Florida Fresh & Other Slices

I'm a native Floridian living in West Palm Beach and this public blog represents information found on-line through the state archives, items from my own personal collection (PC), share-friendly sites or those I have obtained permission to post/link.

Many people don't know what old Florida was like so I want to show you all that's historic, beautiful, retro, kitschy and untamed. Much of it has changed now, but you can still be a part of the adventure if you look in the right places. I like posting music from my state too, check out my band Angry Pudding online.

Submissions are welcomed.

Enjoy your stay in the F.L.A.

Retail Death

After plenty of rumors, haggling by developers, banks, it was announced last week that the Palm Beach Mall will finally be demolished to make way for new outlet stores in 2013.

It opened up as a shoppers playground in 1967 and I spent many a teenage night there with friends doing laps on the terrazzo floor and sucking down Orange Julius. It went through some uglification (remodeling) in the 1980’s and again in 2000, but that didn’t stop it from falling victim to urban decay. Competition from City Place with its sanitized Italian piazza vibe was the final nail in the coffin.

If you enjoy the slight discomfort or fascination with images of retail death as much as I do, check out out happypalms Flickr stream or my PB Mall set on Flickr.

1.26.2012 |