# Shopping center names no one uses **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2015, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018 "2015-05-14T11:12:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018/41 "2015-05-18T19:37:20Z")
> [@tonyfop](#): > > Wait a second. There are 3 people from Southern Maryland in this thread. Holy crap, that’s weird. **RTFirefly, FairyChatMom,** and myself. That just seems weird. Hi neighbors! Make that 4. I live in Lexington Park. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018/42 "2015-05-18T19:38:31Z")
n/m ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018/43 "2015-05-19T04:19:25Z")
These poses a bit of a dilemma for us mapmakers. Do we put the official name, known only to a few people at the REIT that owns the place, or the name of the anchor store, like Safeway or Tractor Supply or Target? On a suburban bus system map, there’s only room for one or the other. The choice that actually helps people understand where the bus line goes seems like free advertising, or at least favoritism. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018/44 "2015-05-19T04:35:05Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > There’s a city called California in Maryland? Why not? — [California (disambiguation) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_(disambiguation)#United_States) > [@](#): > > California City, California > California, Kentucky, a city > California, Louisville, Kentucky, a neighborhood > California, Maryland, a census-designated place and community > California Township, Michigan > California, Missouri, a city > Califon, New Jersey, originally named California, a borough > California, Cincinnati, Ohio, a neighborhood > Big Plain, Ohio or California, an unincorporated community > California, Pennsylvania, a borough > [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > These poses a bit of a dilemma for us mapmakers. Do we put the official name, known only to a few people at the REIT that owns the place, or the name of the anchor store, like Safeway or Tractor Supply or Target? On a suburban bus system map, there’s only room for one or the other. The choice that actually helps people understand where the bus line goes seems like free advertising, or at least favoritism. And what about if a feature has a name that is used but it’s different from the official name? For example what everyone calls the “Pentagon City Mall” is officially the “Fashion Center at Pentagon City.” ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018/45 "2015-05-19T04:45:52Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > “The Shoppes At Roving Gangs Plaza” has a ring to it. Cheap Shit Centre The “re” makes it classy. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018/46 "2015-05-19T19:35:19Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > These poses a bit of a dilemma for us mapmakers. Do we put the official name, known only to a few people at the REIT that owns the place, or the name of the anchor store, like Safeway or Tractor Supply or Target? On a suburban bus system map, there’s only room for one or the other. The choice that actually helps people understand where the bus line goes seems like free advertising, or at least favoritism. I see what you mean, but I think utility has to win out. The one in my city, I’ve passed thousands of times and–despite that huge, lighted sign–never processed the fact that it had such a name until that one time. And now I’ve already forgotten it again. I could name most of the stores in it though. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018/47 "2015-05-19T20:56:21Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > [QUOTE=Jackmannii] > > “The Shoppes At Roving Gangs Plaza” has a ring to it. Cheap Shit Centre The “re” makes it classy. [/QUOTE] The Caveat Emptorium. Stolen from _Gone With the Wind._ Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018/48 "2015-05-19T21:34:55Z")
I like the double \*entendre \*that “emptorium”, in addition to advising caution in a dangerous setting, also makes me think of “empty” as in devoid of customers. Bravo, Sir. Well played. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018/49 "2015-05-20T01:30:45Z")
“I’m Troy McClure. You might remember me from such automated information kiosks as The Caveat Emptorium.” ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018/50 "2015-05-20T16:57:20Z")
[Short Pants Plaza](https://missfoodiesgourmetadventures.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/p9284892.jpg) I am **always** going to use that name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-center-names-no-one-uses/720018.md?page=2)