But Where Will The Mall Walkers Go?

It’s 8 a.m. and peppered throughout The Westchester shopping mall in White Plains, New York, are maintenance workers, store employees, and a handful of speed walkers with their arms pumping and hips swinging like they’ve got somewhere to be — but they don’t. They are mall walking, the suburban phenomenon of exercising in one of America’s large consumer venues. The walkers, a mix of elderly couples and new moms, start trickling in at 7, some solo and some with a partner. After signing in and checking their coats, they make their way down the wide, carpeted walkways. Their outfits are a combination of running shoes, statement scarves, and chunky jewelry, with light jackets tied around their waists. Top-40 pop, the babble of fountains, and just-out-of-earshot chatter create an echo chamber of white noise, one any suburban kid would find comforting. The Westchester has hosted mall walking every Tuesday and Friday for more than a decade, with anywhere from 50 to 70 people attending. It’s one of many shopping centers across the country that opens its doors early for this activity. Mall walking is exactly what it sounds like — a form of exercise where people walk in shopping malls. According to a resource guide created by the CDC, malls are the second most frequently used venues for walking, right behind neighborhoods. Why do people prefer them over parks and gyms? Read more at Racked.