A week, or so, ago, there were several articles about the owner of the Dayton Mall and Fairfield Commons Mall filing for bankruptcy.

I’ve not been to the Dayton Mall in two to three years. When I moved here in August 1990, I loved going to the Dayton Mall. The Salem Mall never felt comfortable, not safe, and it was further away.

Except for the preteen and early teen Mallstatutes crowding the pathways, the Dayton Mall was quite nice. Years later, the outer perimeters built new stores that created a wonderful shopping and dining complex. Elder Beerman, Macy’s, JCPenney, and Sears were the anchor stores.

JCPenney and Macy’s remain as anchors and the East and West stores are closed.

Today, I ventured through the building as I headed to Spectrum outside the mall proper. The mall was a ghost town. The emptiness was sad, even overwhelming as there were stores open but no customers.

The only business that seemed to be steady was the Bath & Body Works; however, I am not certain if I was simply overcome by the ghastly fruity smell that chloroformed me as I passed by. It’s the same reeking effect I find going through any county or state fair cow or hog barn. Too much.

At times it felt as though I was acting in a Rod Sterling hosted episode of TWILIGHT ZONE as the sole survivor of an interplanetary invasion.

It’s all interesting.