A circa-'62 aerial photo of the mall, taken soon after the completion of
its first enclosed concourse. The original -circa-1956- strip center is seen
at the front of the complex.
Photo from the http://ibistro.dos.state.fl.us / Florida Memory website
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Orlando's Colonial Plaza
A circa-'62 aerial photo of the mall, taken soon after the completion of
its first enclosed concourse. The original -circa-1956- strip center is seen
at the front of the complex.
Photo from the http://ibistro.dos.state.fl.us / Florida Memory website
A circa-'62 aerial photo of the mall, taken soon after the completion of
its first enclosed concourse. The original -circa-1956- strip center is seen
at the front of the complex.
Photo from the http://ibistro.dos.state.fl.us / Florida Memory website
Two interior views of the circa-'62 enclosed mall; the first to be built in
the Sunshine State.
Photos from Malls Of America Blogspot
A rendering of the COLONIAL PLAZA Jordan Marsh, proposed as an
anchor of the 1962 renovation / expansion.
Drawing from www.dshistory.com
The completed, 4-level Jordan Marsh of Florida. A subsequent expansion
of the mall, added to the south side of this store in 1972 and '73,
extended the shopping concourse and included a new Belk Lindsey.
Photo from www.dshistory.com
A circa-'73 site plan, showing the newly-expanded retail hub.
The complex originated from a mid-1950s strip center
(indicated in black). An enclosed concourse (in dark gray) and
Jordan Marsh anchor store were added in 1962. The mall
proper was completed by a second concourse (in light gray)
and new Belk Lindsey, which had relocated from its original
location in the northeast corner of the site.
The footprint of the mall ten years later. A Charlotte-based Ivey's
had just been built in front of the center's main entrance. It
became a Dillard's in early 1991. The Little Rock retailer ended up
acquiring Jordan Marsh of Florida and Belk Lindsey stores. Had
the mall not been on the skids, they surely would have set up a
"double-header" operation, utilizing one of the vacant anchors. As
it turned out, they never rebranded either. Jordan Marsh folded
in 1991...Belk Lindsey in 1994.
Lastly, we have a current plan of the PLAZA. Structures
remaining after the mid-'90s demalling are surrounded
in blue. The center spans 487,700 leasable square feet
and fifty-two stores and services. The two tenant spaces
indicated in gray type are presently available for leasing.
Original plan from www.weingarten.com (Weingarten
Realty Investors)
One of the big box retailers in today's COLONIAL PLAZA power
center.
Photo from www.weingarten.com (Weingarten Realty Investors)
COLONIAL PLAZA
East Colonial Drive and Bumby Avenue
Orlando, Florida
Florida's first enclosed shopping mall was developed by Plaza Realty Associates and had its beginnings as an open-air, strip shopping center. COLONIAL PLAZA was built on a 45 acre tract, 1.5 miles northwest of downtown Orlando, on land previously occupied by the T.G. Lee Dairy.
East Colonial Drive and Bumby Avenue
Orlando, Florida
Florida's first enclosed shopping mall was developed by Plaza Realty Associates and had its beginnings as an open-air, strip shopping center. COLONIAL PLAZA was built on a 45 acre tract, 1.5 miles northwest of downtown Orlando, on land previously occupied by the T.G. Lee Dairy.
The original, twenty-four store shopping complex was anchored by a 2-level (83,800 square foot) Tampa-based Belk Lindsey and J.G. McCrory 5 and 10. Its Publix supermarket held a grand opening February 2, 1956. The center's Ronnie's Jewish Deli became something of an Orlando tradition.
In the autumn of 1962, a fully-enclosed mall corridor was completed. It had been added in the center of the center and extended southward to a 4-level (215,700 square foot), Miami-based, Jordan Marsh of Florida.
Retailers in the new, climate-controlled concourse included Edna's ladies' apparel, Howard apparel, Mode-A-Day apparel, Rutland's apparel and Plaza News.
The Plaza Theatre, an outparcel of the mall, opened in November 1963. It was a Googie-style, nine hundred-seat, single-screen operation, eventually made into a multiplex. It became a live performance venue in 1993.
The second enclosed mall in Central Florida, WINTER PARK MALL, was constructed in the northern suburb of Winter Park in 1964. This was followed by FASHION SQUARE MALL, which opened (less than a mile east of COLONIAL PLAZA) in 1973.
As a competitive measure, COLONIAL PLAZA was extended farther southward during 1972 and '73. The existing Belk Lindsey (at the northeast corner of the mall site) moved into a newly-built, 2-level (153,000 square foot) store, which anchored the South Wing addition.
A second expansion, coming inline in 1983, added a 2-level (79,400 square foot), Charlotte-based J.B. Ivey. This was built in the north parking lot, facing East Colonial Drive. COLONIAL PLAZA now encompassed 970,000 leasable square feet.
Throughout the 1980s and '90s, larger malls were built in the outer ring suburbs. Soon, the PLAZA was in a state of decline. Its Ivey's was rebranded as a Dillard's in early 1991. Jordan Marsh closed October 1, 1991.
The Belk Lindsey chain was acquired by Dillard's in 1992, but the store was shuttered and not rebranded. Dillard's pulled out of the mall in 1995, leaving the complex without an anchor to sustain it.
Atlanta-based Cousins Properties purchased the ailing center in 1995 and began an eighteen month demalling project. Three structures in the old mall were retained and renovated.
Part of the older Belk Lindsey became Shoe Carnival; the former Publix, a Barnes and Noble. Walgreen's moved into a new store in the front parking area, with its former location being occupied by Petco. Lastly, the circa-1973 Belk Lindsey (the south anchor) was subdivided into a Marshalls and Rhodes Furniture.
The 487,700 square foot COLONIAL PLAZA MARKETPLACE power center was dedicated in November 1996. It included major big box stores, such as Circuit City (44,000 square feet), Ross Dress For Less (28,000) and Stein Mart (36,000).
The complex was sold again in April 2001; the buyer being Houston-based Weingarten Realty Investors. Apparently, they have rechristened the shopping venue with its original shopping mall moniker, for it is now officially referred to as COLONIAL PLAZA.
Sources:
Malls Of America Blogspot / Keith Milford webmaster
www.cinematreasures.com
Comment posts by James, Randy and "Anonymous"
www.cousinsproperties.com
www.weingarten.com
http://www.deadmalls.com/
Comment posts by James, Randy and "Anonymous"
www.cousinsproperties.com
www.weingarten.com
http://www.deadmalls.com/
South Florida's Hollywood Mall
The main entrance of HOLLYWOOD MALL. It was the Sunshine
State's third fully-enclosed, air-conditioned shopopolis.
Photo from www.hollywoodfl.org / General Photo Collection
The main entrance of HOLLYWOOD MALL. It was the Sunshine
State's third fully-enclosed, air-conditioned shopopolis.
Photo from www.hollywoodfl.org / General Photo Collection
An aerial of HOLLYWOOD MALL, taken in the mid-to-late 1960s
Photo from www.hollywoodfl.org / General Photo Collection
A mid-1960s interior view of the mall, festooned with Googie-
style lighting fixtures. The Sears anchor store is seen midway in the
background, on the left.
