TEXARKANA, Texas - People walking in the local mall for exercise is a common sight at any time of the day. The management of Texarkana's Central Mall, however, has sought to make it easier and more convenient for mall strollers to get in their steps, opening at 7 a.m to allow them to do so.
"A lot of people don't know about the fact we do open up for our walkers early," said a mall representative. "We wanted to give our wonderful walkers even more chances to come and enjoy their stroll in comfort. We and they aren't the only early risers here, either, as Chick-Fil-A also serves breakfast here at that early hour."
The merchants notice the walkers going about and enjoy the fact they are there.
"Oh, they are here all day and they don't bother anyone," said Jennifer Bartholomew, manager of Lids. "They're friendly, bright and early in the morning. Some even earlier, going around the mall parking lot and the outdoor perimeter of the building until the mall opens up."
Brenda Carper of Fouke, Arkansas, had a mall walking routine when she lived in Texarkana. Now she lives in Fouke, but occasionally makes it back to Central Mall for a good walk.
"First time I've been here in six months," she said during a recent interview. "I think its great, a wonderful thing, opening early for the walkers. It gives folks a chance to get in an early walk without worrying about the elements. COVID is down. I needed to get out."
Diamond William of Jacksonville, Texas, was in Atlanta, Texas, to lay her mother to rest. She made it out to the mall for some shopping.
"I think it is great to be able to get in some early exercise like that," she said. "It is free, after all."
Local retirees, such as Leon Pesek, former judge of the 2o2nd Bowie County District Court, routinely make the rounds here.
"I think it is great," he said. "It is an opportunity to get people involved and a chance to let some of them know what the mall is about. The early hours let us seniors exercise in climate controlled conditions and see people - especially with the pandemic still on the minds of many."