When we PCS, I like to quickly familiarize myself with the everyday essentials when it comes to the retail outlets in the area. This familiarity makes my new city feel like home much more quickly!
It’s common for military families to understand how many trips to Target or Home Depot it takes to get the new house settled within the first month or two. After the necessities are handled, I like to dive in a little further and check out what mall options are available.
I have lived in places like Lawton, Oklahoma where the mall did not even have a Gap to pick through, and I have lived in places where the mall stores were so expensive that the cheaper stores had names like Neiman Marcus. In the middle of this retail spectrum resides a phenomenon called the Mills Malls.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, the Simon Property group owns Mills Malls, in addition to traditional outlet malls across the country. Mills Malls are a mix of outlet and standard stores, with anchor stores as varied as Bass Pro Shops, T.J. Maxx, or even an Off Saks Fifth Avenue. Just like any mall, stores differ by locations, but you can expect to see standards such as Banana Republic or Ann Taylor Loft. They are all designed similarly and are easy to navigate.
My first experience with this concept was when I lived with family in Michigan while my new husband spent our first year of marriage in South Korea. It was a good day outing and provided entertainment and distraction when I needed it. A few years later, the Army sent us to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and my parents happened to live in Phoenix. Guess what? Another Mills Mall, this time Arizona Mills in Tempe.
So, you can see where I am going with this. These Mills Malls make me feel at home. They're familiar and an excellent way to feel comfortable in a new city, especially when you aren’t particularly happy to be at your new PCS station. Not to mention the great bargains to be had, especially during Black Friday Events with your friends around midnight!
I had other great experiences at Arundel Mills, Maryland, close to Fort Meade, where I regularly pushed my infant in her stroller during the winters when we could not play outside or she wouldn’t nap at home because of a stuffy nose. Stroller Striders were always making the most of the indoor perpetual walking path as well. Maybe I should have exercised instead of shopped?
More recently, I have continued my Mills Mall journey with the one located in Woodbridge, Virginia, Potomac Mills. The same group of friends are making plans to check out its version of Black Friday festivities there. It’s an older model, but the feeling is the same. Familiarity and home.
What stores or restaurants make you feel at home when you PCS?
