The long-awaited Sihlcity is finally open. The heralded new structure is large and contains retail shops, eateries, AND a cinema. All under one roof. How wacky is that? This article in SwissInfo gives us the inside scoop:
Zurich’s tourist board has already hailed the complex as a unique entertainment concept and expects it to be a magnet for foreign visitors.
Psst… tourist board, c’mere a minute. Let me let you in on a little secret… it’s called a “mall” and there are about a gazillion of them already in existence, hidden away in this little country called the USA.
“It will be a key part of Zurich tourism as it offers new depth and richness to the existing attractions of Bahnhofstrasse and the old town. It brings everything together, shopping and entertainment, in one area so people don’t really have to move to enjoy it,” tourist board head of operations Markus Salzmann told swissinfo.
Right, so if you haven’t noticed, the lack of movement is kind of what’s getting Americans in trouble. That and all those Sbarro pizza slices and giant frosted cookies. Really, not as good of an idea as it sounds.
Actually there is one aspect of Sihlcity which is definitely different from American malls – its Roman Catholic chapel. Now I’m sure Americans have come up with the chapel-in-the-mall concept, too, or are about to any day now. But the reasoning behind the placement is altogether different: “Some people may just want a quiet refuge to get away from the bustle, but others like the anonymity of a shopping centre. They can visit the chapel without being seen by people they know who may ask what they are doing here.” Where I grew up, being seen was the number one reason TO go to church. Funny that people here might actually want to hide it…
Anyway, you’re not going to find much privacy anywhere in Sihlcity these days, because the place is jammed packed with at least half the population of Switzerland, all crowding into stores that are basically the same as the ones on Bahnhofstrasse. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such long lines to get on an escalator in my life. Ah, consumerism.
That looks like my worst nightmare. I hate shopping. I hate malls. I hate enormous crowds of people milling about.
By the way, the Mall of America, located in Bloomington (Minnesota) already has a chapel. They do Vegas-style weddings there. People who just happen to be at the Mall can stand outside the chapel and watch through the glass window.
No, I am not making this up.
Well a lot of people go to the U.S. for shopping, and I believe Mall of America is a major tourist attraction, so why not in the Switzerland I guess… and there are already malls like that elsewhere in Europe.
Serves you right for going there on the opening weekend though! 😛
You are too funny!! To add to GLs note on the Mall of America or as we call it the Sprall of America. Not only does it have a Chapel, but 4 large stores in each corner. Macys, Bloomingdales, Sears, and Nordstroms. In addition to them are another 425 smaller stores 35 fast food joints and 15 resturants, 3 cinemas plus one 1 acre amusment park in the middle. To make matters even more crazy they are planning on doubling the size of the place in the next two years. At that time even Ikea will be part of the Mall. I keep adding things but it is the number one tourist site in the state. In November the flights start from London, Toyko, Rome and others. It use to cost $425.00 per person for the flight from London to Minneapolis with 4 days at a motel including some resturant coupons. Tell me this isn’t nuts.
I hate malls, but now that you mention those frosted cookies, I kind of want one.
The Prudential Mall in Boston has a Catholic chapel in it. But I grew up like you – you went to church to show how righteous you were to everyone else in town. Trying to hide the fact that you’re in church is new to me!