Photo from Malls Of America Blogspot
Known locally as "SEARS MALL", the south Broward center was
the first fully-enclosed shopping complex in South Florida. The
second, LAUDERHILL MALL, in a northwest Fort Lauderdale
suburb, was completed in 1966. The third was a renovated -and
newly-enclosed- DADELAND MALL, southwest of Miami. Its grand
re-opening took place in 1967.
.JPG)
A current site plan of HOLLYWOOD HILLS PLAZA, a demalling
of HOLLYWOOD MALL. What remains of the 1964 mall is
surrounded in blue...everything else was built as part of the late
1990s reconstruction. A small section of original interior mallway
is shown in orange.
Original plan from www.weingarten.com (Weingarten
Realty Investors)
Today's HOLLYWOOD HILLS PLAZA. With South Florida's flat-as-a-
board topography, one wonders why this "Hills" reference was included
in the name of the new power center.
Photo from www.weingarten.com (Weingarten Realty Investors)
HOLLYWOOD MALL
Hollywood Boulevard and North Park Road
Hollywood, Florida
South Florida's first fully-enclosed mall opened in 1964. Occupying a 40 acre parcel 1.5 miles west of downtown Hollywood, HOLLYWOOD MALL was built by Chicago-based Homart Development (a Sears subsidiary). The complex was centered around a 1-level (103,500 square foot) Sears, its sole anchor department store.
The single-level shopping center incorporated approximately 302,500 leasable square feet. Charter tenants included Gray Drug, Cheryl's Cards and Gifts, Posture Form Children's Shoes, Lani Kay ladies' apparel, Mister Donut, Clipper Kings Barber Shop and Thom McAn Shoes. The Hollywood Mall Beauty Salon was the place in town for the latest Fedora hairstyle.
A Publix supermarket connected with the north end of the mall but was not accessed from its interior. Across North Park Road, west of the mall proper, was the Wometco Florida Twin, which opened in 1965. The venue was made into a 4-plex before its mid-1990s demise.
The second enclosed retail center in So-Flo -LAUDERHILL MALL- was located 9.1 miles northwest of HOLLYWOOD MALL, in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Lauderhill. It was completed in 1966. This was followed by HOLLYWOOD FASHION CENTER, built 1.7 miles west of HOLLYWOOD MALL, dedicated in 1972.
In 1981, six year-old Adam Walsh was abducted at HOLLYWOOD MALL. His kidnapping and murder received national media attention. The negative publicity resulted in a loss of business for the shopping center. Some even say that it led to the eventual demise of the mall.
However, others contend that HOLLYWOOD MALL was done in by all of the glitzy, super-sized shopping centers that sprang up in the region during the 1980s and '90s.
These included GALLERIA FORT LAUDERDALE (1980) [March 2008 archive] {9.3 miles northeast}, AVENTURA MALL (1983) {3.9 miles southeast}, in north Dade County, SAWGRASS MILLS (1990) {12.9 miles northwest}, in Sunrise, and PEMBROKE LAKES MALL (1992) {7.9 miles west}, in Pembroke Pines.
HOLLYWOOD MALL, in a state of decline for some time, was bought by the Coconut Grove, Florida-based Michael Swerdlow Company in the late 1990s. They invested 12 million dollars into a renovation of the complex.
The southern quarter of the mall proper was knocked down, Publix was razed and replaced by a larger store and much of the remaining interior mallway became leasable space.
Rechristened HOLLYWOOD HILLS PLAZA, the new power center venue was completed in 2000. It was anchored by a 1-level (119,400 square foot) Target (built on space previously occupied by Sears). Tenants in the new complex were a mixture of standard retail and offices.
The 372,000 square foot center was sold to Houston-based Weingarten Realty Investors in April 2003.
Sources:
www.hollywood.org
www.swerdlowgroup.com
www.weingarten.com
www.bizjournals.com
Broward County Florida Tax Assessor website
Comment post by "Mean Little Devil"
Tampa's West Shore Plaza
The mall's original Center Court Fountain. The Woolworth 5 and 10
went out of business in early 1994.
Photo from Malls Of America Blogspot
The mall's original Center Court Fountain. The Woolworth 5 and 10
went out of business in early 1994.
Photo from Malls Of America Blogspot
WEST SHORE PLAZA was officially dedicated in September of
1967. It must have been the final shopping complex in the nation
to be bestowed the very mid-century "shopping city" mall moniker
(which had been removed from the official name by the 1970s). By
my calculations, it was the eighth interior mall in the Sunshine
State.
A circa-2007 site plan. The original 1967 mall is indicated in black. The
1973-1974 addition appears in medium gray. The 1997-2000 expansion
is shown in light gray. The northeast anchor box, orginally built as a
Robinson's of Florida (1973), has gone through a series of nameplates;
Maison Blanche (1988), Dillard's (1991) and Sears (2002).
The AMC WestShore 14 multiplex opened in November 2000. It
was located in the general area of the old Pantry Pride supermarket,
a long-gone vestige of the circa-1967 shopping center.
Photo from Wikipedia / "Wsluspecki"
One of the ritzy retailers at today's WESTSHORE PLAZA.
Photo from Glimcher Realty Trust website.
WEST SHORE PLAZA SHOPPING CITY
North West Shore and West J.F.K. Boulevards
Tampa, Florida
The first fully-enclosed shopping venue in the Tampa Bay area was located on a 50 acre plot, 4 miles west of center city Tampa. WEST SHORE PLAZA SHOPPING CITY, designed by Boston-based Sumner and Schein, was developed by Boston-based Theodore W. Berenson and Associates and Philadelphia-based Strouse, Greenburg and Associates.
The single-level complex, officially dedicated September 28, 1967, was anchored by a 3-level (238,000 square foot), Tampa-based Maas Brothers and 2-level (209,000 square foot) J.C. Penney.
The original shopping venue housed thirty-five inline stores, including an F.W. Woolworth 5 and 10, Walgreen Drug, Piccadilly Cafeteria and Pantry Pride supermarket. There were also outparcel Penney's and Firestone Auto Centers.
The second enclosed shopping center in the area, GATEWAY MALL [October 2008 archive], opened in Saint Petersburg, in March 1968. The third, SUNSHINE MALL [October 2008 archive], was located in Clearwater and opened in September 1968.
The site of WEST SHORE PLAZA was adjacent to the Interstate 4 expressway; which was redesignated as Interstate 75 in May 1971.
The first expansion of WEST SHORE PLAZA was done during 1973 and 1974. The project included the addition of a 2-level (159,000 square foot), Saint Petersburg-based Robinson's of Florida, the "North Parkade" parking garage and several new East Wing stores.
In 1980, a new expressway bypass was completed through the eastern environs of Tampa. It was thereby designated as Interstate 75, with its original route (which passed by WEST SHORE PLAZA) being renamed Interstate 275.
