The 80s & 90s -- Commercial Sets

[SimsFan_1]

Time for the next part of my 80s & 90s theme series!  You can find the last one right here.

Now, let's take a look at commercial sets for Downtown and Community lots -- your town needs stores and restaurants, after all!

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Convenience stores haven't disappeared, but they definitely peaked in the 90s.  TV shows and movies portrayed them as the places where slackers worked and other slackers loitered.  There was an entire movie made about slackers in a convenience store.

So, let's go build a 7-Eleven.  First thing you'll want is the sign and parking lot from AMULET:

Then, you'll want Melo Sim's roof sign:

And, the walls from Pam's Themes:

Now, let's go inside.  You definitely want all of the convenience store items from SSoW:

Along with their bored and unhappy minimum wage workers:

It's 1995, and public smoking bans aren't a thing yet in most cities.  Virtually every single adult smokes.  So, you need some cancer sticks available in your store.

Aponee has some really nice shelves:

And, if you want something larger, there's 8DS' cases (available at TerraLuna):

You also need food and refreshments.  It's deco only, but I highly recommend Poetica's concession cases:

(In the archives under "Businesses 1".)

As well as Yuri's 7-Eleven Stuff:

And, last but not least, these ice and propane displays from Space Cadet:

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Now, it's time to start gathering things for a mall.  The 80s and 90s were THE mall era, so no 80s/90s game is complete without one.

First you need lots of neon.  Poetica has loads of signs:

(In the archives under "Businesses 4".)

She also has an arcade sign you can use with the arcade machines from the last post:

(In the archives under "Businesses 1".)

Savage Sims also has some great neon:

And, so does Pam's Themes:

Now, for some architectural elements.  Glass and tile blocks were a big part of late 80s/90s design, and Poetica has a few sets of those:

(Glass bricks are in the archives under "Archive Misc 1," and the tile dividers are under "Archive Misc 2".)

And, Poetica's waterfall stackable pieces are great for building a (deco only) fountain:

Every mall needs an escalator, and Melo Sim has a nice one:

Now, let's get some stores in here...

WDS has a directory and tons of signs:

And, Victoria's Secret Uma's Unmentionables:

And, a very nice department store set:

WDS is another one that's only available at TerraLuna, but I can share it for anyone who's not a member there.

Poetica has a few sets, too.  Her greeting card store is a must:

(In the archives under "Businesses 2".)

And, she has all that you need to give your mall a Claire's:

The Claire Bear's set is on her site, while the fashion accessories set is in the archives under "Businesses 2."

I also can't pass up this fab nail salon set from Poetica:

Poetica also has a nice men's clothing shop:

As well as shop deco (archives):

Various other things from Poetica's Misc Packs (archives) that may be useful.  Photos indicate what set they're in:

(Use Sim Freaks' elevator door if you're going to build a deco elevator.)

Also love these mannequins from Olena.  Very 80s-looking dresses:

Here's a nice shoe store from Livin' It Up:

And, here's Simzalabim's neon/chrome hair salon (available at TerraLuna):

Gookabee and Boudoir Blanc have stuff for a jewelry store:

While, ATS and Space Cadet have stuff for a bridal shop:

ATS also has a really nice perfume shop:

Pam's Themes also has this video store wall set:

Sadly, I couldn't find a more "functional" video store.  Poetica has a DVD store, but it's 1995, and DVDs don't exist.😋  Let me know if you come across one.

Now, let's get to the food court.  First, grab Poetica's cafeteria trays ("Businesses 1" in the archives):

And, this chair/table from Poetica (Misc Pack #18 in the archives) instantly makes me think of 80s food court furniture:

Long before McDonald's restaurants started looking like dentist offices and became miserable places, they happily served you greasy junk food in a sea of red, yellow, and brown and were a mainstay in shopping malls.

First, you need the McDonald's food cart from Maxis:

And, then, you need the add-ons from Colorized Sims and Savage Sims:

(I should warn that neither of these creators used magic cookies, so their objects could give your game problems if you don't fix them.)

