Santa, Barton Creek Square – Austin, Texas

Last week, I experienced my once-yearly (on average) visit to a traditional mall. Barton Creek Square appears to be doing well compared to other indoor malls. I was curious about business one week before Christmas, having heard reports of slow sales in other cities.

I don’t have a context for sales since I don’t often visit malls. More people than I expected carried shopping bags, indicating at least some sales. It was better than Christmas 2020 during the pandemic. A picture from two years ago shows a less festive scene.

Other than the central “Santa area” the holiday decorations were modest. On the other end of the mall, the glowing Love sign wasn’t enough to offset the dull and lifeless Christmas Tree.

Barton Creek Square has passed its heyday with its aging interior. I didn’t see empty storefronts, but I didn’t get a vibrant vibe either.

Blog readers, you’ll love my free monthly photography magazine. Signup for the free magazine to get articles and topics not discussed on the blog.