The Tacoma Mall’s morning crowd includes people who aren’t there to shop. The News Tribune reports that one group of about 25 walkers, ranging in age from 65 to 91, meets regularly inside the mall. Some have been walking there for 30 or 40 years.
The group’s routine is part exercise, part social time. Walkers often gather afterward in the food court over coffee and a treat, and they bring new members in by striking up conversations with other regulars. A full lap around the mall is roughly two miles, according to the mall’s marketing director.
Over time, the walkers have become a source of companionship and practical support for one another. Members keep a printed list of birthdays and emergency contacts, and some have stepped in with rides to appointments or help during difficult stretches.
The News Tribune’s story about the Tacoma Mall walkers shares more about the friendships behind those morning laps—and the thoughtful system the group uses to stay connected
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