Wow! The above image pretty well sums up my little world as it was back then. I lived in that hazy neighborhood at the top edge of the image.
We were thrilled when the mall opened, because it meant Mom wouldn't have to keep driving down to Sears Crosstown. Not to mention that in those days, a shopping center with that many stores under one roof was a whole new concept for us, and a dream come true! I must have spent hundreds of hours in that mall. I went to Sears charm school there (with suspect results), sat on Santa's lap there, played in a concert with my school band there, and ate at Shoneys every chance I got. I'm sure saddened to hear of what has happened to the place.
Don't even get me started on Skateland - I practically lived there when I wasn't at school (or at the mall)!

Thanks for the memories

You mentioned the "Crying Angel"...
How funny, as that was THE PLACE to go with a group of teens when we felt adventurous...
I worked at the brand new Raleigh Springs Mall at JCPenney. First, on the Teen Fashion Board (yes, I was a teenage manequin...so many funny occurrences when unsuspecting shoppers freaked out when they discovered I was real, not a dummy, wearing those JC Penney clothes...lol)and then as sales.
You mentioned the Raleigh Library. I must have spent 1/3 of my childhood there....riding my bike down Raleigh-Millington from home to Coleman School to the library. And going to the big, round "birthday cake" church..Raleigh Baptist....my other home away from home.

wow, the crying angel. we actually found the statue during the daytime and it had an inscription on it that told her story. anyone else ever see it? there was also a bridge out in the shelby forest area that had a "troll" living under it!

Raleigh springs mall was and is the pits.

I can remember going to the Minute Man hamburger place when we first moved to Raleigh. I still want one of their chili chesse burgers!
I was too scared to get out of the car at the Crying Angel. I was a big baby!
Does anybody remember going to Shelby Forest to watch or play Football?
Admit it, we really had it good back then!

I actually worked at the RSM (camelot music) Summer 96. $4.75 an hour i believe. Spent many weekend high school nights there. Went back in there a few months ago for the first time in probably 10 years. Its a ghost town. Shame. I was born and raised in Raleigh(Richmond Square) and have many fond memories,but its quaintness and charm came and quickly went. I still even get my hair cut in Raleigh(Coleman Road)though.

i too did the Hokey Pokey at Skateland.