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Lets go shopping! Mystery Cache

Hidden : 6/9/2012
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

THE CACHE IS NOT AT THE POSTED COORD'S The real cache is located whihin a mile from the coord's given, to find it you will have to answer a series of questions by walking through the mall The cache is NOT on Private Property, and no bushwhacking is needed. Once you have the answers follow the instructions in the parentheses to get the coord's for the real cache location. You can use a Mall Directory if you wish to help out on your journey.

*****BE SURE TO BRING YOUR COVID MASK BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS CACHE*****

You are going to be walking through the Northshore Mall. Originally called the Northshore Shopping Center, it first opened up in 1958 as an outdoor open air shopping center.

The center occupied a field that was formerly owned by Elias Hasket Derby, whose daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Nathaniel West built Oak Hill Estate on the site. This property was then sold to Richard S. Rogers as a summer residence in 1850. His son Jacob C. Rogers and his wife sold parts of the interior to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and sold the property in 1922 to the Congregation of St. Francis Xavier. The congregation decided to establish the St. Joseph Juniorate in the former estate, and remained at the location for the next 33 years. Other portions of the 100-acre (0.40 km2) land had been used for farming purposes and included a dairy, gardens, and fountains. The estate was finally torn down in 1955 after the land was bought by Allied Stores, which envisioned an outdoor shopping center.

The shopping center opened in 1958, and was anchored by Jordan Marsh and an adjoining Filene's. Other stores included Sears, Kresge, J.J. Newberry, RH Stearns, and Stop & Shop. Recreational facilities at the time included a bowling alley, a cinema, and a small amusement park called Kiddietown next to the old Sears & Roebuck, where PGA equipment now sits. The outdoor open air shopping center became an enclosed mall in 1972 to compete with the nearby Liberty Tree Mall. More expansions were done 20 years later which added almost 1.7 million ft² when the work was completed in 1994. Simon Property Group acquired the mall in 1999, and continues as the present day owner.

None of the original anchor stores remain today. In 2009, the former Jordan Marsh building (later Macy's) was torn down and was replaced by Nordstorm. This change added an extra 2 story wing to the mall adding more stores. The last anchor (Sears) was demolished in 2019 to add new developments. The mall is notable for having a unique underground delivery tunnel that was built in 1958. The tunnel runs the length of the mall and is still used for deliveries.

So now that we have the history out of the way, be prepared to enter the Muggle Jungle....

Final Coord's:
N 42 32.ABC W070 56.DEF

- Mall Questions -
A. - Face the highway at the posted coord's, what number do you see on the parking lot light to your right? (Add both digits in your answer and subtract one.) A = _____

Go inside the mall entrance and keep going straight until you see the food court to your right:

B. - The food court is shaped almost like a square, and has had many different food options over the years. An Ice cream place used to be here as an option with a funny looking name. Turns out this name isn't German at all, and was fully made up. How many letters make up the name of this Ice cream place? (Hint: You can google this) (Subtract 6 from your answer.) B = _____

C. Walk straight into the mall with the food court on your right. You will come to a set of escalators on your left after first passing by an opening with a view of the lower level, how many pillars surround the second opening with the escalators? (Your answer + 0.) C = _____

Okay now leave the food court and take a walk right into the mall (See RP1)

D. - You will come to an intersection when you get to the middle of it look up how many letters are in the sign that you see? Note: You are not looking for a sign that is for a sale. Hint: "A white and red sign, dont worry there is no emergancy" (See also: QA1) (Your answer plus 5) D = _____

Stay to the left after finding the answer. Move on forward until you come to a wing of the mall towards your left:

E. - Look straight down towards the end of the wing, how many windows are above the store you see at the end? (Note: Count them one by one and not as groups) (See also: RP2) (Your answer minus 4.) E = _____

You are almost out of the Muggle Jungle and going forward for what seems like days you finally reach the end of the shopping zone:

F. - Go straight past a four way intersection (RP3) and stop near the front of another major anchor store and notice a skylight, on each side you will see square lights. Count them all and remember to count the ones on both sides and add them all up. (See also: QA2 for the skylight) (Your answer divided by 4.) F = _____

Please if you drop off a TB or geocoin, remember to log it! Thanks =). Congrats to Froedo Bagginz, WINDWAKER1, WolfTamer, and Lasa (HostaHead) ! for FTF

Mall hours:

Monday to Saturday 10am - 9pm Sunday 11am - 6pm

No... you dont have to worry about parking unless you try doing this cache on black friday, in which case give yourself a 5/5 star rating and bragging rights.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Svany Pbbeqf Uvag: Ybbx sbe cvrprf bs pbapergr, gur nern trgf biretebja urer qhevat gur fhzzre ohg nf V fnvq nobir, ab ohfujunpxvat vf arrqrq.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)