Best malls in Portland to wait out the Zombie apocalypse, Part 1: The Lloyd Center

As any Zombie historian will tell you, step one toward surviving the outbreak of the undead is to find an adequate domicile to ride out the initial storm. It does not matter how deft you are at splattering brains, when that first wave of Zombies emerges from the underground, you better find a secure place to call home. And you'd better do it quickly.

Throughout the history of Zombie folklore no safe-haven has been featured more prominently than the shopping mall. Thanks in large part to George A. Romero's classic 1978 film "Dawn of the Dead," the mall has come to be known as one of the most desirable destinations out there when on the run from Zombies. However, in a city the size of Portland there are often multiple malls to choose from when planning your initial flight. Therefore, it is important to become familiar with what mall in your city will provide the most protection during a Zombie uprising

In Portland the logical first choice of malls would be the areas largest mecca of consumerism: the Lloyd Center. Oregon's biggest mall in both size and storefronts, the Lloyd Center boasts ample space to hide when on the run from Zombies. There are three levels to the mall, which adds an extra layer protection from the enemy. Zombies are generally dim-witted and slow moving creatures, so with multiple levels and over 200 stores to hide out in, the Lloyd Center has an immediate leg up on the competition. Also, because the Lloyd Center is located on Portland's Northeast side of town, the likelihood that this mall would be in close proximity to a potential outbreak goes up exponentially. Positioned in direct relation to the city's Convention Center (potential for infected travelers), a number of the city's health centers (potential for infected patients), and near the city's distinctive "Arts" neighborhood (potential for infected hipsters), the chance that the Lloyd Center will be a person's first mall of refuge is substantial.

However, there are a couple pitfalls and booby traps that should be avoided when choosing the Lloyd Center as a center of escape. Although the mall is immense in size, there is a good portion of the grounds made of glass. If Zombie numbers become too large, this could pose a problem. In particular, the massive glass roof above the food court should be monitored. If there isn't enough care taken to guard this soft-spot, it could be raining the undead before too long. Also, because the mall is so large in sheer dimensions, there are an exorbitant number of entrances that need to be accounted for when initially barricading the premises. It would be wise to establish a security team (ideally the one previously employed at the mall) to lock-down and monitor this entrances/exits at all times.

Check back soon for Part 2 of the series: Clackamas Town Center.