AMHERST, N.Y. — The year is 1962. The Boulevard Mall first opened.
Sears was a cornerstone at the mall with sales on clothes and appliances, which brought out a lot of people. Many people would spend their entire day at the mall but now, that isn't the case.
"Coming to buy the newest and latest fashion and clothes and seeing what the new sneakers are. I think online shopping has taken over but it's still nice to get out and touch things and try things on," Eric Richardson said.
The couple came up for lunch at Taste of China but remembers the hustle and bustle at the mall in decades past.
"I remember coming and every store was just full. Whatever you needed it was here," Richardson said.
Now the mall is empty. Multiple stores have left and only a few remain, like Macy's and JCPenney. However, time is ticking. A few store owners told 2 On Your Side they have to pack up and leave by Sunday.
"I don't know if anything is going to be different. Are people still online shopping or going in to shop? If they weren't shopping here before, I don't know what it's going to do."
However, stores with an outside entrance are staying. Very few small stores will remain, if they're close to an entrance.
"I don't know why the malls died because what would you rather do? Go from here to here, outside, and fight the weather when it can be all here at once," a shopper said.
It's all a part of a "reimaging" plan developers are said to be working on.
"I think we should build something that's fun for the community. Something for kids and families to do. It's Buffalo. It's cold. We don't have a lot of fun stuff to do when it's cold outside," Carmen Rivera said.
But until that day comes, mall walkers will continue their laps and residents will hold on to the few businesses left.
RELATED VIDEO: