Comments on: Looking back at the Natick Mall http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall Life in the 'ham Thu, 17 May 2012 17:58:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Rich http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16884 Rich Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:51:53 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16884 Personally, I don’t like the new SW at all. Think they should’ve rebuilt a modern version of the old one, more pedestrian-friendly---Ben F Not sure what the trend was when they redeveloped SW but what you just described is what Legacy Place in Dedham is like. Stores resonably conncected to each other and easily walked from stor to store. Probably the restaurants help make the place a destination. Personally, I don’t like the new SW at all. Think they should’ve rebuilt a modern version of the old one, more pedestrian-friendly—Ben F

Not sure what the trend was when they redeveloped SW but what you just described is what Legacy Place in Dedham is like. Stores resonably conncected to each other and easily walked from stor to store. Probably the restaurants help make the place a destination.

]]> By: Ben F http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16848 Ben F Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:06:08 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16848 Yes, we all miss those two old places (I know I do ;(). But I think what we have to remember is that both the Mall and SW were incredibly dated by the 90s and need substantial improvement in order to carry themselves into the rest of the 90s and beyond. The owners of both malls gave them very few renovations (if any). My mom bought some maternity clothing at the old Mall in the 70s, and she says it remained exactly the same till it was torn down. Shoppers World was really showing its age, too. Personally, I don't like the new SW at all. Think they should've rebuilt a modern version of the old one, more pedestrian-friendly. The Mall now I think is just too much and too overrated. Just wish they could've kept it simpler and more navigable. Oh well, times change I guess. Yes, we all miss those two old places (I know I do ;(). But I think what we have to remember is that both the Mall and SW were incredibly dated by the 90s and need substantial improvement in order to carry themselves into the rest of the 90s and beyond. The owners of both malls gave them very few renovations (if any). My mom bought some maternity clothing at the old Mall in the 70s, and she says it remained exactly the same till it was torn down. Shoppers World was really showing its age, too.

Personally, I don’t like the new SW at all. Think they should’ve rebuilt a modern version of the old one, more pedestrian-friendly. The Mall now I think is just too much and too overrated. Just wish they could’ve kept it simpler and more navigable. Oh well, times change I guess.

]]> By: BF http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16775 BF Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:55:19 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16775 Nice set of photos! Do you know the year/decade these are from? Looks to me like either late 60s/early 70s. Nice set of photos! Do you know the year/decade these are from? Looks to me like either late 60s/early 70s.

]]> By: Tom D http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16759 Tom D Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:45:12 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16759 I remember when there was a grocery store at Shopper's World and you would put your groceries on the rollers and they would get sent outside to load up your car that you drove to the front of the store. How about General Cinema's and they had one theatre that had a balcony which they never opened except for when the movie was a success like for Star Wars. Too many memories. It is ashame we didn't feel the historic value for Shopper's World as we do for old homes in the town. It is something we will never get back and was something that just needed a little more thought from planners to keep its footprint. Don't get me started on the Natick Mall. It is an abomination and Natick should be ashamed as well for what they have allowed to be built at the mall. I remember when there was a grocery store at Shopper’s World and you would put your groceries on the rollers and they would get sent outside to load up your car that you drove to the front of the store. How about General Cinema’s and they had one theatre that had a balcony which they never opened except for when the movie was a success like for Star Wars.

Too many memories. It is ashame we didn’t feel the historic value for Shopper’s World as we do for old homes in the town. It is something we will never get back and was something that just needed a little more thought from planners to keep its footprint.

Don’t get me started on the Natick Mall. It is an abomination and Natick should be ashamed as well for what they have allowed to be built at the mall.

]]> By: Paul C http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16731 Paul C Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:08:50 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16731 Shoppers' World being the first suburban shopping mall in the Boston area, was the place to go and a great destination for people in the greater Boston area. As a young family with little children, it was the place to go during the Christmas season to view the displays and small zoo accompanying the Christmas displays including the soldiers standing guard throughout. It was sad to see the origninal mall go, but the memories will always be. Paul C Shoppers’ World being the first suburban shopping mall in the Boston area, was the place to go and a great destination for people in the greater Boston area. As a young family with little children, it was the place to go during the Christmas season to view the displays and small zoo accompanying the Christmas displays including the soldiers standing guard throughout. It was sad to see the origninal mall go, but the memories will always be.
Paul C

]]> By: Scott Souza http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16695 Scott Souza Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:38:37 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16695 <p>Just a head's up to the author.... It's "Flutie Pass" as in Doug Flutie..... not Flute, like the musical instrument.</p> <p>Great post though... I loved Shoppers' World and the old Natick Mall.... we used to go to York Steakhouse all the time back in the day there. Since we mainly went on a Sunday night, and back then the mall wasn't open on Sundays except for a few weeks before Christmas, it was always eerie and very cool to be at the mall when everything else was closed except for York... and the big fountain of course....</p> *michelle here: autocorrect changed it to flute, and I hadn't noticed. Of course most of us remember what an honor(?) that was for Doug :) Just a head’s up to the author…. It’s “Flutie Pass” as in Doug Flutie….. not Flute, like the musical instrument.

Great post though… I loved Shoppers’ World and the old Natick Mall…. we used to go to York Steakhouse all the time back in the day there. Since we mainly went on a Sunday night, and back then the mall wasn’t open on Sundays except for a few weeks before Christmas, it was always eerie and very cool to be at the mall when everything else was closed except for York… and the big fountain of course….

*michelle here: autocorrect changed it to flute, and I hadn’t noticed. Of course most of us remember what an honor(?) that was for Doug :)

]]> By: Tony Corman http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16691 Tony Corman Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:42:47 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16691 I loved the blue Xmas lights outside Filene's. I loved the blue Xmas lights outside Filene’s.

]]> By: FRANK g http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16689 FRANK g Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:43:31 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16689 they dropped the collection......Its now Natick Mall once again they dropped the collection……Its now Natick Mall once again

]]> By: Chris http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16686 Chris Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:54:03 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16686 When's the last time anyone referred to the Natick Mall in earnest as the Natick Collection? Not sure who's bright idea it was to refer to a mall as a collection. Probably the same people who had the brilliant idea to make luxury condos next to the mall. Er, collection. When’s the last time anyone referred to the Natick Mall in earnest as the Natick Collection? Not sure who’s bright idea it was to refer to a mall as a collection. Probably the same people who had the brilliant idea to make luxury condos next to the mall. Er, collection.

]]> By: mike http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16680 mike Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:36:10 +0000 http://www.thisisframingham.com/looking-back-at-the-natick-mall#comment-16680 Wow do I miss that place... I must have dropped $5 worth of pennies in that fountain in front of Sears in the 1980s. I'd take the "Natick Mall" over the "Natick Collection" any day!! Wow do I miss that place… I must have dropped $5 worth of pennies in that fountain in front of Sears in the 1980s. I’d take the “Natick Mall” over the “Natick Collection” any day!!

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