re: Cortana Mall's final hours....

Broadmoor High grad here, spent most of my free time in Cortana mall or the McDonald’s on Florida Blvd. We use to skip school and go to Cortana for the A&W chili-cheese fries. RIP my old friend.

Once upon a time in the vibrant year of 1989, Cortana Mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was a bustling hub of excitement and youthful energy. It was an era where neon fashion clashed with big hair, and the sound of synthesizers echoed through the air.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, a group of friends decided to spend their day exploring the wonders of Cortana Mall. Among them were Lisa, a fashion-forward trendsetter, Mike, an aspiring breakdancer with a boombox in tow, and Jake, the tech geek fascinated by the latest gadgets.

As they entered the mall, the scent of fresh popcorn wafted through the air, drawing them to the bustling food court. Armed with a pocket full of quarters, they headed straight for the arcade, eager to conquer the latest video game challenges. Pac-Man, Galaga, and Street Fighter became the battlegrounds for their friendly competitions, with cheers and laughter filling the arcade.

After claiming victory in the digital realm, the trio set out to explore the mall's stores. Lisa couldn't resist the neon paradise of the fashion boutiques, while Mike, with his eyes on the latest dance moves, found himself drawn to a record store playing the hottest hits of the '80s. Meanwhile, Jake couldn't resist the allure of the newly opened electronics store, with its shiny gadgets and state-of-the-art computers.

As the day unfolded, the group stumbled upon a karaoke booth in the middle of the mall. With a mix of daring and excitement, they took turns belting out their favorite tunes, much to the amusement of onlookers. Lisa showcased her Madonna-inspired vocals, while Mike attempted to breakdance to the rhythm of the karaoke machine. Jake, not to be outdone, impressed the crowd with a rap he had written on the spot about the wonders of technology.

The day at Cortana Mall became a time capsule of '80s nostalgia, a memory etched in the minds of these friends forever. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they left the mall, carrying their shopping bags, laughter, and a shared sense of camaraderie. Little did they know that the echoes of their adventures in Cortana Mall would linger as a fond memory, a snapshot of a time when the mall was not just a shopping center but a playground for youthful exuberance and the spirit of the '80s.

Mike died in a car accident on Airline Highway in 1997.

My mom took us a few times a year and it was always a treat. I remember if we were real lucky we could go chi chi’s after .
I worked at sears in high school and have fond memories of the mall and all the excitement around the holidays. On Black Friday, people would line up at the doors to get in at 6am. The traffic on Ring Rd was insane. That was in the early 90’s. Hard to believe that place is no longer.

Coke rugby shirts at Godchaux’s

quote:

---

I use to work at Merry Go Round

---

They had the leather patched Guess jeans that were hard to find.

You could buy mall daquiries at Mama Brava when I worked there. My boss was a British dude that had hair like Gavin Rosdale and laid pipe all over town.

That was peak Baton Rouge right there.

quote:

---

My parents put a Commodore-64 computer on lay-a-way for me at the computer store just down from the movie theater. Anyone remember its name?

---

I liked that store because it carried a decent selection of hardware and software for my Atari 800XL. New Generation had tons of software but not hardware. One of my Atari printers broke and the authorized repair place was a couple of blocks north of the mall. Can’t imagine what’s there now.

I don’t remember the name of the place - I don’t think it was a chain.

I remember Duffs. They had plenty of food but the food was bland. I went there twice with a friend of mine and we never went back. If I remember correctly it didn't last very long. The main reason why I never went back is because they had some dirty looking people pick up a piece of chicken, look at it, and then put it back to where they got it from. I also wasn't a fan of seeing small kids stick their fingers in the chocolate pudding, lick the pudding off of their fingers, and stick them back in the pudding when it came around again.