HIGH LIFE : ‘Malling’ Fans Hear the Centers Calling

Today’s shopping mall has effectively replaced the malt shop of the ‘50s as the hangout for teen-agers. But what exactly is it about indoor stores that have turned them into homes away from home? Why is “malling” such a popular activity?

Here are some responses to this week’s hot topic: “Which shopping mall do you prefer to hang out in and why?”

“Westminster Mall--all the rich people hang out there.”

--Halina Mehr, 17,

senior, Anaheim

“Probably MainPlace, but I don’t really know why. Either that or the Brea Mall . . . the Brea Mall is more relaxing.”

--Cheryl Padayo, 17, senior, Connelly

“MainPlace--it has popular stores and is less crowded than other malls.”

--Heather Ames, 16,

senior, Connelly

“I don’t go to any shopping malls because I get my clothes at Tippecanoe’s in Laguna Beach because it’s cheap.”

--Todd Hill, 16,

sophomore, Corona del Mar

“I hate malls, I hate shopping and I hate money. If I absolutely have to go, I’ll go to the Buena Park Mall . . . if I absolutely have to go.”

--Stacie Grover, 16,

junior, Cypress

“Westminster Mall--I love the different stores, and the prices are reasonable.”

--Sheryl Murakoshi, 16,

junior, Cypress

“Mission Viejo Mall--it has better stores than Laguna Hills Mall; however, I prefer Russo’s Pet Store in Laguna Hills to Pets Unlimited in Mission Viejo.”

--Rochelle Clark, 17,

senior, Dana Hills

“South Coast Plaza--it is a large mall with a great variety of stores and women.”

--Chris Stevens, 17,

senior, Dana Hills

“Malls are decadent hideouts for the unimaginative.”

--Richard Hartzell, 16,

senior, Dana Hills

“South Coast Plaza--all the hot guys there.”

--Paulette Villasenor, 17,

senior, Edison

“South Coast Plaza--it has a lot of shops that I like.”

--Jennifer Yin, 15,

sophomore, Estancia

“I don’t hang around malls that much, but if I did, South Coast Plaza would be it. It is close, and it has practically everything you want.”

--Mike Joyner, 17, senior, Estancia

“South Coast Plaza--I like the atmosphere of the wealthy people because you can feel the wealth, but I can’t even stop at Bullock’s because it’s so expensive.”

--Gina Gail, 17,

senior, Fountain Valley

“South Coast Plaza--it’s big and it has the best clothes stores.”

--Chelsea Heneise, 15,

sophomore, Fountain Valley

“South Coast Plaza--I like the shops that are there.”

--Brooke Goudge, 14,

sophomore, Fountain Valley

“Orange Mall--it’s the closest and most convenient.”

--Joung Kim, 17, senior, Katella

“MainPlace--it’s different from the other malls. It’s like walking on the street instead of in a closed shopping center.”

--Andrea Coleman, 15,

sophomore, Katella

“South Coast Plaza--it has the most class.”

--Buddy Fitzgerald, 15,

junior, Katella

“South Coast Plaza--my friend, Esther, and I enjoy putting on our blue pleated skirts and trying to look like Japanese schoolgirls.”

--Susan Cho, 17,

senior, Kennedy

“Cerritos Mall--I go there after church on Sundays.”

--Helen Shin, 15,

junior, Kennedy

“Westminster Mall--I know my way around, it’s close to my house and my favorite stores are there.”

--Jana Harden, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“South Coast Plaza--it has everything.”

--Ashley Brooks, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“South Coast Plaza--I love the shops.”

--Johanna Richard, 16,

senior, Los Alamitos

“Buena Park Mall--it’s the most convenient, and I practically know every shop there.”

--Fawzia Atcha, 16,

senior, Magnolia

“South Coast Plaza--the variety of stores and location to my house.”

--Olivia Araiza, 15,

sophomore, Mater Dei

“Orange Mall--even though it’s small, that’s the whole idea. A small mall keeps it more of a social gathering.”

--Richard Gallegos, 17,

senior, Orange

“Westminster Mall--it has a wide variety of stores.”

--Matt Budds, 16, senior, Servite

“Brea Mall--that’s where my friends go.”

--Danielle Lyons, 14, sophomore,

Southern California Christian

“MainPlace--it has the best shops.”

--Stacie Swain, 15, junior,

Southern California Christian

“MainPlace and Orange Mall--I like them because they are shopping malls.”

--Becky Ganoe, 15, sophomore,

Southern California Christian

“South Coast Plaza--I live right next to it.”

--Ernest Crawford, 15, sophomore,

Southern California Christian

Next Week’s Hot Topic: What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen and why?

Hot Topic responses gathered by Chris Bergerud, Nikki Boramanand, Tanya Diaz, Kristen Hardeman, Laurene Harding, Stephanie Jeffers, Lynda Kim, Chi Mai, Monica Neal, Hai Pham, Jana Swail.