Echoes of Nostalgia: The Mall 3 - A Journey through Time

Written by Zack

A sometime blogger

Owens Lee Pomeroy once eloquently remarked, "Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect!" His words couldn't have rung truer as I embarked on a sentimental journey through the familiar streets of Ramkhamhaeng and Rama 9. A two-hour break from my daily routine provided the perfect opportunity to explore the culinary delights of the street vendors lining Ramkhamhaeng, close to what was once the bustling Major Cineplex. Little did I know that this short sojourn would transport me back to the cherished memories of days gone by.

Savoring what felt like a banquet fit for royalty, I decided to amble back to my humble abode to let the flavors settle. On my way back, I couldn't resist a detour to The Mall 3, the last vestige of a trio of shopping malls that once graced this locale. The other two had been razed to the ground, along with the Major Cineplex mentioned earlier. Whispers circulated that the owner harbored plans to erect a colossal shopping mecca in one of these hallowed spaces.

As I stepped into The Mall 3, solitude enveloped me. Most, if not all, of the shops had shuttered their doors and found new homes elsewhere, leaving behind vacant units and a smattering of pop-up stores. Shopkeepers, outnumbering the rare shoppers, were either swatting mosquitoes or engaged in animated conversations. A few leaned against counters, seemingly dozing as they bided their time. The patrons who did venture in seemed uninterested in shopping, seeking only refuge on a bench within the less-than-ideal air-conditioned sanctuary.

Only the ground and first floors remained accessible, the rest veiled in near darkness. As I meandered, trying to conjure up fragments of the past, I captured poignant snapshots to preserve this place steeped in memories. Over three decades ago, this very mall boasted one of the city's earliest ice-skating rinks, making it a coveted haunt for teenagers of the 1980s. Yes, I was one of the regulars who frequented this mall with friends, carving out our youthful adventures.

A pedestrian bridge, once a conduit to its predecessor, The Mall 2, now leads pedestrians to the pavement below. The land that once hosted The Mall 2 lies barren, with only sporadic patches of grass punctuating the landscape. Rumor has it that upon the completion of the Orange Subway line, a grander, more modern mall will rise in its place. For some inexplicable reason, I reveled in this stroll down memory lane, capturing photographs before this place is irrevocably consigned to history.