How Many More Malls Do We Need?

If our economy is in such a terrible state, I really cannot understand why we have so many malls! Just this month, a new mall opened 10 minutes away from my house. Then this weekend, I went to Gateway, the new mall in Cubao.

Cubao has a special place in my mind. I spent most of my growing up years there, so no matter how seedy it got, I never felt out of place. I know my way around the area pretty well and am not afraid to go there on my own. It's where I learned to become street smart and I have a lot of fond childhood shopping memories.

Imagine all my memories getting jarred this weekend. Going to Gateway was a surreal experience for me. The mall feels so out of place in the landscape of Cubao. All these expensive brand name shops were there, including Mango, Marks and Spencer, Nine West, etc. Ironically, about 2 minutes away from the Gateway Mall is Farmers Plaza, which is like a haven for bargain shops.

I feel totally uncomfortable in Gateway. There's something about it that doesn't feel right. Maybe the developers are hoping to make Cubao a more upscale location. I don't know what their plans are, but I definitely don't see myself spending my weekends there in the near future.