mall rats
Food court fixtures
Mall rats are young people who spend excessive time hanging around shopping malls, typically socializing rather than shopping.
The term suggests aimless loitering and treating the mall as a social hub: The food court was packed with mall rats every Saturday.
The image evokes teenagers congregating without purpose, like rats drawn to a familiar habitat.
Frequented gathering place
- cliquesExclusive social groups
- friendshipBond of mutual affection
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- meetupInformal planned gathering
chatter · banter · camaraderie · gossip · flirting · crew · posse · bonding
People aged thirteen to nineteen
- adolescenceTeenage developmental stage
- high schoolUpper secondary institution
- skateboardingSport on wheeled plank
- arcadeArched passageway or gaming hall
boredom · rebellion · identity · coming-of-age · allowance · curfew · unsupervised · after school
Multi-store retail complexes
- retail therapyShopping to improve mood
- bargain huntingPursuing discounted merchandise
- chain storesBranded shops, many locations
- department storesLarge retailers with varied sections
food court · arcades · kiosks · merchandise · outlets · megamall · galleria · boutiques
Viewing merchandise without intent to buy
- browsingCasual examination of options
- wanderingTraveling with no fixed course
- hanging outCasual socializing
- people-watchingObserving strangers in public
meandering · lingering · dawdling · strolling · ambling · killing time · drifting · milling about
Melancholic music subculture
- punkRaw, fast rock genre
- emoConfessional rock subgenre
- skateboardersPeople riding wheeled boards
- alternativeAnother available choice
scene kids · grunge · metalheads · nonconformist · counterculture · outsiders · misfits · band tees
hangout
Frequented gathering place
- cliquesExclusive social groups
- friendshipBond of mutual affection
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
meetup · chatter · banter · camaraderie · gossip · flirting · crew · posse · bonding · peer group
teenagers
People aged thirteen to nineteen
- adolescenceTeenage developmental stage
- high schoolUpper secondary institution
- skateboardingSport on wheeled plank
arcade · boredom · rebellion · identity · coming-of-age · allowance · curfew · unsupervised · after school · summer break
shopping centers
Multi-store retail complexes
- retail therapyShopping to improve mood
- bargain huntingPursuing discounted merchandise
- chain storesBranded shops, many locations
department stores · food court · arcades · kiosks · merchandise · outlets · megamall · galleria · boutiques · anchor stores
window-shopping
Viewing merchandise without intent to buy
- browsingCasual examination of options
- wanderingTraveling with no fixed course
- hanging outCasual socializing
people-watching · meandering · lingering · dawdling · strolling · ambling · killing time · drifting · milling about · aimlessness
goth
Melancholic music subculture
- punkRaw, fast rock genre
- emoConfessional rock subgenre
- skateboardersPeople riding wheeled boards
alternative · scene kids · grunge · metalheads · nonconformist · counterculture · outsiders · misfits · band tees · hot topic
- Gen XGeneration X, Gen X, MTV generation, latchkey kids, slackers
- retro gamingretro gaming, 8-bit, NES, SNES, 16-bit
- regularsregulars, habitues, frequenters, usuals, familiar faces
mall ratsbargain hunters
mall ratsnature lovers
Those drawn to wilderness
hikers · athletes · homebodies · bookworms · overachievers
mall ratsstreet kids
skate punks · beach bums · wilderness campers · hermits · recluses