Fairlane Town Center

**Champloo123** · June-16-10, 04:53 PM

I was in town a few weeks ago to visit my parents and happened to stop at Fairlane Town Center. I was pleasantly surprised that the mall actually was nice during a Saturday! I remember back in late 90's/early 00's the mall was going down hill with increased crime and with many stores leaving. The mall really rebounded with Bravo, Pf Changs, Coach, Solstice, a huge H&M, Godiva, and a pretty decent Macy's.

**Onthe405** · June-16-10, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Champloo123

pretty decent Macy's.

Oxymoron [[IMO)

**windsor_shane** · June-16-10, 08:41 PM

there is nothing nice about malls, IMO

**jonathanlivingstonseagull** · June-16-10, 10:04 PM

Taubman wasn't about to let his once prized gem turn ghetto! I'm glad to see Fairlane doing well, it has been through many changes - the new restaurants bring back the clients Fairlane was originally built for. You do remember when Hudson's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor were anchors, eh?

**ejames01** · June-16-10, 10:37 PM

Coach, Godiva and Macy's have always been there.

Originally Posted by Champloo123

I was in town a few weeks ago to visit my parents and happened to stop at Fairlane Town Center. I was pleasantly surprised that the mall actually was nice during a Saturday! I remember back in late 90's/early 00's the mall was going down hill with increased crime and with many stores leaving. The mall really rebounded with Bravo, Pf Changs, Coach, Solstice, a huge H&M, Godiva, and a pretty decent Macy's.

**JBMcB** · June-16-10, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by windsor_shane

there is nothing nice about malls, IMO

There is when you need to do some Christmas shopping, and there's three feet of snow on the ground.

Or you just want to go for a walk... and there's three feet of snow on the ground.

Otherwise the only time I set foot in a mall is to eat at a restaurant that happens to be in one, or going to Sears to pick up some tools.

**pkbroch** · June-16-10, 11:21 PM

Fairlane is nice, good parking, nice upscale stores, major stores, and a nice variety of restaurants,like Changs and the always great Benihana. We come to Dearborn to see our grandson and the area around Fairlane, from the mall to the Hyatt and Big Fish is always good.

We have had friends stay in the area during the past year and use it as a base to go to The Henry Ford, and the other museums. They are always impressed.

I am so proud of this area. I really love it. XXXXOOOOXXXXOOO

**reddog289** · June-17-10, 12:11 AM

It has gotten better, Yet I don't go there except for tools at Sears since Steve & Barrys closed.

**Danny** · June-17-10, 08:04 AM

Since the mid 00's Taubman Associates notice about the growing number of black kids and other kids playing mall rats after school hours. So they devised a 5:00pm. limit. Anyone under the age of 17 who is not with a parent or guardian will be escorted out of the mall. The plan worked and more couples and families are coming back to shop at Fairlane Mall. In the meantime Eastland Mall did the same.

**Hermod** · June-17-10, 08:12 AM

During times of very hot or very cold weather, indoor malls provide places for the elderly to get their daily exercise by walking. The malls promote senior citizen exercise in the hour or so before the mall opens by providing participation incentives in terms of coupons and mileage awards. The big benefit to the mall is that when the clerks and assistant mangers [[mostly young and female) arrive to open their stores, there is a significant people presence in the mall which provides security against stalkers and lurkers. A mall walk by window shoppers before the stores open is peaceful and with very little danger.

**mallory** · June-17-10, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by ejames01

Coach, Godiva and Macy's have always been there.

Fairlane was my hangout from the time it opened until I moved to Lansing in 1991. Sorry, but there was no Coach, no Godiva and no Macy's back in the day. There was a Fannie Farmer candy store and of course Hudson's was changed to Macy's.

I'm still bummed that Chess King was closed. Wow am I old.

**Hermod** · June-17-10, 08:51 AM

I am bummed that there are no longer Walden and B. Dalton book stores in the malls.

**n7hn** · June-17-10, 11:33 AM

I agree no macys at the beginning. Godiva has been there since at least 1990. I remember when the mall opened, it was a sight to see for a 14 year old,,,,,,

Mallory, whats your connection to chess king? I managed that store for a few years. also a Cignal, T-Edwards and the Dona Sacs........

I even remember when the cinema was a Ice Skating rink...... gheesh

**agirlintheD** · June-17-10, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by n7hn

I agree no macys at the beginning. Godiva has been there since at least 1990. I remember when the mall opened, it was a sight to see for a 14 year old,,,,,,

Mallory, whats your connection to chess king? I managed that store for a few years. also a Cignal, T-Edwards and the Dona Sacs........

I even remember when the cinema was a Ice Skating rink...... gheesh

We skated there nearly every weekend. We were regular "mall rats" Even dated a mall security guard! We took the monorail to the Hyatt. Coach, Macy's, Godiva...certainly not part of the original landscape....we had Just Jeans, Broadway Deli, Toll Gate, Chelsea, Ganto's, Picadilly's, Merry Go Round, Anton's....and on and on. Wow...what memories.

