As we slide into yet another Christmas season, I still feel that thrill of picking out just the right present for each person on my list. Of course, the grandkids are top priority on the list. I will admit, I overbuy – I do! I love spoiling them and I am not ashamed of that.

With all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I reminisce about my younger years, the single years. The time even before malls when you would walk downtown from store to store. I grew up near the hometown of the famous actor, James “Jimmy” Stewart. Indiana, Pennsylvania had many wonderful department stores in the 1960’s and 1970’s. At Christmas it was a bustling mass of people. I don’t know if they were any colder than the winters today, but we bundled up and headed out. A hurried rush through the snow -covered streets from store to store. The thrill of the bargain, the best gift for everyone.

Although malls were dotted through Pennsylvania in the 1960’s, the first mall to open in Indiana, Pennsylvania was the Regency Mall in 1970. The Regency Mall had some great stores, Hill’s being the favorite among just about everyone I talk to….Hill’s had the toys parents searched for high and low. The cherry on top was that items could be put on layaway and picked up as late as Christmas Eve depending on when they were purchased on laid away. Now, that is a memory I would like to bring back to present day. Although the original stores are gone from the Regency Mall, there are a few others that seem to be thriving.

In 1979 a larger mall opened in Indiana, appropriately and simply called, Indiana Mall. Although, some of the original stores, BonTon, Sears, and Kmart are all now defunct there are some stores still open, but not much foot traffic.

The malls made it easier to shop because many large department, boutique, and one-of-a-kind kiosks sat under one roof making an escape from the cold, winter weather….if you could find a parking place that is!

Read my nostalgic piece on Christmas past by clicking here. My take on all of this is that Christmas will always be the most wonderful time of the year!