No, not my mall! Bad Target, Bad

Okay, this is both wonderful and so sad. Cottonwood Creek Mall in Wasilla has apparently been bought by a developer that will be tearing down at least part of the 22 year old mall to make way for building a brand new Target store in the town.

Now don't get me wrong, I love that Target is interested in moving to the Valley - I can now get me an Aussie Power Mop! (inside joke, ignore it). This will be the first Target in the Valley, if not the first in Alaska - not sure if there's one in Anchorage or Fairbanks yet. But why do they have to mow down my mall?

I spent my childhood in that mall. It has always been home to Waldens Books and was where I attended my first Dungeons & Dragons convention (even won first place in the game they held, and won prizes for my painted figures and my costume I wore on costume day). The Cottonwood Creek mall is a focal point of Wasilla, a landmark, a piece of the town's history - okay, so maybe I am a bit over attached, but damnit, there's a GIANT vacant lot right behind the mall. They can tear down Wet Willie's car wash and have more than enough room. Leave my mall alone. ::pouts::

Still, I am happy, maybe they'll have layaway - take that evil WalMart! Target will take 98% of WalMart's customers based on ease of access alone because half the valley has to go past Target's planned location to get to WalMart (which I'm sure is why they chose that particular location). Sets them right across from Fred Meyer too - so between them two no one'll go out to WalMart unless they have to visit Sears. (which is across the highway from WalMart).