You pay, sign the insurance forms, and get to use a completely-equipped wood shop for your own projects. There’s classes by the Masters, self-study training materials, all the latest tools, plenty of reference materials, and a glassed-in lounge for your SO(s). And a trained first-aider on the presmises. All the facilities of of techncial college, without someone else’s pasky curriculum to get in the way.
The Wood Shop is part of a conglomerate, whose other franchises include:
“The Metal Shop”
“The Electronics Shop” (just down the corridor from Radio Shack)
“The Plastics Shop”
“The Auto Shop” (next to Napa Valley Auto Parts)
and
“The Ceramics Shop”
I LIKE the shop idea. I’d love to learn how to do some stuff (like work on my car, etc.) by taking some classes, rather than just going in with a wrench and a prayer. Also, each mall must have AT LEAST ONE good arcade, which means all fairly new games, all of which are in good working order, and none of which require obnoxious tokens.
Bosda, I like the Lava Lamp! The architecture has to be Deco for sure, preferably the Streamline look instead of Batman Gothic, for my taste.
Lola, the cupcake shop is a bit too restrictive, I think. How about Granny’s Bakery, staffed by genuine grannies brought in from all over for a day or two at a time, making their own secret family recipes? You’ll never know what kinds of stuff will be there the next time you go in. We’ll put welby’s Cholesterol Cafe next door, and staff that kitchen with grannies too.
Finally, GMRyujin, the arcade certainly needs current games, but should also have a room full of the classics: original PacMan, Centipede, even some C64s and Ataris with some of their old games.
Oh, yea, it’s not an arcade without a vintage Pac-Man machines, I’m just against these crappy arcades with second-rate, five year old games that cost a buck in useless tokens to play.
There has to be a food court, but do the architecture so that you can actually hear the person you’re talking with.
Since today’s column is on Sherlock Holmes, I’ll add an idea from the stories: A club much like Mycroft Holmes’s club. A quiet place where members can sit down in easy chairs, and the staff brings them their favorites from the book store, coffee shop, and candy stand.
The Garage Sale store, where you can rent space to have your garage sale without setting up at dawn in the rain. You can sell one thing or have an estate sale, for an hour or 2 days. You can also give your stuff to the staff and have them sell it for you, for a fee. You can shop one place and see all the garage sales. Once a month there is an auction and an antiques expert comes in to tell people if their stuff is worth anything.
LurkMeister , I want to go to your bookstore! Used bookstores rock my socks. There’s one in my town where the owner/proprietress also offers harp playing and lessons. Occasionally she’ll play a song or two for the customers, which is really great.
The Doper Mall should also have a coffee place, a locally owned operation (NOT Starbucks) with friendly staff who can and will make anything coffee your heart desires, lots of cushy armchairs, and a stage where good local musicians play evenings. Oh, and chess boards. With all the pieces.
A scientific supply store would also be great. Need a 50 mL graduated cylinder? 300 g oxalic acid? Video microscope? They’ve got it all! And they have highly knowledgeable staff who can advise you on your purchases.