And, then, go snag the walls from Pam's Themes:

And, then, top it all off with a good terracotta floor.  I like the Terra Patiola floor from Unleashed:

Now, you need a pizza place.  It's not quite Pizza Hut or Sbarro, but my pizza shop should do just fine:

For a pastry shop, I like Poetica's set:

Supplement with pieces from SSoW's Downtown Pastry Shop if you need something more functional.

For an ice cream shop, I actually think Maxis' counters work just fine:

Just supplement it with Poetica's menu (Businesses 3):

Now, for the final pieces -- the mall's recreational businesses!

I personally prefer midcentury bowling alleys, but that wouldn't be appropriate for a mall that was built in 1980.  So, instead, check out Colorized Sims' moody neon bowling alley:

(As I warned before with the McDonald's, this site didn't use a magic cookie, so check/fix these files before you use them!)

The mall also has a little General Cinema attached to it, like all malls did in the 70s-90s.  Use 8DS' and Poetica's theater sets:

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Meanwhile, away from the suburban sprawl and closer to the city, there's still a businesses hanging in there despite competition from the mall.

This clothing outlet took over a 50s era clothing store and does strong business from cost-conscious consumers:

Meanwhile, there's someone running an independent record store right below their apartment:

There's also a punk bar nearby (WDS @ TerraLuna):

A sports bar down the street (WDS @ TerraLuna):

Plus, a seedy strip club (8DS):

And, don't forget the junky liquor store!  From my site and Aponee:

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Well, that's it for 80s/90s commercial stuff!  Stay turned for further parts to this theme...

[SimsFan_1]

I don't think people are seeing this thread... I hope my hard work in putting this list together doesn't end up going to waste.

[ladyfiaran22]

I love this set, I remember malls and shops like this as a kid and teenager. The pastel mall decor brought back memories and I love the video store, there was an independent video rental place we went to called Palmer videos that had an adult section in the back with a beaded curtain, we thought they had horror movies in there 😂

I remember when McDonald’s was all garish red and yellow and they had the cartoon characters, now McDonald’s is boring and their food sucks. The mall pizza shop and ice cream stand look cool too, back when all pizza was awesome. I love the indie record store too in the outlet, there actually used to be an indie record store at the Crossings outlet in Pennsylvania years ago, I bought Combat Rock by the Clash and Give ‘Em the Boot IV, that’s a series of compilations by Hellcat Records. And LOL at the bar, strip club and liquor store, we never went there as kids. Great job, Betty

[SimsFan_1]

Jan 30, 2023 16:24:52 GMT -5 ladyfiaran22 said:

I love this set, I remember malls and shops like this as a kid and teenager. The pastel mall decor brought back memories and I love the video store, there was an independent video rental place we went to called Palmer videos that had an adult section in the back with a beaded curtain, we thought they had horror movies in there 😂

I remember when McDonald’s was all garish red and yellow and they had the cartoon characters, now McDonald’s is boring and their food sucks. The mall pizza shop and ice cream stand look cool too, back when all pizza was awesome. I love the indie record store too in the outlet, there actually used to be an indie record store at the Crossings outlet in Pennsylvania years ago, I bought Combat Rock by the Clash and Give ‘Em the Boot IV, that’s a series of compilations by Hellcat Records. And LOL at the bar, strip club and liquor store, we never went there as kids. Great job, Betty

Glad you love the list... putting it together was super nostalgic for me, too!😊

Malls weren't just places to shop -- they were communities.  They were places where people gathered and hung out, basically serving a similar function for far-flung suburbs that the downtown strips did for cities.  There's a reason why so many of us have fond memories attached to malls.

It's kinda' sad how they've died out.😞  A lot of people love to blame online shopping, but that's not really the whole story.  Malls were beginning to decline in the late 90s (here's an example of a mall that was closed and demolished in 2000), and e-commerce was barely a thing at the time.  People point to Amazon as the sole reason why mall stores like Sears and JCPenney are dying, but how do you explain fellow mall store Montgomery Ward, which went out of business when Amazon was still mostly known as a bookstore?