All Robinson's of Florida locations were rebranded as New Orleans-based Maison Blanche in 1988. These stores were acquired by Little Rock-based Dillard's in 1991. This was the same year in which Maas Brothers department stores in the Tampa Bay area were rebranded as Miami-based Burdines.
In 1992, a 9 million dollar renovation of the 869,000 square foot PLAZA began. This project included new skylights, marble floors, fountains, mall entrances and a Food Court, which was built in space previously devoted to mall offices and shoe repair, barber and beauty shops. A 3-story bell tower (a trademark of the restyled shopping venue) was also added.
A 170 million dollar expansion of the shopping center was announced in April 1997. During a first phase of construction, the "South Parkade" garage was built.
The second phase involved the Woolworth structure, which had been shuttered in January 1994. It was divided into two sections by a new mall corridor, with the remaining area refitted with six inline store spaces.
The new mallway extended to a 2-level (101,500 square foot) Saks Fifth Avenue, which held its grand opening November 12, 1998. The "West Parkade" was built at this time, as well.
A subsequent expansion, which got underway in November 2000, cost 85 million dollars and consisted of the construction of a 14-screen AMC multiplex on an upper level and expansion of the original Food Court.
These renovations were completed in November 2000. The official name of the mall, WEST SHORE PLAZA (three words), was altered to read WESTSHORE PLAZA (two words).
A major mall competitor, INTERNATIONAL PLAZA AND BAY STREET, came on the scene in 2001. The new super-center was located only 1 mile northeast of WESTSHORE PLAZA.
In September of the same year, the WESTSHORE Dillard's vacated, moving into a store in the newer mall. Its old space at WESTSHORE reopened as a Sears in October 2002.
In June 2003, the Columbus, Ohio-based Glimcher Realty Trust purchased WESTSHORE PLAZA, by then encompassing 1,059,500 million leasable square feet and over one hundred stores and services. In 2006, the Maas Brothers / Burdines was "Macy-ated".
Sources:
"WestShore Plaza" article on Wikipedia
Malls Of America Blogspot / Keith Milford webmaster / "WestShore Plaza" post
Comment post by Jim
Interstate275florida.com
www.bizjounals.com
www.glimcher.com
North West Shore and West J.F.K. Boulevards
Tampa, Florida
The first fully-enclosed shopping venue in the Tampa Bay area was located on a 50 acre plot, 4 miles west of center city Tampa. WEST SHORE PLAZA SHOPPING CITY, designed by Boston-based Sumner and Schein, was developed by Boston-based Theodore W. Berenson and Associates and Philadelphia-based Strouse, Greenburg and Associates.
The single-level complex, officially dedicated September 28, 1967, was anchored by a 3-level (238,000 square foot), Tampa-based Maas Brothers and 2-level (209,000 square foot) J.C. Penney.
The original shopping venue housed thirty-five inline stores, including an F.W. Woolworth 5 and 10, Walgreen Drug, Piccadilly Cafeteria and Pantry Pride supermarket. There were also outparcel Penney's and Firestone Auto Centers.
The second enclosed shopping center in the area, GATEWAY MALL [October 2008 archive], opened in Saint Petersburg, in March 1968. The third, SUNSHINE MALL [October 2008 archive], was located in Clearwater and opened in September 1968.
The site of WEST SHORE PLAZA was adjacent to the Interstate 4 expressway; which was redesignated as Interstate 75 in May 1971.
The first expansion of WEST SHORE PLAZA was done during 1973 and 1974. The project included the addition of a 2-level (159,000 square foot), Saint Petersburg-based Robinson's of Florida, the "North Parkade" parking garage and several new East Wing stores.
In 1980, a new expressway bypass was completed through the eastern environs of Tampa. It was thereby designated as Interstate 75, with its original route (which passed by WEST SHORE PLAZA) being renamed Interstate 275.
All Robinson's of Florida locations were rebranded as New Orleans-based Maison Blanche in 1988. These stores were acquired by Little Rock-based Dillard's in 1991. This was the same year in which Maas Brothers department stores in the Tampa Bay area were rebranded as Miami-based Burdines.
In 1992, a 9 million dollar renovation of the 869,000 square foot PLAZA began. This project included new skylights, marble floors, fountains, mall entrances and a Food Court, which was built in space previously devoted to mall offices and shoe repair, barber and beauty shops. A 3-story bell tower (a trademark of the restyled shopping venue) was also added.
A 170 million dollar expansion of the shopping center was announced in April 1997. During a first phase of construction, the "South Parkade" garage was built.
The second phase involved the Woolworth structure, which had been shuttered in January 1994. It was divided into two sections by a new mall corridor, with the remaining area refitted with six inline store spaces.
The new mallway extended to a 2-level (101,500 square foot) Saks Fifth Avenue, which held its grand opening November 12, 1998. The "West Parkade" was built at this time, as well.
A subsequent expansion, which got underway in November 2000, cost 85 million dollars and consisted of the construction of a 14-screen AMC multiplex on an upper level and expansion of the original Food Court.
These renovations were completed in November 2000. The official name of the mall, WEST SHORE PLAZA (three words), was altered to read WESTSHORE PLAZA (two words).
A major mall competitor, INTERNATIONAL PLAZA AND BAY STREET, came on the scene in 2001. The new super-center was located only 1 mile northeast of WESTSHORE PLAZA.
In September of the same year, the WESTSHORE Dillard's vacated, moving into a store in the newer mall. Its old space at WESTSHORE reopened as a Sears in October 2002.
In June 2003, the Columbus, Ohio-based Glimcher Realty Trust purchased WESTSHORE PLAZA, by then encompassing 1,059,500 million leasable square feet and over one hundred stores and services. In 2006, the Maas Brothers / Burdines was "Macy-ated".
Sources:
"WestShore Plaza" article on Wikipedia
Malls Of America Blogspot / Keith Milford webmaster / "WestShore Plaza" post
Comment post by Jim
Interstate275florida.com
www.bizjounals.com
www.glimcher.com
Memphis' Southland Mall
A circa-'66 shot of the SOUTHLAND Center Court, which fronted
upon its Woolworth junior anchor.
Photo from Malls Of America Blogspot
A circa-'66 shot of the SOUTHLAND Center Court, which fronted
upon its Woolworth junior anchor.
Photo from Malls Of America Blogspot
SOUTHLAND, circa-2009. The one and only expansion of the mall
involved the enlargement of the Goldsmith's (Macy's) store. The
only other alterations to the original, mid-'60s footprint have been
various inline store changes and an interior remodeling. The mall's
GLA currently stands at 552,600 square feet.
Central Court at today's SOUTHLAND. The interior of the retail hub was
given an upgrade in 1993.
Photo from www.urbanretail.com (Urban Retail Properties)
SOUTHLAND MALL
South Bellevue Boulevard / US 51 and Shelby Drive
Memphis, Tennessee
Tennessee's first regional-class interior mall was situated on 48.5 acres, 12 miles south of downtown Memphis. SOUTHLAND MALL, developed by Baltimore-based Monumental Properties, was anchored by a 2-level (130,000 square foot), Memphis-based Goldsmith's and 2-level (163,600 square foot) Sears.
