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MaxFun Presents: March MalldnessFin-mall-e: Hot Topic (1) vs Bath and Body Works (1)This is it, mallrats. The final matchup. These two titans have fought hard to get here and it is up to you to crown the Malliest Mall Store. Hot Topic vs Bath and Body Works. Plus we talk to author of Meet Me by the Fountain and mallrat Alexandra Lange about her childhood mall, new "third places" and her prediction for the winner of today's matchup. Find us on social media @maxfunhq and participate in our mall polls! But be quick, because votes close in 24 hours.Find the March Malldness bracket here: maximumfun.org/m...2024-03-2934 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessFinal Floor: Hot Topic (1) vs. EB Games/GameStop (2)We're in the final stretch of March Malldness, fellow mallrats. It's the FINAL FLOOR and we're talking about Hot Topic and GameStop. We talk about our positive and not so positive memories of each store, ways each store could improve and play a few games with commish Christian Duenas.Which store should move on to the finals? Find us on social media @maxfunhq and participate in our mall polls! But be quick, because votes close in 24 hours.Find the March Malldness bracket here: maximumfun.org/march-malldness-brackets/
MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Support us now...2024-03-2838 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessFinal Floor: Bath and Body Works (1) vs Vans (2)We're in the final stretch of March Malldness, fellow mallrats. It's the FINAL FLOOR and we're talking about Vans and Bath and Body Works. Two titans of the mall but only one can win. We talk with Production Fellow Daniel Huecias about ways we can improve each store and play a few games with commish Christian Duenas.Wanna get involved? Find us on social media @maxfunhq and participate in our mall polls! But be quick, because votes close in 24 hours.Find the March Malldness bracket here: maximumfun.org/march-malldness-brackets/MaxFunDrive ends on March 29, 2024! Sup...2024-03-2740 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessMall-lite 8: Wetzel's Pretzels (5) vs Hot Topic (1)The Mall-lite 8 continues with Food Court vs Mixed Nuts. Snacks vs Scene. Wetzel's Pretzels vs Hot Topic!Wetzel's Pretzels was our fifth seed in the Food Court and has surprised all but one of us with its win after win. Gen-Z correspondent Ashley Dueñas knew all along what kind of contender we had on our napkin-covered hands. We talk about shopping while pretzeling, the story behind their founders, and if we think it has what it takes to make it to the Final Floor.Facing the pretzel stand that won't quit is the number o...2024-03-2637 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessMall-lite 8: The Sharper Image (1) vs EB Games/GameStop (2)We're wrapping up the Mall-lite 8 and going though the stories of The Sharper Image and EB Games/GameStop. Which store will move on to the next round? It's up to YOU!DadCore catalog The Sharper Image has dominated the Tech & Gifts region as the first seed. Did the now defunct store-turned-brand only make it this far due to a lucky bracket draw?GameStop was the second seed in Fun & Games and makes it to the Mall-lite 8 after victories against KB Toys, The Disney Store and FYE. Will the gamers' like/hate relationship with the store...2024-03-2635 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessMall-lite 8: Macy's (1) vs Vans (2)We're onto the Mall-lite 8 and going though the stories of Macy's and Vans. Which store will move on to the next round? It's up to YOU!Mall directory icon and dependable parking lot entrance Macy's has dominated the Department Store region as the first seed. We talk about Macy's place in the present-day mall and whether or not it's the 'empty calories' of mall shopping. Vans was the second seed in Shoe Stores and makes it to the Mall-lite 8 after victories against top seed Foot Locker, Steve Madden and Clarks. Can the iconic skate culture i...2024-03-2535 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessMall-lite 8: PacSun (4) vs Bath and Body Works (1)We're finally here, folks. It's the Mall-lite 8. We're doing things a bit different for these matchups. We're going though the histories of each store and talking about our own memories attached to the stores in each matchup. First up, it's PacSun and Bath and Body Works. PacSun has been picking up a lot of steam during our matchups and it's now going up against a titan of mall stores. We talk about what PacSun brings to the table, our experience with the store and their relationship with The Met. Bath and Body Works was the fi...2024-03-2533 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessSweet 16: Sharper Image (1) vs See's Candies (3)Hello mallrats! We're at the end of the region finals in Tech & Gifts! Which is the malliest of this matchup: Sharper Image or See's Candies? It's up to you to decide who should be part of the Mall-ite 8!Maximum Fun Technology and Data Specialist Danny Baruela's pick is Sharper Image. He's going to tell you why it's not just iconic. But, Sharper Image is in and of itself an illustration of the idea of malls.Stacey Molski, MaxFun's Director of Business Operations, says