12 Things to Do at the Mall Besides Shop

I have often heard people lamenting the loss of variety in our mall; in fact, I’ve decried it myself. The Freehold Raceway Mall is no longer a one-stop shopping destination for all your needs, but now one predicated on fashion and luxury. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but change can be hard.  As a matter of fact, there actually remain a slew of services available in the mall for your convenience.

• Eyewear. LensCrafters is not only a purveyor of prescription eyewear, but they house an optometrist in residence, so you can get your eyes tested and remedied all in one place.
• Convenience Stores. It is a minor bummer that CVS is long-gone, but for the bare necessities, try A Dollar and Deals (lower level, Sears) or Street Corner News (kiosk, downstairs under food court) for snacks, lottery tickets, single-serve packets of aspirin (good for us mall employees), and more.
• Tailoring.  With all the apparel stores in the mall, you’re bound to need some alterations or repairs. Peter’s Shoe Repair and Tailoring is upstairs near JC Penney, and I have only heard good things about their work.
• Jewelry Repair.  The jewelry repair stand on the lower level by Macy’s is family-owned and fully reputable. I have had countless pieces repaired there, and the work is always flawless for a reasonable price; plus, you can drop it off, shop, and pick it up on your way out.
• Salons. Whether you need a haircut, manicure, or eyebrow threading, you can get it done right in the mall. Salons include Act III Hairstylists, Regis, and Beauty Plus Salon; for nails try Exotic Nails; and the Miracle Brows kiosk for your eyebrows.
• Cell Phones. Whether you need a new one or help with the one you have, most of the major cell-phone carriers have set up shop: AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint. 
• Car Problems. It can be a bit out of sight, out of mind, but is right in the mall, convenient for car maintenance.  The bonus here is that you won’t be stuck sitting in the depressing bodyshop waiting room for hours with only a few old magazines.
• Nutrition. Be it vitamins for anything you can think of at GNC or local Weight Watchers meetings, the mall offers some healthful alternatives to the food court’s guilty pleasures.
• Greeting Cards. Is it just me, or does it seem like every week there is some fresh marketable holiday that we’re required to buy a card for? Making a special trip to the store for one is a drag, especially when last-minute shopping, so it’s good to have the Hallmark store right in the mall.
• Travel. If your idea of a trip strays a bit from “shopping trip,” Liberty Travel is here to help with the onerous arrangements.
• Pets. The Pet Company is one of the few stores I remember being in the mall (and in the same location, no less) for about as long as I can recall. You can find a new furry friend there, as well as food and accoutrements; I’m not an animal person and don’t know what you need for them besides food, but The Pet Company surely will.
• Relaxation.  Sometimes the mall can be stressful. I have a coworker who regularly stops in Wellness & Reflexology for massages on the way to work. For myself, I prefer the cheaper option of slipping a dollar in the massage chairs downstairs by Macy’s and giving my feet a few minutes’ rest.

So you see, mall maniacs, that there is so much more to do in the Freehold Raceway Mall than shop for clothes.  Take advantage!