There were fifty-eight other store spaces in the single-level, 534,600 square foot mall when it was dedicated August 23, 1966. Charter tenants included an F.W. Woolworth 5 and 10, Piccadilly Cafeteria, Sam Goody Music, Florsheim Shoes and outparcel First Tennessee Bank.
The main concourse was landscaped with tropical foliage and several animal statues. The stunning -Mid-Century Modern- Strands of Mirror Fountain graced the Center Court.
In 1971, the route of South Bellevue Boulevard, along the west side of SOUTHLAND MALL, was officially changed to Elvis Presley Boulevard. This was also when the second enclosed shopping center in the Memphis region, RALEIGH SPRINGS MALL [September 2009 archive], was completed.
The largest mall built in the metro area, MALL OF MEMPHIS, was dedicated in October 1981. HICKORY RIDGE MALL had also opened in 1981. OAK COURT MALL came inline in 1988.
By this time, the Goldsmith's location at SOUTHLAND had been expanded to 148,000 square feet, with the mall's GLA increased 552,600 leasable square feet. In 1993, the interior of complex was given a facelift.
The newest regional shopping center in the Memphis metro, WOLFCHASE GALLERIA, was dedicated in 1997. With competition from five major malls in its market area, SOUTHLAND survived. It even eclipsed its largest retail rival, the 886,000 square foot MALL OF MEMPHIS, one of the most notorious of America's dead malls. MOM closed in 2003 and was razed the following year.
Meanwhile, in November 2000, SOUTHLAND MALL was sold to a joint venture of Raleigh-based Whichard Real Estate and Charlotte-based B.V. Belk Properties.
The SOUTHLAND Goldsmith's was rebranded as Goldsmith's-Macy's in May 2003, and fully "Macy-ated" in March 2005. A second renovation of the complex was completed in the same year. This time around, the front facade was remodeled.
In January 2007, SOUTHLAND changed hands again. A New York City-based concern, Southland Mall Shopping Center, Limited Liability Company, assumed ownership and hired Chicago's Urban Retail Properties as a managing agent.
Sources:
Malls Of America Blogspot / Keith Milford webmaster
"Elvis Presley" article on Wikipedia
"Mall Of Memphis" article on Wikipedia
www.southlandmallmemphis.com
Monday, July 02, 2007
Los Angeles' Century Square
1801 Avenue Of the Stars, the first development on the CENTURY
SQUARE site, and one of the earliest skyscapers to grace the
L.A. skyline. The building was completed in 1963, the year before
business began at the adjacent shopping center.
1801 Avenue Of the Stars, the first development on the CENTURY
SQUARE site, and one of the earliest skyscapers to grace the
L.A. skyline. The building was completed in 1963, the year before
business began at the adjacent shopping center.
One may wonder just what the first "Liz & Dick"
flick and the sixteenth shopping mall in L.A. County
have in common. Quite a bit, actually. For details,
read the CENTURY SQUARE article below.
Photo from Wikipedia / Alan Smithee
The Plaza, at the northwest corner of the complex, as it appeared in
1984 (note the "'84 Olympics" banners). This open section of the
center was built-in three years later, with the addition of the shopping
venue's first multiplex cinema and Food Court.
Photo from UCLA Library Digital Archives / L.A. Times
The southern end of the complex, also in 1984. At this time, the original
The Broadway and Bullock's anchors were in operation. The Broadway
had opened in 1964. Bullock's was added in 1976.
Photo from UCLA Library Digital Archive / L.A. Times
Westside L.A.'s original CENTURY SQUARE. Its seven store block
structures enveloped 526,800 leasable square feet. The cluster complex
was to undergo three major expansions -and three name changes-
before reaching its 43th anniversary in 2007.
The shopping center at Century City as it stood in 2007. The original
-circa'64- structures are indicated in black, with those added in 1976
and 1987 shown in dark gray. The light gray areas were built, or
substantially rebuilt, during the 2004-2007 renovation. With the most
recent additions, the complex comprised 810,000 leasable square feet.
Two renderings of WESTFIELD CENTURY CITY, these depicting the
complex after its recent 127 million dollar makeover.
Photos from Mitch Glaser's Paradox Unbound Blog
A computer-generated, bird's-eye view of the gargantuan Century City
complex, showing the level of development that has taken place since
the first shovel of earth was turned in 1961. The buildings erected in the
1960s, then the tallest in the region, have been dwarfed by newer ones
which tower over them.
Photo from Sanborn/Digital Globe/Earth Sat
CENTURY SQUARE
Santa Monica Boulevard and Avenue Of The Stars
Los Angeles, California
In the late 1950s, Twentieth Century Fox Studios was enduring a succession of unsuccessful motion pictures. In order to raise capital, and keep the studio solvent, a plan was devised to develop a large portion of the Fox backlot as a commercial real estate venture.
A proposal to build a "city within a city" -envisaged by Welton Becket and Associates- was announced in 1957. Soon after, Fox embarked upon the production of a motion picture adaptation of the story of Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile.
The picture began as a modestly-budgeted vehicle, but eventually snowballed into an incredibly elaborate, historical epic. Elizabeth Taylor was paid the enormous sum of one million dollars to work on the film, which was the highest sum ever awarded to a motion picture actress up to that time.
The project was plagued with set backs. "Liz's" health problems halted filming for months on end. Her eventual return necessitated moving the entire production from London to the milder climate of Rome, which resulted in the scraping -and reshooting- of all previously finished footage.
Sets and costumes were done on the grandest scale imaginable. A gold-laden frock for Taylor cost one million dollars. Moreover, members of the cast insisted on the most oplulent of accomodations. The budget increased manifold, with no end in sight. Fox freaked.
To save the studio, and create funds to finish the long-awaited cinematic spectacle, the plan to sell off the 260 acre backlot was finalized; the purchaser being the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa). 80 acres of the lot were leased back to Fox, with the remaining 180 developed as the futuristic "Century City".
Among the first of America's edge cities, the project became an auxiliary urban center for the region. Previous height restrictions on high-rise buildings in earthquake-prone Los Angeles were lifted in the early 1960s. The Century City development took advantage of this and featured the first true skyscrapers ever built in Los Angeles.
An open-air shopping center was also developed on 18.7 acres, located 13 miles west of the central city. Known as CENTURY SQUARE, the single level, cluster-type complex was built on top of a 2-level, subterannean parking garage.
Originally comprising six store block structures, the center was anchored by a 3-level (222,000 square foot), Los Angeles-based The Broadway, which opened October 10, 1964.
Other tenants in the original mall included Joseph Magnin apparel, Silverwoods apparel, Judy's apparel, Prudential Savings and Loan, Gallenkamp Shoes, Gude's Barnett Fine Shoes, the Century House Restaurant and a Mayfair Market.
Eventually renamed CENTURY CITY CENTER AND MARKETPLACE, its first renovation took place in 1976. A 2-level (135,000 square foot), Los Angeles-based Bullock's was added, along with a new store block structure at the southeast corner of the complex.
