Claire Collins

Claire Collins

Everything about Copley Place screams upscale. From the sign out in front of the mall in the mini-plaza to the advertisements everywhere for the mall itself, as one of many Simon malls, to the fancy salmon-colored stone stairs to the shiny gold elevators and the waterfall in the middle of the atrium, not to mention the glass ceilings that allow for a ton of natural light in the small space in the city. The walkways are fairly wide, with a consistent stone pattern. There are few kiosks. Each store has its own exterior wall finish; the walls of the mall itself are not visible until you go down the path towards the restrooms and the parking. All of these spatial factors are reinforced by the signage. There is a code of conduct posted at the bottom of the escalator, a sign welcoming guests in seven different languages, and free Boston Common magazines in the center of the mall. All of this makes Copley Place enjoyable and accessible to only a certain type of customer: one with money to burn and a strong desire to shop. There aren’t many people milling about and the windows aren’t really big enough to permit for window shopping.

Newbury Street is entirely different in character. The sidewalks are bustling with people, including those working the street for their causes. This kind of political advocacy is explicitly banned in Copley Place. The stores are a mixture of retail and grocery/general goods stores. What makes this street clearly commercial is the uniformity of it all. The buildings are all the same height, and often the same red brick with matching roofs. Trees are planted a specific distance apart. There is ample sidewalk room and trash bins, as well as lights for night. Once one steps off Newbury, the buildings again soar to higher, differing heights, the buildings aren’t made of brick anymore and there aren’t trees lining the one-way street.