Now 30 years old, Metro North stands as a classic of the enclosed shopping center. It's a place where an Orange Julius stand still offers refreshment, Limited Express sells the latest fashion, and Spencer Gifts peddles candy underwear. All that's missing are packs of teens with big-ass combs in their back pockets. Signs of decline are evident (nontraditional tenants include a county health center), but Metro North has held on to its dignity. The place is clean. Three anchor department stores remain in operation. The faux hot-air balloons in the center court continue to delight the stroller-bound. At Christmastime, the place is downright busy. The mall is as useful as it is well-maintained: A community recycling center and a not-crappy second-run movie theater use some of the asphalt in the back parking lot.
Comments (0)