1982 brought the opening of BEVERLY CENTER, the first retail competitor in the immediate vacinity. This resulted in a second renovation of CENTURY CITY CENTER, in 1987, which added a 14-screen AMC multiplex cinema.
This was built on a new Upper Level, at the northwest corner of the mall. In addition, the Marketplace Food Court was constructed in the adjacent -Lower Level- plaza, which fronted on Santa Monica Boulevard.
In 1996, The Broadway was rebranded a Bloomingdale's and Bullock's became a Macy's. By this time, the Mayfair Market had morphed into a Gelson's.
The Australia-based Westfield Group purchased the mall in 2002, and renamed it WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN CENTURY CITY....shortening this to simply WESTFIELD CENTURY CITY in mid-2005.
A 127 million dollar upgrade, dubbed "The Makeover of the Century", was started in 2004. This consisted of two southwest corner additions; a 15-screen, state-of-the-art, AMC multiplex and Upper Level, "Dining Terrace" Food Court.
The old multiplex and Food Court, at the front of the complex, were refashioned into new retail spaces. These renovations were completed in early 2007.
The present-day WESTFIELD CENTURY CITY encompasses 810,000 leasable square feet, with two hundred and five inline stores and services.
Sources:
"Westfield Century City" article on Wikipedia
"Elizabeth Taylor" article on Wikipedia
www.mitchglaser.com
www.centuryplazatowers.com
Los Angeles County, California Tax assessor website
Santa Monica Boulevard and Avenue Of The Stars
Los Angeles, California
In the late 1950s, Twentieth Century Fox Studios was enduring a succession of unsuccessful motion pictures. In order to raise capital, and keep the studio solvent, a plan was devised to develop a large portion of the Fox backlot as a commercial real estate venture.
A proposal to build a "city within a city" -envisaged by Welton Becket and Associates- was announced in 1957. Soon after, Fox embarked upon the production of a motion picture adaptation of the story of Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile.
The picture began as a modestly-budgeted vehicle, but eventually snowballed into an incredibly elaborate, historical epic. Elizabeth Taylor was paid the enormous sum of one million dollars to work on the film, which was the highest sum ever awarded to a motion picture actress up to that time.
The project was plagued with set backs. "Liz's" health problems halted filming for months on end. Her eventual return necessitated moving the entire production from London to the milder climate of Rome, which resulted in the scraping -and reshooting- of all previously finished footage.
Sets and costumes were done on the grandest scale imaginable. A gold-laden frock for Taylor cost one million dollars. Moreover, members of the cast insisted on the most oplulent of accomodations. The budget increased manifold, with no end in sight. Fox freaked.
To save the studio, and create funds to finish the long-awaited cinematic spectacle, the plan to sell off the 260 acre backlot was finalized; the purchaser being the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa). 80 acres of the lot were leased back to Fox, with the remaining 180 developed as the futuristic "Century City".
Among the first of America's edge cities, the project became an auxiliary urban center for the region. Previous height restrictions on high-rise buildings in earthquake-prone Los Angeles were lifted in the early 1960s. The Century City development took advantage of this and featured the first true skyscrapers ever built in Los Angeles.
An open-air shopping center was also developed on 18.7 acres, located 13 miles west of the central city. Known as CENTURY SQUARE, the single level, cluster-type complex was built on top of a 2-level, subterannean parking garage.
Originally comprising six store block structures, the center was anchored by a 3-level (222,000 square foot), Los Angeles-based The Broadway, which opened October 10, 1964.
Other tenants in the original mall included Joseph Magnin apparel, Silverwoods apparel, Judy's apparel, Prudential Savings and Loan, Gallenkamp Shoes, Gude's Barnett Fine Shoes, the Century House Restaurant and a Mayfair Market.
Eventually renamed CENTURY CITY CENTER AND MARKETPLACE, its first renovation took place in 1976. A 2-level (135,000 square foot), Los Angeles-based Bullock's was added, along with a new store block structure at the southeast corner of the complex.
1982 brought the opening of BEVERLY CENTER, the first retail competitor in the immediate vacinity. This resulted in a second renovation of CENTURY CITY CENTER, in 1987, which added a 14-screen AMC multiplex cinema.
This was built on a new Upper Level, at the northwest corner of the mall. In addition, the Marketplace Food Court was constructed in the adjacent -Lower Level- plaza, which fronted on Santa Monica Boulevard.
In 1996, The Broadway was rebranded a Bloomingdale's and Bullock's became a Macy's. By this time, the Mayfair Market had morphed into a Gelson's.
The Australia-based Westfield Group purchased the mall in 2002, and renamed it WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN CENTURY CITY....shortening this to simply WESTFIELD CENTURY CITY in mid-2005.
A 127 million dollar upgrade, dubbed "The Makeover of the Century", was started in 2004. This consisted of two southwest corner additions; a 15-screen, state-of-the-art, AMC multiplex and Upper Level, "Dining Terrace" Food Court.
The old multiplex and Food Court, at the front of the complex, were refashioned into new retail spaces. These renovations were completed in early 2007.
The present-day WESTFIELD CENTURY CITY encompasses 810,000 leasable square feet, with two hundred and five inline stores and services.
Sources:
"Westfield Century City" article on Wikipedia
"Elizabeth Taylor" article on Wikipedia
www.mitchglaser.com
www.centuryplazatowers.com
Los Angeles County, California Tax assessor website
The 1948 Tucker Torpedo, manufactured on the site of the present-
day FORD CITY MALL. The complex that -in part- became the
shopping center was used by the company founded by Preston Tucker,
before he was cut off at the knees by Detroit's automotive aristocracy.
Photos from Wikipedia/Sean O'Flaherty
The Grand Mall at FORD CITY, soon after the grand opening
of the shopping center. The Harvest House Cafeteria, a staple
of many 1960s malls, may be seen on the left.
Photo from Malls Of America Blogspot
FORD CITY MALL TENANTS 1975:
IN THE GRAND MALL
WIEBOLDT'S (with Veranda Restaurant) / J.C. PENNEY (with Auto Center) / F.W. WOOLWORTH (with Woolworth's Grill) / Harvest House Cafeteria / Bressler's 33 Flavors / Minnesota Fabrics / Hallmark Cards / R and R Crossing apparel / National Tea Grocery / Ford City Restaurant / Tally-Ho Restaurant / Wurlitzer Organs / Frank's Shoes / Flagg Brothers Shoes / Musicland / Tobacco Teepee / Dunkin' Donuts / Super-X Drug / Saint Anne Shop / Gift Studio / Lerner Shops / Thom McAn Shoes / Pam's Young Folks children's apparel / The Knot Shop / Bond's apparel / Marc Allen Shoes / Singer Sewing Center / So-Fro Fabrics / Buster Brown Shoes / Karroll's / The Gap / Polk Brothers / Mailing Shoes / O'Conner and Goldberg Shoes / Orange Julius / Fanny Farmer Candies
IN THE NORTH MALL (STRIP CENTER)
JEWEL SUPERMARKET /Ford City Cinema / Talley's Pub / Ford City Bowling Center / Print King / Fayva Shoes / John M. Smythe Furniture / Turnstyle Toys
IN PEACOCK ALLEY
Pagoda House / The Shelf Shop / Nickleodeon Pizza / Park Magnavox TV and Stereo / Village Records and Tapes / Gingiss Formalwear / Ford City Karate / House Of Lewis / Allsport Sporting Goods / Tricks -N- Toys / Toby's Bridal / Ford City Key and Lock / The Loft apparel / Ford City Catholic Center
Site plan of the original incarnation of FORD CITY MALL. In 1965,
it was touted -by its developers- as "the largest enclosed mall in
Chicagoland". In retrospect, the three year-old RANDHURST had
more fully-enclosed area. The FORD CITY figure was taking in
all of that mall's square footage...some of which was an open-air
strip center at the rear of the complex.
