What millennials’ favorite childhood stores say about them now

If Esprit was your shopping destination, there’s no way that your Instagram feed is not primed and polished because you were the type that lived to make a statement and still do.

Millennials who grew up wanting to be at Sports Authority anytime they did not have a game themselves are on a first-name basis with their local Dicĸ’s staff and are the premiere parent when it comes to snacks for their kids’ sporting events.

Before Hot Topic became just another Funko Pop dealing Disney shop, it actually scared adults. Those who ventured in there for band tees and dog collars to wear still have a bit of an edge to them but have since ditched at least several of the piercings for day jobs. However, when the emo playlist hits, you can’t help but revert to the good ol’ days.

Anyone who spent most of their time at the mall in FYE has a collection of VHS tapes and DVDs somewhere in their home and/or their parent’s house. They also live and die by their Letterboxd.

Justice girls evolved into Stanley cups women.

If those who loved the Discovery Channel Store were to look back at their school records, they’d see a report that’d make Mr. Clean blush. Spick and span, these were the kids that yearned to learn, never caused trouble, and still love gaining knowledge via deep dives on educational Reddit.

Today, no one is safe after you’ve been handed a Bath & Body Works basic during a weekend sale.

No, the fans of Circuit City didn’t go on to lead Silicon Valley. Oh, no, those who appreciated Circuit City loved its architecture more than anything. It wasn’t anything fancy, a tiled red facade that inspired a love of the eccentric roadside attractions of life.

Kids who were lucky enough to roam the aisles of Toys “R” Us truly reached a ‘90s kid-level of nirvana. So much so that collecting things has sort of become their thing, so don’t be shocked to find a former Toys “R” Us Kid with a wall full of unopened Funko Pops.

So, being nine and loving the senior citizen vibes of a Hallmark Store is not a bad thing. Who hasn’t fallen prey to their card collection? However, if this was your favorite, then you’re now working in a career that’s quiet, and you also appreciate the traditionalism of manners like writing thank you cards.

Claire’s had a chaotic, thrift store vibe even though it was in the mall. However, there was something lawless about them allowing teenagers to pierce the ears of other minors, but you loved and embraced the feral ways of Claire’s. That free spirit has led past Claire’s kids to a life of wild whimsy.

Gadgets and gizmos galore, you were a real-life Ariel when it came to sneaking off into Sharper Image. Now there’s no reason to sneak around as you’re an adult who can spend their entire check on a new toy. 

PacSun people had a party vibe that definitely was hard to stop, so it hasn’t. Find former PacSun people still living their best days like they were in college, despite college being a distant memory. 

Build-A-Bear created a generation of Pinterest obsessives.

Sears shoppers are very old school. While Macy's and even JCPenney could get a little hip and happening, Sears stayed pretty down-to-earth, and that led to an adult life that mirrors as such: Sensible suburban living.

Whenever there is an overzealous Spotify Wrapped post that features one new artist and four from the ‘90s, just know it is a millennial who refuses to give up on their MTV Total Request Live days. They’re also almost always at a concert or planning their next one.

No trip to the mall was complete without wasting time in Borders. Whether it was a favorite for the prime location or because of the books, it’s true that today, those people are the last hope keeping Barnes & Noble afloat as they earnestly try to get their #booktok accounts to go viral.

If Spencer’s were a person, it’d be the kid who cut class regularly. Enough said on that.

Disney Store fanatics grew up to be Disney Adults? What a shocker.

Anyone who darted for a RadioShack when they were a kid grew up to have a collection of random cords they will never throw away.