Having lived on the north side of Charlotte for most of my life, it has been nearly three years since I last shopped at South Park Mall. I don’t know about the readers out there, but every time previously that I have visited, I have been wildly intimidated by the condescending looks from elitist, business women who often gather there. Maybe that’s been my inferiority complex kicking in.

Since making the move to South Charlotte for the remainder of the summer, I figured it was about time that I revisit those ghosts of my past. I was pleasantly surprised on this visit to find a more diverse crowd doing their shopping and shocked to find the salespeople nicer than usual—genuine, you could say. Maybe it’s the new peace and love fad which is now hitting society and celebrities (think Save Darfur, To Write Love on Her Arms, and all of Angelina’s new children), which is now spilling over into the fashion industry. Regardless, it was refreshing to find that I could start a conversation with a sales clerk or fellow shopper about anything from current events to the Rachel Pally slip dress I spent ten minutes of my life admiring.

Although the mall was virtually empty, the Apple store was packed with shoppers like sardines in a can [I don’t know many people who actually like sardines. Why do we continue to use this phrase?], and unfortunately we did not see an elderly man riding a motorized scooter with a boom-box, blasting Soulja Boy’s “Crank Dat”. Yes, my cousin Emily actually witnessed this rare occasion the last time she visited the mall.

Hollister has added my new favorite band, Forever the Sickest Kids, to their music playlist, and after requesting them six times in a row on the touch screen, I pulled myself away from the store and continued on to Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. Urban Outfitters has been one of my favorite stores to shop online for clothes and home accents, but I have never actually been inside the store; today was obviously a very exciting one for me as I finally got to walk through the eclectic array of owls, neon colors, and artistic designs that are often found here. I also had to fight the urge to redecorate my college apartment and revamp my wardrobe after seeing Anthropologie’s new ‘Follow the Light’ home furnishing line and ‘Vintage Pretty’ clothing line, respectively.

My South Park mall visit was nothing short of entertaining, and maybe even a little inspirational. After reflecting on my experience, I’ll most likely be making the visit atleast once a week for the rest of my time here in South Charlotte. You never know if that Rachel Pally dress will go on sale or if the manager from your favorite boutique will become your new best friend.