MB - The Michigan Daily Weekend Magazine - Thursday, December 10, 1998 AdOL _ . 9 0 The Michigan Daily Weekend Mag Dec. 10: From Sneakers to Sushi l WhatGreat Lakes Crossing Mall / Where: Auburn Hills / How to get there: Take M-14 to 96 east. From there, take 696 north (towards Flint) to 1-75, which passes through Auburn Hills. Signs along the highway mark exits for the mall. / How long: One hour / What to see: Great Lakes Crossing is the newest mall in the metro Detroit area. Do your holiday shopping, buy something for yourself, pr just absorb the ambiance of a sparkling new commercial establish- ment. I Road Trip of the Week New mall brings outlets indoors Unseen employees help keep camp By Jessica Eaton Daily Weekend, Etc. Editor Country music. J.C. Penney. An artificial rainforest. Giant pieces of plastic fruit. Sushi. What do all of these things have in common? You can find them all at Great Lakes Crossing, the newest shop- pingmall in the Metro Detroit area. Since it opened on Nov. 12, Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills has attracted hordes of Christmas shop- pers looking for new merchandise and great deals in a trendy setting. "This is a pretty new concept, like Birch Run only indoors," said Alicia Bayley, a shopper from Ann Arbor. "There's not really anything else like this. It has the discount outlet I shops, but with all of the indoor amenities." Outlet stores of shopping favorites, from Saks Fifth Avenue to Eddie Bauer, abound at Great Lakes Crossing. There are also the less expensive choices, such as J.C. Penney, T.J. Maxx, and Marshall's, for clothing shoppers in search of good buys. Entering the mall, the first thing the shopper notices is the comfort- able, almost cozy environment; car- pets, low ceilings and tasteful light- ing create a casual atmosphere. The mall spans just one floor and is laid out like a circular track, so shoppers can make the loop to see every store and end up where they began with- out having to backtrack or miss any- thing. Da~iy Great Lakes Crossing's food court runs the width of the mall, from one half of the track to the other, and provides diverse ethnic cuisine, live musical entertainment ranging from Christmas carols to country west- ern, and playground equipment for children. "It's a great place," said Ledina Bushadi of Grand Rapids. "I like the people that sing, the act, a lot." Flanked by an Edy's stand on one end and Ben & Jerry's on the other, everything from burgers to sushi is available for the weary shopper. Instead of the usual tacky fast food colors, the food court's design taste- fully matches the rest of Great By William Nash Daily Arts Writer They would give any good mother a run for her money. University employees do every- thing from making dinner to clean- ing up bathroom messes all without one "because I said so." Despite employees' commitment to keeping students bellies' full and getting them safely tucked in at night, most work in relative obscuri- ty. Rarely do students display much appreciation, if they even know which employee to thank. Cook Polly Marinkovski, who works in the lower levels under West Quad's kitchen, gets her only feed- back from student comment cards. "I think most (students) are thank- ful, but you cannot make everyone happy," said Marinkovski. "We're enjoys interacting with all types of people. While being interviewed she had to give directions on a few occasions and took a hospital-issued stroller but not until asking its occupant, "Did you like that ride?" Although Wright has only been an attendant for about two years, she previously worked in South Quad, Bursley and Bates as a housekeeper. "I've always enjoyed working for U of M" Wright said. "But I liked cleaning the guy's side (of bathrooms) more than the girls. Despite what everyone says, they were far cleaner." Her formal duties as an attendant include greeting, helping people in and out of their cars, making sure wheelchairs and stretchers are avail- able and numerous other tasks. On one instance while Wright was helping a woman out of her car, the woman's water boys broke during the conversion into a than wheelchair. The wheelchair experience was e hectic, but (one Wright prays she 'onenever has to were encountera vio- lent situation. She has dealt with irate people aynell Wright in the past, but ital employee has always been able to calm them always trying to improve through the cards," Before working at West Quad, Marinkovski owned a Bakery in Saline for five years. Although she is a baker by trade, she has enjoyed working for the University "very much." nHiked cleaning th side moreI the girs0 what every says, they, far cleaner. - R; University Hosp Janitor Claran Knauss cleans up the basement of the Modern Languages Bul "behind the scenes" employees at the University who, if they do there job w acting with students and faculty and listening to singing classes rehearse. ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Day Great Lakes Crossing, located in Auburn Hills, is the area's newest shopping mall. It is unique in its layout, with carpeted floors and architect-designed storefronts. ADRIANA YUGOVIC H/t Becky Reynolds, of Holly, works In a Great Lakes Crossing store that only sells unusual magnets. There are many such specialty shops at the mall, intermixed with larger name-brand outlet stores. Lakes Crossing. "It's really stylized," said Bayley. "They put a lot into this. There are overriding themes in the design." The popular theme restaurants Johnny Rocket's and a Rainforest Cafe are located near the food court, as well as a miniature amusement park for children with the descrip- tive name Jeepers! Food, Fun, and a Monkey. "I think it's very unique," said Nicole Harris of Flint. "It's very nice here, very clean." Another aspect that differentiates Great Lakes Crossing from other local merchants of factory seconds is the number of small specialty shops. Along with the expected music and beauty supply stores, there is a store devoted to Harley Davidson merchandise, a magnet store, a baseball cap store, two stores selling nothing but calendars, and a Steve & Barry's larger than any of the Ann Arbor locations. Even though Great Lakes Crossing attempts to bridge the gap between outlet malls and traditional trendy shopping establishments, many of the mainstay retailers pop- ular at other malls are noticeably lacking. The Nine West, DKNY, and Bebe outlets are grouped tightly together near Saks, but there is no Gap, Abercrombie and Fitch or American . Eagle Outfitters. Somewhere there is a really snappy dresser who is just plain heart bro- ken. Further, there are no stores specializing in cartoon character merchandise. While there is a Bath and Body Works, there is no Body Shop. Several stores are still in the process of moving in, most likely opening after the Christmas rush. A Bass Pro Shop will be located in the Sporting Division, and a few other empty spots are noticeable through- out the mall. While it may be impossible to find a pair of Gap jeans or an Abercrombie & Fitch shirt at Great Lakes Crossing, it's an ideal place to find a country knick-knack as a gift for your aunt or a Blues Brothers tie for your father, and it's easy to spend several hours shop- ping there ... no matter what you're looking for. "It's rewarding to ... cook and know that I am feeding students," Marinkovski said. "That's the reason I am still here." Another employee, custodian Claron "Dusty" Knauss, also knows what working in anonymity is like. Knauss has been working in the Modern Languages Building's base- ment for the past 10 years. His duties include cleaning and security, and he also has been known to give directions and act as a lost- and-found. "I think it's rewarding to have a teacher or student come back look- ing for something and then be able to see the look on their face when you return it to them," Knauss said. Knauss worked in the Brown and Sharp hydraulic pumps factory in Manchester, Mich., before coming to Ann Arbor. A couple of faded USA tattoos on Knauss's forearm are remnants of one of his first "jobs." Knauss was in the Navy during World War II where he served on the deck of a Landing Ship Tank (LST). Knauss admits he may not love his custodial job, but he finds parts enjoy- able. "I like listening to (singing class- es held in MLB) and talking to stu- dents and teachers," Knauss said. University Hospitals employee Raynell Wright mans one of the desks near the front entrance and says she only encounters students now and then, but she said she down. She says that if a violent sit- uation were to occur, she would have to call hospital security. These are only a few of the hundreds of employees who service students across campus. From making chicken sandwiches to cleaning shower grime, from flu shots to patrol cars, each, like any good mother, take care of students on campus. Wright said it best: "Every person here is very important in their own way." GOOD LUCK WITH EXAMS ' FROM ALL YOUR FRIENDS AT WEEKEND ETC. ....... HAIR SALON CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 10% Off Full-Hour Massage Reg. Price $50.00 Good Through 12/31/98 (c.m.t.) Total Body Waxing full Leg and Bikini $50.00 , THE PERFECT GUY GIFT! 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