News - Retro Mall Walkers Turn Exercise into Performance Art

The Lloyd Center mall in Portland, Oregon serves as an unconventional stage for an equally unconventional group known as the Food Court 5000. Led by Krista Catwood, a former burlesque performer with a penchant for 1980s workout fashion, this vibrant community gathering embodies the spirit of retro-fitness boombox culture in an unlikely venue. Over 50 participants, spanning all ages and walks of life, don neon leggings, fanny packs, and sweatbands to engage in what is part workout, part choreographed spectacle. The rules are simple but add an element of quirky decorum: move your arms with gusto, wave at everyone, and don’t walk alone. The activity is as much about building community and spreading joy as it is about exercise. The scene in the mall is both nostalgic and lively, as these 'mall walkers' parade past vacant storefronts and through the bustling food court. Among them, Steve Valley, who reminisces about his youth spent in the same mall, finds a new beat in his stride wearing patriotic sweatbands. Libby Rice and Leslie Kelinson, the latter leading the charge at 81, represent the diverse crowd attracted to this feel-good phenomenon, which unites students, children, and seniors alike. A typical session involves spirited laps around the mall’s three levels—each distance totaling 3 and a half miles—with intentional breaks to rest and share snacks in a convivial atmosphere. The activity's resemblance to a Sunday service, complete with music and communal ritual, has not gone unnoticed. Participants speak of therapeutic benefits, a sense of belonging, and the joy that fuels return visits. However, this venue will soon close, signaling the end of an era for the Lloyd Center. Despite this setback, Catwood and her joyous exercise ensemble are undeterred. They are searching for a new home for their eccentric endeavor, eager to continue spreading cheer through fun, fitness, and that unique brand of public performance art. As they prepare to say goodbye to this nostalgic locale, the spirit of their movement—embodying fellowship, exercise, and unrestrained joy—remains undiminished. The Food Court 5000 may find a new location, but its heart will always channel the mall-walking rebels of decades past.