that See's Candies is the right pick for this game: a clean...2024-03-2419 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessSweet 16: EB Games/Gamestop (2) vs. KB Toys (5)Mallrats! The Sweet 16 heads to every young mallrat's dream, Fun & Games, and only one can make it through to the next round. It's up to YOU! Producer Christian Dueñas tells us why KB Toys is the perfect introduction to mall culture to children.Producer Valerie Moffat explains how no mall is complete without a GameStop and its ruthless trade-in values.Remember to check for our next matchup, we'll be heading into the next round, the "mall-lite 8," in MaxFun's quest for the perfect mall store. Wanna get involved? Find us on soc...2024-03-2423 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessSweet 16: Sbarro (2) vs Wetzel's Pretzels (5)Hello mallrats! The March Malldness Sweet 16 heads to the oasis of the mall, the Food Court. Pizzeria Sbarro takes on pretzelria Wetzel's Pretzels and only one can make it through to the next round. It's up to YOU! Senior Producer Kevin Ferguson tells us why no mall is complete without Sbarro serving a slice of New York pizzeria-core.Technology and Data Specialist Daniel Baruela explains how Wetzel's Pretzels represents the mall-ification of amusement parks, sports venues and transit centers across America.Remember to check for our next matchup, we'll be heading into the n...2024-03-2323 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessSweet 16: Hot Topic (1) vs Spencer's (2)It's the big one folks, two titans of the mall industrial complex battle it out in the Mixed Nuts region. It's Hot Topic vs SpencersDirector of Development and Membership April Pendergraft defends Spencers and explains the difference between "best mall store" and "malliest mall store" Communications Specialist CN Josephs is defending Hot Topic. We get into the everchanging landscape of Hot Topic and if maybe Hot Topic has lost its way.Wanna get involved? Find us on social media @maxfunhq and participate in our mall polls! But be quick, because votes close in...2024-03-2320 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessSweet 16: Bath and Body Works (1) vs Zumiez (6)Mallrats! This Sweet 16 matchup is for the people who love to browse, Bath and Body Works faces off against Zumiez in the "I'm Just Looking" region. Only one can make it through to the next round. It's up to YOU! Director of Business Operations Stacey Molski lights the candle for Bath and Body Works and shares how cucu-melon defined her t(w)eenhood.Feeling Seen host Jordan Crucchiola explains what a Zumiez actually is and how it's the perfect store for the sk8r boi in your life and heart.Remember to check o...2024-03-2228 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessSweet 16: PacSun (4) vs Urban Outfitters (7)Hello mallrats! We're getting deeper into the Sweet 16 and in one of the most hotly contested regions so far: Cool T(w)eens. PacSun and Urban Outfitters will duke it out and only one can make it through to the next round. It's up to YOU! Producer Jennifer Marmor defends Urban Outfitters and tells us about how clutch UO's curation can be for the t(w)een on the go.Producer Raghu Manavalan defends PacSun and talks about how the California beachrat culture it helped create has spread far and wide throughout the US.2024-03-2222 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessSweet 16: Macy's (1) vs Nordstrom (3)Hello mallrats! We are moving along to the Department Store region to talk about which is the most malliest one: Macy's or Nordstrom! Only one of these iconic department stores will make it to the Final 8 and it is up to you to decide! But don't worry, we have two more Maximum Fun staffers here to guide you through this tough decision.CEO Bikram Chatterji's pick is the top seed, Macy's. He might be the sole member of Maximum Fun's C-Suite, but he knows a department store for the people when he sees one.Marissa...2024-03-2118 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessSweet 16: Foot Locker (1) vs Vans (2)Hello mallrats! Its the first matchup of our Sweet 16. Two iconic stores battle it out in our search for the malliest mall store. This time, it's Vans vs Foot Locker. Only one of these shoe store juggernauts can make it through and it's up to YOU! Production Fellow Daniel Huecias is defending Vans and tells us why that checkerboard slip-on pattern is so important to not only mall culture, but pop culture in general. Producer Richard Robey defends Foot Locker and explains why it's the best spot for window shopping.Stay on the lo...2024-03-2119 minMaxFun Presents: March MalldnessEpisode 00: How We Got HereHello fellow mallrats! Join MaxFun producers Christian, Jennifer, and Raghu on their journey to find the malliest mall store. We started off with a bracket of 64 mall stores and whittled it down to just 16. Now we need your help to find our winner! We discuss the process of cutting our stores down to the Sweet 16, our underdogs, and favorites to win. Plus, some interesting mall-nalytics from resident statistician Daniel Baruela.Wanna get involved? Find us on social media @maxfunhq and participate in our mall polls! But be quick, because they'll only be up for 24 hours.2024-03-2025 min