Open for business

Cheeburger's is now open but if you don't want to stand in line for lunch, make sure you're there by 11:30. Don't know when/if I'll try it as I'm not a big burger/fries person. I wish they would straighten one of the crooked pictures on the wall but I guess they have other priorities just now. Hmm, I wonder if they have chocolate malted shakes....

If you haven't visited the upper level lately, go and check out the new tables and chairs that are located between Steve & Barry's and Chik-Fil-A. There's plenty of room to sit down and take a break.

There are more Christmas displays going up and I've actually started my holiday shopping already. Usually this means that I'll be spending more because late in the season I'll forget what I already bought and buy for the same people over again.

I hope that someone gets busy cleaning the store windows as they are looking somewhat grimy. I did notice workers on the roof and it appears that they are trying to patch some of the leaks that were discovered during the recent rain storms.

The store that just opened recently (to replace the 'flea market' style clothing store) selling women's clothing looks like it's already bit the dust and I could see lots of jewelry displays when peeking through the brown paper that lines the windows.

Looks like there are some new pianos in the music store and it was nice to hear someone actually playing as I walked by. It sounded better than the music being piped throughout the mall.

Practice, practice, practice!

The new wait staff at Cheeburger's could be seen practicing this afternoon. I didn't actually see any food being delivered by I did notice some orders being taken. It looks like it must be getting close to the grand opening. I heard that the price of a cheeseburger is going to be $8. For that, I hope they plan on delivering those burgers with an abundance of side orders.

There are some new carpets sporting what looks like a new mall logo that I saw at the entrance doors. Nice touch.

A new clothing store has opened where the last "flea market" clothing store was. I didn't go inside but noticed that this time around there appears to be a lot more clothing in the store.

I lunched with a friend today at 202 Market and indulged in their "tapas" offerings of the day. There were at least a dozen different choices and every one was delectable. From the roasted asparagus to the chicken salad puffs, every bite enticed you to try the next. My mojito was delicious as well and if I closed my eyes I could imagine drinking it at sunset in Malory Square in Key West.

Ahhh......

The Joy of Walking

What a spectacular day for walking outdoors! I missed yesterday as I was site-seeing with friends, but it's obvious what was happening along the greenway. All of the beautiful red salvia plants have been plucked from their concrete flower boxes. It's a shame because I think they still had some life in them. However, what I saw today probably would not have happened if the flowers were still there.

As I walked at my 3.5 mph speed, an oncoming runner approached. A nice-looking, bearded young man with orange shorts and blue shirt. He was not running in the pedestrian lane, but instead he was running along the concrete lane divider. As he approached each of the empty flower boxes, he leaped over them! The joy he was experiencing was evident in the broad smile he wore while continuing to run and jump and seeing this made me joyful as well. This feeling was enhanced further as I saw at least 7 men fishing by and in the river. And these were real, bare-legged men - in the water! Don't know if anyone caught fish, but on a day like this it wouldn't matter.

Getting Close

The new hamburger joint is looking closer to an opening. Employment interviews are being held at a card table outside of the restaurant door and there are many busy people inside. The tables and chairs remind me of those in the kitchen I grew up in - Oh so many years ago.

My last couple of walks through the mall before opening time remind me of being in NJ at dinner time. You look across the Hudson at Manhattan and watch the lights of the city come up as the sky grows darker. That's what the mall feels like when the dark stores begin to prepare to open and start turning on their lights for the business day. Some don't open on time, however, and the delivery person from FedEx is window shopping as she waits for the doors to open at a jewelry store. I think about the factory I once worked in where a whistle blew to signify when workers were to be posted at their stations and begin working until the next whistle blew for lunch break or to signify the end of the work day. The factory was a plant where metallic items were "chromed". One of the memories I have is that the restrooms had a large round station in the center of the room where many people could wash their hands simultaneously in a sink that had water flowing from the center similar to a fountain. Some years later I would be talking to a co-worker who told me that he had also worked at a factory that had a similar setup. He said that he had never seen anything like this before in a men's restroom and on his first day of work he went to use the restroom and thought that the sink was a community urinal. One of his co-workers had come into the restroom and expressed his dismay at seeing him relieving himself in the sink and explained what it was supposed to be used for. Thinking about this story still makes me chuckle.

No, The Sign is Not Misspelled

My Mom accompanied me to the mall for my walk yesterday. I had to explain that the "Cheeburger, Cheeburger" sign was not misspelled. The holes on the outside of the building over the sign have been fixed and you'd never know they were there in the first place. When I looked inside to check out the progress I had a wonderful feeling of nostalgia that came over me. It's kind of retro with some George Jetson thrown in. It's about the closest thing I've seen to a Jersey diner complete with metallic walls and neon lighting. The pink and blue tiles definitely take you back to the fifties.

The clothing shop that reminded me of a flea market display has disappeared; no surprise there. The most consistent activity is the maintenance staff that works diligently to keep the mall looking clean and tidy. I so appreciate that.

Where Did September Go!

Gosh, I can't believe it's October already. Tomorrow is my birthday and I am combating a cold. Our performances of "Children of Eden" went very well but I think that my contact with our child performers is what led to the cold I now have. I have not walked for the last couple of days but I hope to tomorrow.

Since the mornings have been nice and cool I have been walking at the river. There is a Great Blue Heron that I've seen wading several times. He looks like he is moving is slow motion as he hunts for a meal.

The new hamburger joint at the mall is showing steady progress. I do hope that they are going to fix the holes in the facade above their sign above the storefront. The new customer service kiosk has freed up one of the store spaces which will add to the inventory of empty stores. It seems that the number of mall walkers has increased over the summer and I see a lot of familiar faces as I make the rounds. I am curious to know if the mall management has established guidelines for window displays because the newly opened clothing store on the first level looks like what I would expect to see at a flea market; although I have seen better displays at Happy's.

The Belk upgrade continues and the new carpeting and tile are a big improvement. The shoe department looks like it has shrunk considerably. I wonder if that means there might be another shoe store coming soon. Hmm?