I am old enough to remember the good old days when Northway Mall was a bumpin center for commerce on McKnight Road. The dollar theater was the source of many hours of childhood entertainment for me, and was also where I saw my first R rated movie (White Men Can't Jump). The Borders store was a great place to buy CDs, the Value City was always great people watching, and Old Navy was always a good place to pick up wardrobe basics. There were several restaurants in the food court (including a Rax, I believe) for mid-shopping snacking and a cigar shop where I'd pick up holiday gifts for my dad. There was also a Party City and Ritz Camera to add variety to your shopping experience.
But NONE of those places are there any more.
This place used to be so accessible and a nice alternative to Ross Park Mall. Now...not so much. Sure, Dick's is fine, although mostly overpriced. It's great to have a Petsmart within a few miles of the Petco for added selection and price comparisons. I've gotten some good deals at Shoe Carnival. Mamma Lucia's pizza is pretty decent. And Marshalls continues to be the most likely reason I'll stop by. But this mall is relatively huge and looks like a ghost town with so many vacancies.
My advice would be to bring back the dollar theater. And don't skimp on that lit up tunnel from the box office to the theaters. That was the best. Northway Mall died the day that badass tunnel was demolished.