The mall as it sits in the late '00s. The original (1965) structure is
indicated in black. The South Wing / Montgomery Ward expansion
(1983-'84) appears in medium gray.
FORD CITY MALL
South Cicero Avenue and 76th Street
Chicago, Illinois
One of Chicagoland's earliest enclosed shopping malls was originally a part of the world's largest industrial manufacturing complex. Built in 1942 and 1943, the Dodge Chicago Plant, a.k.a. "Hitler's Headache", was used for the production of World War II-vintage aircraft engines. The facility occupied a 432 acre site, located 13 miles southwest of The Loop.
With the end of hostilities in 1945, the huge plant sat vacant. It was acquired by Preston Tucker in February 1947 and revamped into a production plant for the Tucker Torpedo, which was billed as "the first truly modern automoble".
The tenure of the Tucker facility was short-lived. By early 1948, the company had been forced out of business, leaving the factory site idle once again.
With the beginning of the Korean Conflict in 1950, the plant sprang back to life. It was purchased by Ford and used as an aircraft engine assembly base until 1959.
Abandoned once more, the factory was purchased by developer Harry F. Chaddick, and a group of Chicago-based investors, in October 1961. A section on the southern end of Building Number 4 was demolished, dividing the structure into two seperate buildings.
The northern section continued to be an industrial plant. The southern was fashioned into a suburban-style shopping center. Dubbed FORD CITY MALL, it was dedicated August 12, 1965, with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley officiating.
The eighty-two store complex was comprised of three parts. The fully-enclosed (834,000 square foot) GRAND MALL was anchored by a 2-level (156,300 square foot), Chicago-based Wieboldt's and 2-level (182,600 square foot) J.C. Penney. There was also an F.W. Woolworth 5 and 10, Lerner Shops and Harvest House Cafeteria.
The NORTH MALL, an open-air (352,000 square foot) strip center, ran alongside the north parking lot and included a Jewel supermarket, Ford City Bowling Center and Turnstyle Toys. Its twin-screen, Ford City Cinema opened in May 1966.
A subterranean concourse, the PEACOCK ALLEY, was installed in what had been the basement of the Building 4 factory. It ran between the GRAND MALL and NORTH MALL and served as a climate-controlled conduit between the two main mall structures. Along its hallway were stores such as Nickleodeon Pizza, Tricks -N- Toys and Gingiss Formalwear.
Competing shopping malls in the vacinity of FORD CITY included EVERGREEN PLAZA (1952) [January 2008 archive], in Evergreen Park, NORTH RIVERSIDE PARK MALL (1978), in the North Riverside area and CHICAGO RIDGE MALL (1981), in Oak Lawn.
An expansion of FORD CITY MALL was undertaken in October 1983. It was built onto the south-facing front of the complex and included a 2-level (172,600 square foot) Montgomery Ward. Three years later, the Wieboldt's chain went out of business.
Chicago-based Equity Group Investments acquired FORD CITY MALL in April 1987. In 1988, a major mall renovation got underway. The entire complex was given a facelift, the 12-bay "Food City" Food Court was installed in previously-existing space, a 14-screen AMC multiplex was built -as a peripheral structure- in the southeast parking area and the vacant Wiebolt's was renovated into a Chicago-based Carson Pirie Scott.
PEACOCK ALLEY, which had become populated by "head shops" and low-end, mom and pop retailers during the 1970s, was remodeled, retenanted and renamed THE CONNECTION. The renewed FORD CITY MALL was re-dedicated in August 1989.
Today, FORD CITY MALL encompases 1,390,000 leasable square feet with one hundred and seventy-three retail spaces. Tenants include Sears (in the old Jewel space), Marshalls (in the old NORTH MALL cinema spot) and Old Navy (in the former bowling alley).
In February 2008, Chattanooga-based CBL and Associates Properties was enlisted to manage the shopping center. They were to oversee a renovation / expansion that was slated to begin in late 2009. It appears that this project has been shelved due to the economic downturn of 2007.
Sources:
"Ford City" and "Preston Tucker" articles on Wikipedia
www.chiefengineer.org / "Ford City Complex Has A Past Most Don't Remember"
Malls Of America Blogspot / Keith Milford, webmaster / Post by "Gator"
ggp.com (General Growth Properties)
Cook County, Illinois Tax Assessor website
South Cicero Avenue and 76th Street
Chicago, Illinois
One of Chicagoland's earliest enclosed shopping malls was originally a part of the world's largest industrial manufacturing complex. Built in 1942 and 1943, the Dodge Chicago Plant, a.k.a. "Hitler's Headache", was used for the production of World War II-vintage aircraft engines. The facility occupied a 432 acre site, located 13 miles southwest of The Loop.
With the end of hostilities in 1945, the huge plant sat vacant. It was acquired by Preston Tucker in February 1947 and revamped into a production plant for the Tucker Torpedo, which was billed as "the first truly modern automoble".
The tenure of the Tucker facility was short-lived. By early 1948, the company had been forced out of business, leaving the factory site idle once again.
With the beginning of the Korean Conflict in 1950, the plant sprang back to life. It was purchased by Ford and used as an aircraft engine assembly base until 1959.
Abandoned once more, the factory was purchased by developer Harry F. Chaddick, and a group of Chicago-based investors, in October 1961. A section on the southern end of Building Number 4 was demolished, dividing the structure into two seperate buildings.
The northern section continued to be an industrial plant. The southern was fashioned into a suburban-style shopping center. Dubbed FORD CITY MALL, it was dedicated August 12, 1965, with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley officiating.
The eighty-two store complex was comprised of three parts. The fully-enclosed (834,000 square foot) GRAND MALL was anchored by a 2-level (156,300 square foot), Chicago-based Wieboldt's and 2-level (182,600 square foot) J.C. Penney. There was also an F.W. Woolworth 5 and 10, Lerner Shops and Harvest House Cafeteria.
The NORTH MALL, an open-air (352,000 square foot) strip center, ran alongside the north parking lot and included a Jewel supermarket, Ford City Bowling Center and Turnstyle Toys. Its twin-screen, Ford City Cinema opened in May 1966.
