food Court. It has all sorts of nose and ear jewelry for very good prices. It is run by a shy oriental lady who I have become acquainted with by my frequent visits. She will adjust your jewelry to fit perfectly if you ask, and she is good at it. It's the only place I have found nose studs I like and that fit my tiny nose - and for which you don't have to pay a king's ransom!

There is a small public library on the second floor. I think it's very cool, but it is a little crowded for a powered wheelchair.

The restaurants in the Mall are very limited, but there is the food court on the second floor and the usual restaurants around outside the Mall-- like Olive Garden, Red Lobster, or Shari's. In the Mall, there are cafe tables with chairs here and there, especially near the Cinnabon, Starbucks, and Pretzel places on the first floor. Last time I was there, there were some couches and overstuffed chairs in one of the intersections - great for people watching. The restrooms are huge and very handicap friendly. There is a very large, and comfortable, family lounge next to the Women's bathroom that is a godsend for nursing moms with other children. All of this is at the end of a long hallway at the back of the Food Court.

Also at the back of the Food Court is this bungee jumping attraction that most kids love. They get strapped into a harness and allowed to jump and do any flips and tricks their bravery allows.

There is an elevator near the Food Court area, another plus for mothers with strollers and the handicapped, and escalators for the rest.

Handicap parking is always a challenge when the Mall is crowded, but when none is available you can always park in one outside a department store, like Sears, and go through the store to the Mall proper.

The Vancouver Mall, is a small, one-big-hallway, mall. It is pretty standard, as far as malls go, but it makes a cool get-away on a hot day, or a nice break from a small apartment. It's a safe place to drop your teenagers for a...

Typical shopping mall, nice that it's 2 stories. Employees are normal, pretty clean, whathaveyou. One thing that's been bothering me is the slow shift in having every young person store be the same. It's all becoming a lot of anime and other themes. Not to diss on the asian influence, I find it very pleasant and I appreciate the exposure, but it feels very unoriginal and copycat-like now. Seems like this is happening to every mall though. As for the mall itself it's fine, and has some nice additives to it. Library is very nice, I like the wifi lounge, love the AMC, and the arcade is AWESOME! I really like the Japanese imported machines, there's a LOT of variety. Claw machine galore to get lost in if that's your thing. Be wary some of the material in the arcade is a little less kid friendly than most western arcades, just a tad. The bus system at the mall is also very accessible and a good spot for the traffic, I use it all the time.

If you get anything from the Boba place to the left when you're looking at it from within the food court though, be careful of the sugar content. It's delicious but it gave me a sugar rush and crash so bad last time it felt like I was on the verge of medical emergency. Might just be a me thing but if you're sugar sensitive watch out.

And please, please don't buy anything from the pet store. Those kinds of pet stores are very harmful to the animals they sell. Adopt or find a reputable breeder instead.

Overall decent. Typical mall. Still alive and...