I put the blame of Reno’s economic downfall dirtectly on the shoulders of those that chose to ban “Cruising” downtown Virginia Street., which was the One experience that held the true Magic of Reno, and had enabled it to prosper.
What an enormous, city killing, unnecessary blunder. some group of fools had made. Who had voted to put an end to Cruising Virginia? Did any of them grow up in Reno? If so, hadn’t they cruised? It is just so clearly the one Major thing that had created an interest for the Downtown area among the youthj, that would grew to be the adults, that kept the phrase “Biggest Little City” alive and active in their hearts and minds. And, that is just a part of what having a busy, crowded “Main Street” was doing for our once unique city. It’s hard for me to imagine how out of touch in understanding the very heart of Reno the worthless idiots were, and are, that voted in favor of ending the cruising that one very short, yet most beloved stretch of asphalt.
At least it once had a special meaning to the youth and young of heart of the community, as well as visitors worldwide.
So, stop scratching your empty heads wondering what in the heck happened, you pretentious asses, and realize that your votes to kill our spontaneous desire to enjoy our town by “Dagging Main” was what strangled the life out of it.

I would like to, and could go on giving you the verbal beating you so deserve, but I’m sure you are at a loss and don’t get what I’m saying. I would enciourage all those who do know what I’m talking about to join togethter and reinstitute and encourage Cruising Virginia, as it may not yet be too late to resuscitate our city, as I deem it will be incredibly popular, were the Soul of Reno to be allowed to return and dwell with uis, and whithin us.

I can’t believe I’m the only one who knows and realizes this, and I would encourage those that share my small amount of common sense and have the ability to bring it to the public’s attention to do so.
I can’t say for certain that banning Cruising caused Park L:ane Mall to ultimately be completely demolished, but I’m pretty sure it did. It certainly caused our World Famous “Biggest Little Strip” to become, when compared to the years that teens and others were allowed to Cruise, little more than a ghost town. So, here’s to you, what’s left of Reno, I wish I could see a better future for you than Park Lane, but I imagine the current “Leaders” are far more clueless about your nature and what drives you than those that had originally outlawed your citizens to celebrate and honor you.

As a young lad of 18, I came to Reno in 1980. Park Lane Mall was my favorite hangout spot. At the time, masses of crowds populated Park Lane; by contrast, Meadowwood Mall was a tomb. You see, Meadowwood Mall in 1980 was located in the “boonies”.

By the year 2005, this pattern was exactly reversed: Meadowwood Mall swamped, Park Lane Mall a tomb. By that time, thousands of houses had been built in the vicinity of Meadowwood, and the business followed this development. Meanwhile, Woolworth’s, a major player at Park Lane, had gone under, while online music swapping killed Mirabelli’s, the record store in Park Lane that was another big hangout. Even Walden Books, a third hangout, had gone under—another victim of the Internet.

On a related note, it is not widely known that Park Lane Mall even had a resident “ghost”—a young woman who was murdered in 1979 who was said to haunt the lower-level restrooms.

But time marches on. Park Lane Mall will always hold a special spot in my memory. I was sorry to see it go.

Funny that both this entry, plus the one before on Golf Mill, were consecutive entries about malls that opened as open-air centers, and were later enclosed! Finally, I hope that clock is one day reinstalled somewhere in the downtown area, now that this mall shuttered.