As Skyline students weigh the options of weekend hangout spots, the debate starts to heat up: which mall offers the best atmosphere, food options, and overall store selection?
Twelve Oaks Mall, located in Novi, MI, is one of the best attractions, featuring more than 170 shopping and dining destinations. Opened back in 1977, the bustling mall is currently filled with varieties of different stores, such as Garage, Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, that are sure to catch the attention of newcomers and attract the locals to keep coming back.
“[Twelve Oaks Mall] has way more stores than Briarwood,” said Olivia Papajcik (‘29). “It has many more places and different varieties of stores. Even though it’s far away, it’s still worth it.”
But what about Ann Arbor’s own mall, Briarwood? Is the mall we all know and love starting to fall behind?
Many of the big name stores like Sephora, Forever 21, and The M Den that once defined Briarwood have been closed down. Fortunately, some stores like Urban Outfitters, American Eagle, Aerie, and Pacsun remain open and are continuing to gain popularity with teenagers who live locally.
But, while new stores are moving in, the question remains – will it be enough to revive the mall?
“I wish that Hollister and the Garage would be in Briarwood,” says Lanie Sutton (‘27), “I know that Hollister is going to be built in Briarwood, but it’s taking a really long time. They have really cute, trendy clothing, and it would attract a lot of people.”
Unlike Briarwood, which is near many students’ homes, Twelve Oaks is a whopping 35 minutes away. On top of that, only some Skyline students actually have a driver’s license. Those without have to rely on parents and friends who do have one. “My parents can drive me,” says Reed Jemison-Blais (‘28), “but it’s far away, so not every time.“
Some students aren’t able to go as often as they would want to, because of the drive. “I’m able to drive myself, but it is annoying because I live 40 minutes away from Twelve Oaks, and that’s more miles on my car, plus it’s wasting gas,” says Sutton. “If I lived closer, I would go more often.”
Whether students prefer the convenience of Briarwood or the variety at Twelve Oaks, one thing is clear: the debate over Skyline’s favorite mall isn’t ending anytime soon.