A subterranean concourse, the PEACOCK ALLEY, was installed in what had been the basement of the Building 4 factory. It ran between the GRAND MALL and NORTH MALL and served as a climate-controlled conduit between the two main mall structures. Along its hallway were stores such as Nickleodeon Pizza, Tricks -N- Toys and Gingiss Formalwear.
Competing shopping malls in the vacinity of FORD CITY included EVERGREEN PLAZA (1952) [January 2008 archive], in Evergreen Park, NORTH RIVERSIDE PARK MALL (1978), in the North Riverside area and CHICAGO RIDGE MALL (1981), in Oak Lawn.
An expansion of FORD CITY MALL was undertaken in October 1983. It was built onto the south-facing front of the complex and included a 2-level (172,600 square foot) Montgomery Ward. Three years later, the Wieboldt's chain went out of business.
Chicago-based Equity Group Investments acquired FORD CITY MALL in April 1987. In 1988, a major mall renovation got underway. The entire complex was given a facelift, the 12-bay "Food City" Food Court was installed in previously-existing space, a 14-screen AMC multiplex was built -as a peripheral structure- in the southeast parking area and the vacant Wiebolt's was renovated into a Chicago-based Carson Pirie Scott.
PEACOCK ALLEY, which had become populated by "head shops" and low-end, mom and pop retailers during the 1970s, was remodeled, retenanted and renamed THE CONNECTION. The renewed FORD CITY MALL was re-dedicated in August 1989.
Today, FORD CITY MALL encompases 1,390,000 leasable square feet with one hundred and seventy-three retail spaces. Tenants include Sears (in the old Jewel space), Marshalls (in the old NORTH MALL cinema spot) and Old Navy (in the former bowling alley).
In February 2008, Chattanooga-based CBL and Associates Properties was enlisted to manage the shopping center. They were to oversee a renovation / expansion that was slated to begin in late 2009. It appears that this project has been shelved due to the economic downturn of 2007.
Sources:
"Ford City" and "Preston Tucker" articles on Wikipedia
www.chiefengineer.org / "Ford City Complex Has A Past Most Don't Remember"
Malls Of America Blogspot / Keith Milford, webmaster / Post by "Gator"
ggp.com (General Growth Properties)
Cook County, Illinois Tax Assessor website
A view of DADELAND CENTER, around 1970. Jordan Marsh
is seen in the lower left, with the famous Suntower in
the lower right.
Photo from Malls Of America Blogspot
The original, circa-1962 DADELAND (indicated in black) was anchored
by only Burdines. A Jordan Marsh was added in 1965. The mall was
enclosed -and air-conditioned- in 1967. An East Wing (shown in medium
gray) was completed -along with a new J.C. Penney- in 1969.
The Sea Horse Fountain, centerpiece of the
open-air DADELAND of old. The fixture was
one in a series of animal statues gracing the
original mall; these included stone depictions
of a llama and turtle.
Photo from Malls Of America Blogspot
*
*
DADELAND MALL, circa-1986. By this time, it was a 1 million+ square
foot, six-anchor center. New Saks, Limited / Express and Lord and
Taylor stores had been built on the south-facing front of the structure
and second and third parking garages had been added.
Photo from Malls of America Blogspot
was instituted -via Miami's Metrorail- in May 1984. Anchor rebrandings
began with the shuttering of Jordan Marsh in 1991 and concluded with
the the "Macy-ation" of Burdines in 2005.
DADELAND CENTER
Southwest 88th Street / Kendall Drive and Southwest 72nd Avenue
Dade County, Florida
Metro-Dade's third shopping mall was built on a 71 acre tract, 10 miles southwest of downtown Miami, in an unincorporated section of the county called Kendall. The shopping center site was adjacent to the new "Palmetto Bypass Expressway", which had been dedicated in June 1961.
The single-level, open-air DADELAND CENTER began business October 1, 1962. It was developed by Baltimore's Joseph Meyerhoff, designed by Herbert Johnson and anchored by a 3-level, Miami-based Burdines ("bur-dinz").
Its first phase included Gray Drug, Crown Liquors, a Forum Cafeteria, Food Fair supermarket and fifty-three other tenants. A second phase, adding a 3-level (210,000 square foot), Miami-based Jordan Marsh of Florida, was completed in 1965.
The next expansion, done between 1967 and 1969, enclosed and climate-controlled the existing structure and added an East Wing of stores, anchored by a 2-level (192,700 square foot) J.C. Penney. A multilevel parking garage (attached to Burdines) was also built onto the complex, which had been renamed DADELAND MALL.
Competing shopping venues sprang up along the north-south stretch of the Palmetto Expressway in the ensuing years. MIDWAY MALL, which was the first shopping complex in Miami-Dade built as a fully-enclosed structure, was completed in the late 1960s.
This was followed by WESTLAND MALL in 1970. CUTLER RIDGE MALL, along the southern stretch of Dixie Highway / US 1, was a rebuild of a circa-1960 strip center. It was dedicated in 1973.
The DADELAND MALL Food Fair, which had morphed into a Pantry Pride supermarket, was shuttered in the late 1970s. Its area was renovated into a 15-bay food court, which opened in May 1980.
Three years later, a major renovation of DADELAND MALL got underway. The retail hub was given a facelift, with new flooring and skylights. Moreover, three new anchor stores were built on the south-facing front.
The first, a 2-level (78,600 square foot) Saks Fifth Avenue, opened in 1984, followed by a 2-level (76,000 square foot) The Limited / Express, also completed in 1984. The mall's 2-level (150,000 square foot) Lord and Taylor, came inline in 1986. Moreover, two additional parking structures were constructed.
The shopping venue become rapid transit-accessible on May 20, 1984, with the inauguration of revenue service on the initial Dadeland South-to-Overtown / Arena Metrorail route.
The DADELAND Jordan Marsh was shuttered in 1991, reopening as a Burdines Home Store in 1993. In August 1997, the Indianapolis-based Simon Debartolo Group (now Simon Property Group) acquired a controlling interest in the mall. Five years later, a major remodel of the structure began.
This included a new Main Entrance, interior facelifts and an expansion of the existing Burdines into previously-existing store space in the East Wing. Moreover, a fourth parking structure was built at the front of the store.
This Burdines location, now encompassing 421,000 square feet, became the chain's flagship. It was rebranded Burdines-Macy's in 2004 and fully "Macy-ated" in 2005. The Lord and Taylor, shuttered in 2003, was renovated into a Nordstrom, which opened in the fall of 2004.
Today, DADELAND MALL encompasses 1,470,000 leasable square feet, with over one hundred and eighty-five stores and services.
Sources:
"Dadeland" and "Burdines" articles on Wikipedia
www.pbase.com / "Memories of Old Miami and Dade County"
www.simon.com
Memories of Ed Morgan / Metro-Dade resident 1957-2006
Miami-Dade, Florida Tax Assessor website
www.miamitimes.com
Southwest 88th Street / Kendall Drive and Southwest 72nd Avenue
Dade County, Florida
Metro-Dade's third shopping mall was built on a 71 acre tract, 10 miles southwest of downtown Miami, in an unincorporated section of the county called Kendall. The shopping center site was adjacent to the new "Palmetto Bypass Expressway", which had been dedicated in June 1961.