What truly killed malls was the decline of the middle class.  Most of the traditional mall stores catered to the middle class, and as those customers started losing spending power, they started turning more to discount big box stores like Walmart and Target.  (And, Amazon is pretty much just an online version of a discount big box store... complete with a full array of Cheap Chinese Crap.)

The decline of the middle class has also meant more people having to work longer hours or multiple jobs to make ends meet has also meant people having less time to go hang out at the mall.  Economic decline has also driven a reduction in birth rates, and malls have historically been places for families and children.  The list of mall-based kids stores that are either dead (Gymboree, KB Toys, Justice) or dying (Claire's, The Children's Place) is staggering.

[feltz]

Wow SimsFan. I really appreciate all the hard work that went into gathering and documenting this collection. Must have taken you hours. Yes it is a sad decline of malls as we knew them. We had a Grace Bros dept store that gave way to Myer. They put in a David Jones at the absolute wrong end of town and have greatly diminished the size of the store because that end of the coast is the lower socio-economic end. I agree that it is all about the middle class slowly becoming reduced. Inflation is through the roof and people are really struggling. Wages are not going up in accordance with expenses and many people are getting themselves into ridiculous debt to keep up with the Joneses.

[SimsFan_1]

Mar 14, 2023 4:53:46 GMT -5 feltz said:

Wow SimsFan. I really appreciate all the hard work that went into gathering and documenting this collection. Must have taken you hours. Yes it is a sad decline of malls as we knew them. We had a Grace Bros dept store that gave way to Myer. They put in a David Jones at the absolute wrong end of town and have greatly diminished the size of the store because that end of the coast is the lower socio-economic end. I agree that it is all about the middle class slowly becoming reduced. Inflation is through the roof and people are really struggling. Wages are not going up in accordance with expenses and many people are getting themselves into ridiculous debt to keep up with the Joneses.

Glad you loved it!👍  These lists do take me hours, if not days, to make, lol.

Exactly so!  When talking about how "Amazon killed malls," a lot of people forget that a big reason many people buy things from Amazon is not because of the convenience, but instead because of their low prices.  It's the same reason why Walmart also destroyed the malls in business.  When you're strapped for cash, you only shop at the places with the lowest prices.

Plus, there's also the fact that modern life is simply more expensive.  Internet has become as much of a necessity as electricity and water, but it still isn't treated as a public utility like those things are.  And, while you can still technically live with a basic cell phone, our world is increasingly becoming oriented around smartphones.  And, not only do they still cost in the hundreds, but planned obsolescence insures that you'll have to replace it every 3 years.  And, do I even need to mention all of the subscription services people are "expected" to have nowadays?  It really sucks.😣

[jonesie]

 Yes, I see all of it just fine!  Thank you SO much, SimsFan, for all of your hard work and dedication!
Ah...times change...sometimes for better, and sometimes for worse!  I still remember our big Mall, when I lived in Northern California in the 80s.  You didn't go just to shop, you also went to meet with friends at the food courts and get the latest gossip.    I always made a point of going there on SuperBowl Sunday.  I wasn't a sports fan, so I practically had the whole place to myself!!  

[damondamore]

Malls killed themselves with loitering bans. They wanted you to (ahem) get your shit and leave. This was meant to stop teenagers who would hang out there all day, probably not realizing they were going to the food court. It was fun seeing edgy teenagers and old people who wanted to "mall walk" get together to put an end to it-- Or, at least get the rule changed that unless you were actually causing a disturbance they wouldn't make you leave. Some nice cross-generational activism.

Amazon has done a Walmart and they are no longer cheaper for many things. I only use Amazon for things I can't go to the store, or can't just wait for from Chinese Ebay.

If you get me started on subscription services we'll be here all day! I hate that it is the default payment model now. I can't seem to bring it up but there was a product the internet renamed the 'Juice Smasher' where you would subscribe to bags of juice-- not even concentrate mind, just juice in a bag, sort of like the bagged milk they have in Canada-- and the machine would read the chip to make sure it was from the company and 'smash' the bag into a cup. It was meant to be like K-cups for juice. People realized you didn't need the machine and could just open the bag with a knife and pour it in a glass manually. The machine literally was just a pin and two plates to smash the juice out of the bag. The company didn't last long if I recall, but tech never learned from this hubris. I just want to buy an album, not subscribe to TuneBeam so my favorite band gets 8¢ a year. I'll gladly pay multiple dollars for their actual tracks through bandcamp. (Oops. That got way too long.)

