The Ghost of South Bay Galleria

I saw a post on Instagram last week. The video showed the South Bay Galleria as a ghost town. A shell of what it once was. I’ve seen similar images in the past couple weeks, but for some reason, that sinking feeling hit my stomach this go ‘round. I spent hours at that mall as a teenager. Even worked on the first floor at Godiva Chocolatier. Every boyfriend that meant anything to me in my younger years had accompanied me or met me for lunch at South Bay Galleria. That awkward gut sensation put a pause in me for a bit. I’m still not one hundred percent sure, but I think it confirms an end for me. One thing I like to do when conditions come to a close, is reflect on the good times stored in my memory bank. I had a gang of great days at the mall, but there’s one particular day that pops into my mind at least twice a year.

The summer was nearing on my sophomore year at Westchester Senior High School. The only reason I know I’d ditched before was because when Jeffery Warren approached me with the idea of leaving the school grounds, I didn’t hesitate. Now keep in mind that I was terrified of my mother finding out that I’d done anything out of line. We furtively escaped through a side gate and slinked towards Lincoln Boulevard. I’m sure it took forever since we only knew one bus route to get to Redondo Beach, but it didn’t feel like a long stop and go journey. We walked around aimlessly until Jeffery suggested we get some food before heading to the movies. I happily followed the tall, well dressed teddy bear to the third floor. Jeffery was, and still is in my eyes, one of a kind. Our relationship played in my head as I scarfed down my orange chicken from Panda Express. How he’d wait for my track practice to end before walking me home at night. How he’d cursed out a Nissan Maxima driver for almost hitting us as we walked across Manchester one morning. He taught me how to fly a multi-line sports kite right there at Norman Houston Park. No shade to my dad, but Jeffery was the first young man to show me genuine friendship and care. I didn’t recognize until I was super grown that I needed Jeffery in my teenage years.

We watched The Mummy in an almost empty theater during that mall visit. I didn’t enjoy the movie in the theater, but I still watch it to this day because of who I was with when I first saw it. Neither one of us enjoyed The Mummy that first time around. We kept side eyeing each other during every unbelievable scene. The hardest side eye came when the fine ass side piece, Anck Su Namun, stabbed herself in the stomach shortly after stabbing Pharaoh. The killing scenes in the movie were so crazy, but that was the nineties for you. We obnoxiously laughed as we mimicked the scenes we remembered having the strongest reactions to. I slowly ran and giggled as Jeffery stalked me with his wrists extended repeating “Imhotep” in a possessed voice. His bewitching mannerisms chased me all the way down the hall to Sweet Factory. Jeffery spent about fifteen dollars on our sweet tooth. We smacked on sour power strawberry straws all the way back to the bus stop in the parking lot. It was a perfect ditch day that I hope to never forget.

True to form, Jeffery walked me all the way home after our ditch date then walked the quarter mile back to the La Brea bus stop. I smiled to myself as I watched him out of my front window until he was completely out of my sight. I’m sure we had other mall dates…I even remember my mom dropping me off at his mom’s house for an outing. But for the life of me, I can’t recall any other date that we’d been on. I hate that for me because Jeffery definitely showed me a good ass time during our tenth grade year. Same with my dating memory of Jeffery, I can’t recall many of the significant times I’ve had at South Bay Galleria. That mall was where I worked my ass off to get the down payment for my first apartment. Instead of racking my brain to conjure up old spotty memories, I’d rather just exalt the recollection of what has remained with me.

For those of you who spent time at South Bay Galleria or any mall that has gone down hill for that matter, and feel a way about its downfall: Know that there was a teenager who learned to recognize true thoughtfulness in the opposite sex right there in that commercial complex. I hope that brings you as much comfort as Jeffery brought me security.