The single-level, open-air DADELAND CENTER began business October 1, 1962. It was developed by Baltimore's Joseph Meyerhoff, designed by Herbert Johnson and anchored by a 3-level, Miami-based Burdines ("bur-dinz").
Its first phase included Gray Drug, Crown Liquors, a Forum Cafeteria, Food Fair supermarket and fifty-three other tenants. A second phase, adding a 3-level (210,000 square foot), Miami-based Jordan Marsh of Florida, was completed in 1965.
The next expansion, done between 1967 and 1969, enclosed and climate-controlled the existing structure and added an East Wing of stores, anchored by a 2-level (192,700 square foot) J.C. Penney. A multilevel parking garage (attached to Burdines) was also built onto the complex, which had been renamed DADELAND MALL.
Competing shopping venues sprang up along the north-south stretch of the Palmetto Expressway in the ensuing years. MIDWAY MALL, which was the first shopping complex in Miami-Dade built as a fully-enclosed structure, was completed in the late 1960s.
This was followed by WESTLAND MALL in 1970. CUTLER RIDGE MALL, along the southern stretch of Dixie Highway / US 1, was a rebuild of a circa-1960 strip center. It was dedicated in 1973.
The DADELAND MALL Food Fair, which had morphed into a Pantry Pride supermarket, was shuttered in the late 1970s. Its area was renovated into a 15-bay food court, which opened in May 1980.
Three years later, a major renovation of DADELAND MALL got underway. The retail hub was given a facelift, with new flooring and skylights. Moreover, three new anchor stores were built on the south-facing front.
The first, a 2-level (78,600 square foot) Saks Fifth Avenue, opened in 1984, followed by a 2-level (76,000 square foot) The Limited / Express, also completed in 1984. The mall's 2-level (150,000 square foot) Lord and Taylor, came inline in 1986. Moreover, two additional parking structures were constructed.
The shopping venue become rapid transit-accessible on May 20, 1984, with the inauguration of revenue service on the initial Dadeland South-to-Overtown / Arena Metrorail route.
The DADELAND Jordan Marsh was shuttered in 1991, reopening as a Burdines Home Store in 1993. In August 1997, the Indianapolis-based Simon Debartolo Group (now Simon Property Group) acquired a controlling interest in the mall. Five years later, a major remodel of the structure began.
This included a new Main Entrance, interior facelifts and an expansion of the existing Burdines into previously-existing store space in the East Wing. Moreover, a fourth parking structure was built at the front of the store.
This Burdines location, now encompassing 421,000 square feet, became the chain's flagship. It was rebranded Burdines-Macy's in 2004 and fully "Macy-ated" in 2005. The Lord and Taylor, shuttered in 2003, was renovated into a Nordstrom, which opened in the fall of 2004.
Today, DADELAND MALL encompasses 1,470,000 leasable square feet, with over one hundred and eighty-five stores and services.
Sources:
"Dadeland" and "Burdines" articles on Wikipedia
www.pbase.com / "Memories of Old Miami and Dade County"
www.simon.com
Memories of Ed Morgan / Metro-Dade resident 1957-2006
Miami-Dade, Florida Tax Assessor website
www.miamitimes.com
Buffalo's Boulevard Mall
A mid-'60s shot of Buffalo's first shopping mall. The complex was one
of three enclosed malls opening in New York State in 1962; the other
two being Rochester's MIDTOWN PLAZA and Long Island's WALT
WHITMAN MALL.
Photo from http://www.buffalohistoryworks.com/
A mid-'60s shot of Buffalo's first shopping mall. The complex was one
of three enclosed malls opening in New York State in 1962; the other
two being Rochester's MIDTOWN PLAZA and Long Island's WALT
WHITMAN MALL.
Photo from http://www.buffalohistoryworks.com/
Site plan, circa-'62. The mall was the first of ten such centers built in,
and around, "The Buff" between the early 1960s and 1989.
A current physical layout. Obviously, a lot has changed
since 1962! First off, a Penney's was added in 1970 and
a South Wing of stores (in medium gray) came inline
soon after. Between 1990 and 2000, the south end of
the mall was substantially expanded. A Sears opened
there in September 2000.
The Main Entrance of Buff's BOULEVARD.
Photo from "Pastor Chuck"
BOULEVARD MALL
Niagara Falls Boulevard / US 62 and Maple Road
Amherst, New York
Buffalo's first enclosed shopping mall opened in 1962. The original BOULEVARD MALL occupied 44.7 acres of a 55.8 acre land parcel, which was located 11.4 miles northeast of downtown Buffalo.
The single story center, the first interior mall developed by Cleveland's Forest City Enterprises, fronted on Niagara Falls Boulevard, known locally as "The Boulevard". It was anchored by a 2-level (220,000 square foot), Buffalo-based Sattler's and 2-level (40,000 square foot), Amherst, New York-based Jenss; the chain's flagship store.
There was also a Kleinhan's Men's Store, Thom McAn Shoes, Bakers Shoes, Reed's Jewelers and Fanny Farmer Candies.
A 3-level (187,600 square foot) J.C. Penney and outparcel Auto Center were constructed at the mall's northeast corner in 1970. An extension of enclosed corridor stores was also built on the southern end of the mall, which was completed by 1978.
The first retail competitor in Buffalo's "Northtowns" area was EASTERN HILLS MALL (1971), in Williamsville. Also in the vacinity of BOULEVARD MALL was THRUWAY PLAZA, in Cheektowaga, which was a 1950s-era strip center, made into an enclosed mall in the early 1970s. Lastly came WALDEN GALLERIA (1989), a mega-mall also in Cheektowaga.
The BOULEVARD MALL Sattler's anchor closed in 1982 and opened, as a Rochester-based Sibley's, in 1983. It was rebranded, as a Pittsburgh-based Kaufmann's, in 1990. Six years later, the mall was acquired by Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises.
2000 brought the closing of Jenss. The chain downsized from a full-line department store into more of a specialty retailer, dealing in high-end gifts and home decor. A new location opened one block from the mall.
The old Jenss at BOULEVARD MALL opened as a Kaufmann's Men's Store in 2001. Around this time, a decade-long, multi-phase renovation of the mall was completed.
This project had included the addition of the "Picnic Place" Food Court, on the mall's southeast corner and a cluster of new outparcel stores (including CompUSA and Michael's Arts & Crafts) added to southern end. A 2-level (130,000 square foot) Sears opened in September 2000. 2006 saw the "Macy-ation" of the two Kaufmann's locations.
In 2008, the mall encompasses 904,000 leasable square feet, with one hundred and one inline stores. It has kept pace with the changing face of retail over its forty-sum years in business and remains one of the premier shopping destinations in "The Buff".
Sources:
"Boulevard Mall" article on Wikipedia
"Boulevard Mall" article on DeadMall.com
www.boulevard mall.com
Comment post from Beth
Erie County, New York Tax Assessor website
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