Edit: Freezepop, the band in question actually included their Spotify check as a novelty reward tier to fund one of their albums. They were able to get more for the novelty of the low check from their fans than it was actually worth to cash or deposit.

Also, when I worked in the city 7-11 was essential. Yes, I live in Wawa country but they closed early and I worked overnight. The 7-11 would keep much more generous hours-- some were still 24 hours in the city-- and actually had things stocked in the mornings. Also, it was a little closer to my work.

[SimsFan_1]

Mar 14, 2023 21:07:30 GMT -5 damondamore said:

Malls killed themselves with loitering bans. They wanted you to (ahem) get your shit and leave. This was meant to stop teenagers who would hang out there all day, probably not realizing they were going to the food court. It was fun seeing edgy teenagers and old people who wanted to "mall walk" get together to put an end to it-- Or, at least get the rule changed that unless you were actually causing a disturbance they wouldn't make you leave. Some nice cross-generational activism.

Amazon has done a Walmart and they are no longer cheaper for many things. I only use Amazon for things I can't go to the store, or can't just wait for from Chinese Ebay.

THIS.^^^  Like it or not, malls have always been an important third place for communities, especially those in inclement climates or those that lack a healthy downtown center.  They've always been places for people to hang out with friends in addition to shopping, and mall owners shot themselves in the feet by refusing to embrace that.

People like to complain about "loitering teenagers," but the youth need places to hang out and socialize, as well.  And, they have fewer and fewer places to do so nowadays, which is having horrible implications.😣  Teens that, in the past, would've hit up the local mall arcade or bowling alley are now holed up in their bedrooms "hanging out" on sites like Reddit and TikTok, where their mental health is being ruined... or even worse, they're falling down the rabbit hole of radicalization.

Mar 14, 2023 21:07:30 GMT -5 damondamore said:

If you get me started on subscription services we'll be here all day! I hate that it is the default payment model now. I can't seem to bring it up but there was a product the internet renamed the 'Juice Smasher' where you would subscribe to bags of juice-- not even concentrate mind, just juice in a bag, sort of like the bagged milk they have in Canada-- and the machine would read the chip to make sure it was from the company and 'smash' the bag into a cup. It was meant to be like K-cups for juice. People realized you didn't need the machine and could just open the bag with a knife and pour it in a glass manually. The machine literally was just a pin and two plates to smash the juice out of the bag. The company didn't last long if I recall, but tech never learned from this hubris. I just want to buy an album, not subscribe to TuneBeam so my favorite band gets 8¢ a year. I'll gladly pay multiple dollars for their actual tracks through bandcamp. (Oops. That got way too long.)

Edit: Freezepop, the band in question actually included their Spotify check as a novelty reward tier to fund one of their albums. They were able to get more for the novelty of the low check from their fans than it was actually worth to cash or deposit.

Companies figured out that they can milk more money out of people this way, and they don't give one damn if they end up completely emptying the consumer's wallet.🙄🤦‍♀️  Subscription juice sounds like some horrible dystopian idea, but probably not that surprising in an age where cars have become subscription services.

I will always be a fan of physical media forever.  Make a one-time purchase on an album or a movie and have something you can own and enjoy indefinitely.  Far better than handing over $--- every month for something that will always be loaded with ads and can be taken away from you at any moment.

Mar 14, 2023 21:07:30 GMT -5 damondamore said:

Also, when I worked in the city 7-11 was essential. Yes, I live in Wawa country but they closed early and I worked overnight. The 7-11 would keep much more generous hours-- some were still 24 hours in the city-- and actually had things stocked in the mornings. Also, it was a little closer to my work.

I loved Slurpees growing up, so 7-11 has always been somewhat nostalgic for me.  Wawa has become a plague where I live, and I'm tired of seeing roadside areas get plowed over for their generic stores and crappy gas.