We Didn’t Need TikTok Because We Had The Foothills Fashion Mall In Fort Collins

Do you remember the Foothills Fashion Mall? I sure do. Located in Fort Collins, I only wish we could travel back to the 90's and live that dream once more.

But we can't. All we can do is remember the magic and be grateful we were able to experience it.

My favorite mall stores from days gone by

A few days ago, I found myself telling my 8-year-old daughter about the Candy Jar store. Long before the candy store in Scheels, you went to The Candy Jar. Wall-to-wall options for any sweet tooth.

What about Spencer's Gifts? Whether you needed a unicorn crystal sculpture or a raunchy bachelorette party decoration, you could find all of that and more at Spencer's Gifts. Sigh.

I remember shopping the shoe section at Mervyns. Mervyns was a very popular big-box store. Think Kohl's before Kohl's was a thing. Make sense?

Pet City was where I bought my sweet Pomeranian, Mr. Bo Jangles. That dog lived for 14 years and was worth every overpriced penny. They also had a puppy area where you could try out the dogs before buying one, I guess.

At Sears, you could purchase tires and stretchy jeans and have your family portrait taken. All in one place. Each section had a dedicated salesperson to answer any questions about tires, clothing, or family pictures. You get the gist.

KB toys kept me busy for hours at a time while my parents shopped. For the record, there was no such thing as stranger danger in the 90s. Every toy was wound up and making noise, which I would hate now, but it was magic back then.

Let's talk about music. Let's talk about a simpler time when you had to wait for a cassette tape to be released at Sam Goody. The popular music store also offered toys, video games (Nintendo), and posters of mega singers...like Marilyn Manson.

Why I'm sad in 2026

I guess I just feel homesick when I think about the Foothills Fashion Mall in the 90s because it was a vibe. Also, I didn't have to pay taxes or be an adult in the 90s.

Everything now is lame.