Lone Star (and Knight Errant) has been trying to put this place out of business since it opened after the first Crash, but so far they’ve had no luck. It’s no wonder—this three-story abandoned mall on the outskirts of Puyallup is the best place in town to find just about anything illegal you might be looking for. Weapons, armor, drugs, pirated software, electronics, cyberware, magical gear—if you can think of it and it’s not legal, odds are that somebody here is selling it. It’s simply too useful to too many people to allow the Star to shut it down. In the past couple of years some of the core “merchants” there have chipped in to upgrade the place’s defenses (including an AR network designed to confuse the hell out of anybody who doesn’t belong there) and they charge the small fry a nominal fee to participate. There’s high turnover among the smaller merchants as they get picked up by the Star or knifes in a dispute over pricing, but the big ones have been there for years and are well-versed in staying out of trouble. [ Also: Runner's Havens 116-117]

There are known entrances to the Ork Underground that ensures the escape of the Mall's tenants during the raids. The Mall is not open every night, but rather only a number of nights per month to reduce Lone Star's ability to effectively execute operations.

What kind of weapons are expected to be carried around over there?
Crime mall is security rating Z. No police, except when there is a raid and then they always expect heavy opposition. It's almost a no man's land. There are of course pay offs to keep raids to a minimum.

And what kind of crowd is found there on nights that it's open?
All kinds, except Yaks. Mafia tends to cap them on sight. There is an unwritten rule about open violence: Expect to die. Think of a subway car with every passenger armed for protection. The minute someone attempts a robbery a dozen people shoot them. The big hitters (mafia, several big time fixers, arms dealers and smugglers) provide security for themselves that extend to the areas of the mall.

I was thinking of bringing [insert weapon here] for protection, question is whether to put it in a business suitcase or simply slightly concealed on the inside of my armor jacket, held by some kind of strap over my shoulder.
Any of the above is fine. Some shops have a weapons check at the door. Only carrying the gun in you hand will cause problems with local security.
Security forces tend to carry all types. Those working security tend to have little mercy on people causing problems. Also, getting to and leaving the mall is where you are most likely to have a problem. That is when the vultures seek to relieve those with a lot of tech and little security of their burdens. An ork gang controls the underground. They are well organized and only the crazy or stupid mess with them.

Mall Office: Inside the Crime Mall
Located on the second floor of the Mall, this is the name given to a former restaurant now serving as a the onsite bar. Smokey Joe is the proprietor. A former runner of some repute, he now claims the bar and has several times been challenged. Joe is ruthless is maintaining his position as owner of the Mall Office.

The decor of the office is pretty unique. There is a long bar that runs along the far wall and out to the middle of the floor making it kind of a "T" shape. There are twenty-eight stools along the bar. Seven along each of the four lengths. Along both walls, left and right, in the room are a number of booths with curtains. You know from experience that each of the twelve booths have white noise generators as well as sound dampeners. Using the booths brings a minimum drink charge every fifteen minutes. There are six tables with four chairs out on the floor area and finally, there are 3 larger rooms in the back for rent.

The burger joint is just up the street from Loveland Quinn's.