Listen up, darlings—Ms. Rizzlerina is in the building, bedazzled in sequins and ready to dish on something so retro it circles all the way back to fabulous. Buckle up your velour tracksuits and grab a frosted lip gloss, because we are taking a sparkling stroll down the aisles of nostalgia. Yes, honey—I’m talking about stores that are STILL open. Not in a “we revived it for the trend” kinda way, but full-on, operating, fluorescent-lit, smell-of-dust-and-dreams kind of open!
Now let me paint you a scene: You’re scrolling through your feed, sipping on an overpriced matcha, when suddenly, boom—Lids. Yes, Lids! Of “mall hats and questionable fashion statements” fame, still topping heads from coast to coast. And I just have one question—who is still buying enough flat brims to keep this empire alive? The math? Not mathing!
According to PopCrush’s razor-sharp report (and you know a diva like moi never sources anything less than sparkly), there are 18—count ’em, 1-8—stores that are somehow still clinging to the commercial runway of relevancy. We’re talkin’ mall staples that survived recessions, TikTok trends, and the death of the food court Orange Julius. This list is so wild you’ll think it came straight out of a 2002 Delia’s catalog.
Get this: Claire’s is still stabbing tweens’ ears with glittering chaos in every shopping mall that hasn’t become a Spirit Halloween. Claire’s! I haven’t stepped into one since the Jonas Brothers were considered edgy. Yet it stands, a sparkly monument to impulse purchases and uneven piercings.
Then there’s Spencer’s—oh, sweet chaotic Spencer’s. The kingdom of lava lamps, band tees, and inappropriate mugs. It’s like Hot Topic’s wild cousin who got into crystals and refuses to grow up. Your inner goth-camp queen *knows* she’s bought something ridiculous from there at least once after seeing a meme about Mercury in retrograde.
And don’t even get me started on Bath & Body Works. The fact that they’re still out here slaying with three-wick candles and seasonal body sprays named “Winter Magic Morning Snowfall Kissed My Dreams” or whatever? Iconic. Their business model is basically just: confuse the nose, steal the wallet, bless the vibes.
But baby, the twist of glamour is this: these stores aren’t just surviving; they’re thriving in a world where attention spans are shorter than a celebrity engagement. They’re comfort. They’re kitsch! They’re campy mall couture in a world of faceless Amazon boxes. And honestly? We love that for them.
Now, tell me—what relics from the golden age of retail therapy are still burning bright in your heart (and your local strip mall)? Did I miss an oldie-but-goodie still raking in the coins? Slide into the comments or tag me on socials with your faves, because you KNOW I’m always here for a walk-in-closet-sized memory lane.
Stay fabulous, stay nostalgic, and let the glow-up of forgotten retail royalty continue to sparkle.
‘Til next time, my little glamazon warriors—don’t forget to spritz, shop, and slay.
Ms. Rizzlerina 💋✨
