When Paige Thomas, 27, from Palatka, came to The Oaks Mall as a child, it was always a family affair. It included going back-to-school shopping or hunting for Christmas gifts with her cousins.
“After we would go shopping, we would go over to Boston Market and hang out as a family,” Thomas said.
People like Thomas have been making memories like these at The Oaks Mall since 1973, when Gainesville’s now only traditional indoor shopping center first opened.
“I have a lot of memories from high school coming here,” said Gretchen Murphy, 24, who works at a kiosk at the mall. “I came here almost every week with my friends. We always hit up the photo booths. I have a bunch of photo strips from every time I came here with my friends.”…