Coal Restrictions (Because of the Coal Strike) Lifted in 1919, Just in Time for Christmas Shopping

From the December 18, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"Sighs of relief were heard all up and down Lincoln Highway yesterday and last evening.  The coal lid had been lifted and stores were running on regular schedule, lights  were on, and shoppers could shop as early as they wanted to.

"Merchants abided by the coal restrictions last week, although the shortened hours hindered Christmas trade and caused confusion and congestion during the few hours stores  were allowed to be open, but were grateful for the order which came Saturday announcing that all restrictions  were to be lifted Monday."

There was a coal strike going on in the United States.  No wonder the stores were staying open a bit longer as mentioned in the post yesterday.

--CooterCoal

Mall Woes in Wilmington, N.C.

From the July 24, 2016, Wilmington (NC) Star-News "Mall makeover?" by Ashley Morris.

Like many indoor shopping malls across the United States, Wilmington's Independence Mall is hurting.  Business is way off as shoppers go to Big Box stores and online.  Right now, there are 24 vacant store fronts.

And, there are the continuing problems being faced by their anchor stores: Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Sears and Belk.

It opened in 1979, prime time for indoor malls, but in October 2015 the first foreclosure sale was delayed.  It still hasn't happened.

I know Berkeley Mall in Goldsboro, N.C., faces a similar problem.  The one by Waukegan, Illinois, Lakehurst, closed as well as my all-time favorite one, Randhurst, in Mt. Prospect, Illinois.  They both were torn down.  Back in my high school days in the late 1960s, Randhurst was a major hangout for us in Palatine as well as all the other students in Chicago's Northwest suburbs.

Other than Randhurst, I have never been a big mall fan, but still I hate to see them go.

Never a Mall Rat Was I.  --CootMall

Some More Chicago Innovations-- Part 6: Shopping Centers

SHAOPPING CENTERS: Chicago was at the forefront of the City Beautiful movement that made setting aside land for public use a priority. But, another land use became even more influential: the mall. //// Other cities claim to have the first urban shopping center, but the NRHP deemed it to be Lake Forest's Market Square, which opened in 1916. //// An early version of what became the typical indoor mall, the Lake View Store, opened in the U.S. Steel company town of Morgan Park, Minnesota. But, this mall was designed by the Chicago architectural firm Dean & Dean. //// Of course, one of the very early modern indoor malls, Randhurst. opened in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs in the mid-1960s. That was a big hangout for all the local high schoolers, including those of us from dear old Palatine High School. //// Jus' Hangin' Out at the Mall. --Cooter