**fryar** · June-17-10, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by Hermod

During times of very hot or very cold weather, indoor malls provide places for the elderly to get their daily exercise by walking. The malls promote senior citizen exercise in the hour or so before the mall opens by providing participation incentives in terms of coupons and mileage awards. The big benefit to the mall is that when the clerks and assistant mangers [[mostly young and female) arrive to open their stores, there is a significant people presence in the mall which provides security against stalkers and lurkers. A mall walk by window shoppers before the stores open is peaceful and with very little danger.

That's brilliant!

**1KielsonDrive** · June-17-10, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Hermod

During times of very hot or very cold weather, indoor malls provide places for the elderly to get their daily exercise by walking. The malls promote senior citizen exercise in the hour or so before the mall opens by providing participation incentives in terms of coupons and mileage awards. The big benefit to the mall is that when the clerks and assistant mangers [[mostly young and female) arrive to open their stores, there is a significant people presence in the mall which provides security against stalkers and lurkers. A mall walk by window shoppers before the stores open is peaceful and with very little danger.

I think Hermod summed it up accurately. I worked at Fairlane in the early to mid 90's. It was one hopping place that was headed for a train crash. The kids took over and it became unruly, to say the least. My employer had major theft and misbehavior problems, particularly with groups of teens and early 20 somethings. Rumours were rampant of Fairlane's imminent closure. The new plans and policies have helped over the ensuing years, for exactly the reasons Hermod points out. There has been major turnover of businesses and the demographics have changed, but the mall seems to be thriving. I've never been a big mall person, but I really enjoyed working at Fairlane, for all the reasons pointed out: employees gathering at various restaurants, walkers, gym rats, regular customers, etc. Malls are neighborhoods in and of themselves.

**jonathanlivingstonseagull** · June-17-10, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by 1KielsonDrive

I think Hermod summed it up accurately. I worked at Fairlane in the early to mid 90's. It was one hopping place that was headed for a train crash. The kids took over and it became unruly, to say the least. My employer had major theft and misbehavior problems, particularly with groups of teens and early 20 somethings. Rumours were rampant of Fairlane's imminent closure. The new plans and policies have helped over the ensuing years, for exactly the reasons Hermod points out. There has been major turnover of businesses and the demographics have changed, but the mall seems to be thriving. I've never been a big mall person, but I really enjoyed working at Fairlane, for all the reasons pointed out: employees gathering at various restaurants, walkers, gym rats, regular customers, etc. Malls are neighborhoods in and of themselves.

The incident in the Lord & Taylor parking lot didn't help the mall's image either.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/ju...murd-j08.shtml

**n7hn** · June-17-10, 01:16 PM

Ive done undercover store security too, and things can go bad really quickly. Sounds like this was such a case, Aweful for all involved really. I have some hilarious stories on one hand, on the other saw some sh*t and was injured a few times as well. We were trained tho to not put anyone at risk, including ourselves. Sometimes something happens real fast tho [[quick purse holding brick to my face,etc) . Just sad this got out of control for $4..... or $500, any amount really, sad sad sad

**Gistok** · June-17-10, 02:44 PM

Hudson's = Marshall Field's = Macy's

**DetroitPlanner** · June-17-10, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by agirlintheD

We skated there nearly every weekend. We were regular "mall rats" Even dated a mall security guard! We took the monorail to the Hyatt. Coach, Macy's, Godiva...certainly not part of the original landscape....we had Just Jeans, Broadway Deli, Toll Gate, Chelsea, Ganto's, Picadilly's, Merry Go Round, Anton's....and on and on. Wow...what memories.

Ahh Picadilly's make your own sundae! Right across from Hot Sam and next to the place that gave out free hunks o meat or cheese! Teen Man, Josephines/Napoleons Closet, music stores with sheet music and intruments, the Gap, Tiffany's Bakery, Bonanza, Sibley's, Coffee Beanery......

I worked at the mall too, at several of the smaller stores. I can recall the one time grandpa came to pick me up, I was terrified because he drove like a bat out of hell. "Gee grandpa, do we really need to go 90 down Evergreen?" "Shut up kid, I was driving before you were born!"

**jonathanlivingstonseagull** · June-17-10, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

next to the place that gave out free hunks o meat or cheese!

Hickory Farms?

**n7hn** · June-17-10, 03:51 PM

there was a store when they first opened above hickory farms just for hookers too...... Hooked Rugs that is.... I made a few..... I got so sick after a hickory farms pickle there once, couldnt have been the combo of buttered popcorn, shakes, coney dogs, and all the other mall food Id had just before, If i DONT remember correctly, there might NOT have been wine in there somewhere.

**Detroitnerd** · June-17-10, 03:51 PM

The monorail, the bad 1970s art, the maddening maze of ramps and stairs, the fountain, the movies, the skating rink. I saw "Uncommon Valor" there. And there were some pretty good boookstores. As for Chess King and Merry-Go-Round ... um ... parachute pants were kinda cool for a hot second.

**n7hn** · June-17-10, 03:53 PM

Toll Gate Pub happy hours were freaking fantastic in the early-mid 80's, go get drunk then shop for bar clothes...... I dont know HOW Im still here

Chess king was really the rock and roll place to shop 69 till about the real late 80's and they lost their way. Chased off all their customers by changing the identity of the store every season. I remember them going from being a sole provider of the rock look, then they decided to go preppy, then business attire, then all denim and t's.... It was a mess......