Hot take: Times Square feels different now, and nobody says it

I remember going as a kid and it was all lights and energy. Now when I visit, it's just people staring at phones. We all know it's packed, but no one admits it's lost its spark. I kinda miss when you just showed up without a plan. It's fine to say some spots are not as fun anymore.

4 comments

4 Comments

averylopez1mo agoMost Upvoted

Ugh, absolutely this... Ruby_henderson36 nailed it about the big chains. Last time I was there, I just stood against a wall waiting for a friend and it hit me: everyone was either on a screen or rushing into a store you could find back home. The magic's just gone.

robert_fox41mo ago

What change do you think took away that feeling the most?

dylan3761mo ago

Ruby's point about it being "any other mall, just louder" is spot on. I read an article a while back that blamed the shift to big corporate leases. They pushed out the weird little shops and food stands that made the place feel unique. Now it's just the same stores you can see anywhere, with higher rent.

ruby_henderson361mo ago

Used to think it was just me getting older, but @robert_fox4 has a point about what changed. The big stores and chain restaurants made it feel like any other mall, just louder. Now you go there to say you went, not to actually do anything.