The Beltway Plaza Mall on MD 193 in Greenbelt is a larger version of this. While there are modern chains on the property, the inside is full of mom and pop places that are only viable in lower rent areas such as a shoe repair, tailor, independent small format hardware store and ethnic food (prepared and market). https://www.beltwayplazamall.com/stores While the place is pretty awful from an aesthetic and functional standpoint as it is very autocentric and has a 2 deck parking structure that obscures the stores from 193, it's an important to have these non-gentrified places to keep small businesses alive.
I was generally unfamiliar with an arcade (strictly speaking) until I visited downtown Cleveland, which is dotted with arcades and some delightful little shops between buildings. This experience connected to my familiarity with the Minneapolis skyway system, Rochester, MN's 'subway,' and some other related concepts in Midwestern mid-sized and small cities that have come and gone over the years. Milwaukee's new-ish 3rd Street Market Hall, for example, is an undeniably awesome conversion from a dead mall to a thriving arcade-type space for aspiring local entrepreneurs.
The Beltway Plaza Mall on MD 193 in Greenbelt is a larger version of this. While there are modern chains on the property, the inside is full of mom and pop places that are only viable in lower rent areas such as a shoe repair, tailor, independent small format hardware store and ethnic food (prepared and market). https://www.beltwayplazamall.com/stores While the place is pretty awful from an aesthetic and functional standpoint as it is very autocentric and has a 2 deck parking structure that obscures the stores from 193, it's an important to have these non-gentrified places to keep small businesses alive.
Oh yeah - my piece about it was one of Greater Greater Washington's most read pieces back in 2022! https://ggwash.org/view/87041/best-of-2022-when-many-malls-are-struggling-greenbelts-beltway-plaza-seems-to-be-thriving-why
The parking lot currently contains Tacos Don Perez, the best taqueria in MoCo
Oh! Will have to try next time!
I was generally unfamiliar with an arcade (strictly speaking) until I visited downtown Cleveland, which is dotted with arcades and some delightful little shops between buildings. This experience connected to my familiarity with the Minneapolis skyway system, Rochester, MN's 'subway,' and some other related concepts in Midwestern mid-sized and small cities that have come and gone over the years. Milwaukee's new-ish 3rd Street Market Hall, for example, is an undeniably awesome conversion from a dead mall to a thriving arcade-type space for aspiring local entrepreneurs.