A Tale of Two Shopping Centers

On Saturdays and Sundays, a drive-in theater in Glendale, AZ is turned into a swap meet. This vast paved stretch of land is used for local residents and vendors to rent a space to sell items from used goods to imported bulk items for extremely reduced prices. This was my first experience at an Arizona swap meet. I was accompanied by my boyfriend who had visited one previously. As we drove closer I noticed the makeshift signs out front that spelled out “Swap Meet.” A long line of cars waited to get inside, the cost to enter was $1.25 per person. After parking, we made our way across the lot to enter the swap meet. It was busy and loud; there was music and dancing. I asked my boyfriend if there was a special event going on, he said the swap meet is the event; it is always like this. Mariachi music, people dancing, and lines at the taco and beer stands were common. The demographic was mostly Hispanic, presumably of Mexican heritage. There were mostly families, parents with their children, noticeably fewer couples or single shoppers.

The next thing that struck me was the variety of the items for sale. Everything. Clothes, electronics, landscape equipment, produce, appliances, toys, cleaning agents, house wares, even an SUV was for sale! I noticed a stand with my favorite fabric softener that sells for $10 in the grocery stores; it was being sold for $5 so of course I purchased 2 of them. There were very few price tags; I had to ask for the price of items. I then found a stuffed pig plush toy that my daughter would love; the $1 price made it an easy purchase. I was fascinated with all the things for sale and decided that I would come back another time to purchase more items.

Other than the tables being placed in rows, there is no order to this environment. With the unusually warm January day, the sun, noise, and disorder wore on me. My boyfriend was very comfortable with the crowds, music, and chaos that make up this lively and spirited atmosphere. However, it was more than my sensory input could handle. After an hour, we made our way out. We then drove 38 minutes across town to the Kierland Commons, a high-end shopping center in Phoenix.

I parked in a lot by an E-trade building, exited my vehicle, and walked along the sidewalk into the commons. I was immediately seduced by the rational architecture. The clean lines, manicured landscape, and strategically placed store signs indicated that the Commons is a master planned shopping center, a private corporate shopping center uncommon from most shopping centers in the Phoenix valley. I felt calm and the tall buildings provided shade from the sun. It was quieter than the swap meet, certainly not as busy and populated.  It was almost a bit ghostly; shoppers were sparse and the demographic was mostly white. I did not notice many families; I could have counted the number of children I saw on one hand. I did however notice two shops that had dog bowls of water placed out front. It is considered posh in America to carry around a small expensive breed of dog.

The shop items have clearly marked prices and the high prices indicate that these products are marketed to people with higher incomes. My boyfriend commented that he felt much more comfortable at the swap meet. Although financially the Commons made me feel uncomfortable, the atmosphere better matched my sensory comfort level. It wasn’t long however before my boyfriend was beguiled by the marketing of high-end clothing. A stop in Lucky’s turned out two pairs of jeans for $179, quite a deal when it was buy one pair get the second pair half price.

The swap meet had lines for tacos; the Commons had a line for the Tesla store. People waited in line to enter the store and see these all-electric cars that please the elite environmentalists. I too was interested, but did not have the time to wait in a line. I then noticed the cars that drove through the Commons. Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi, BMW’s, and Teslas were just a few of the high-end vehicles I noticed.  I felt glad that I parked my Honda minivan further away from view of the posh shoppers.

After a stop to buy some chocolates from See’s Candies, we headed back to our vehicle, reflecting on the two shopping experiences. These shopping centers were designed by very different groups of people and for very different echelons of Phoenix Valley residents. One interesting fact remains however; both centers were abundant with products made in China. No social status escapes the arc of globalism.

Each picture in the slideshow below will alternate between the swapmeet and the upscale Kierland Commons mall.