South Colorado Boulevard and East Yale Avenue, Denver, Colorado
The second mall-type shopping complex in Greater Denver was built to serve as a de facto downtown for the 2,200-dwelling University Hills housing development. UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER was developed on a 25-acre parcel, once part of Diamond Joe's Ranch. The site was located 9 miles southeast of the Colorado Capitol, in the southern environs of Denver City / County.
Open-air in format, UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER was originally a linear, strip-type complex. It was designed by Jared B. Morse and developed by a joint venture of the May Department Stores Company and Ambrose, Williams & Company. The shopping hub consisted of a single level of retail and eventually encompassed thirty-four stores and services.
The first operational store, a (12,200 square foot) Busley Brothers supermarket, opened its doors on August 22, 1951. Yarbro Drug welcomed first customers on November 1, 1951, with a (6,900 square foot) Hested's 5 & 10 being dedicated on February 14, 1952. Other charter UNIVERSITY HILLS stores included Leenert's Hardware & Paint, Lou's Music Box, and The Beauty Spot salon.
May Company Colorado dedicated a 3-level (110,000 square foot) department store on September 27, 1955. In 1957, May Company Colorado merged with the Denver-based Daniels & Fisher Company. Stores, including the UNIVERSITY HILLS operation, came under a newly-created May-D & F brand. On July 26, 1959, a new fourth level opened at the UNIVERSITY HILLS store. It now encompassed 190,000 square feet.
Meanwhile, an open-air mall had been added to the existing shopping complex. W.T. Grant, Three Sisters ladies' wear and Fashion Bar ladies' wear opened for business on February 23, 1956. Other mall concourse tenants included Toy World, Mickey's Kosher Style Delicatessen & Restaurant, The Colonial Shop ladies' wear and a (10,000 square foot) King Soopers supermarket.
Retail hubs in the vicinity of UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER included UNIVERSITY HILLS PLAZA (1954) {.1 mile north, in Denver}, CHERRY CREEK CENTER (1955) {3.5 miles northwest, in Denver}, UNIVERSITY HILLS SOUTH (1967) {.1 mile south, in Denver}, CINDERELLA CITY (1968) {3 miles southwest, in Englewood}, BUCKINGHAM SQUARE (1971) {4.3 miles northeast, in Aurora} and SOUTHGLENN MALL (1974) {5.1 miles southwest, in Arapahoe County}.
Retail hubs in the vicinity of UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER included UNIVERSITY HILLS PLAZA (1954) {.1 mile north, in Denver}, CHERRY CREEK CENTER (1955) {3.5 miles northwest, in Denver}, UNIVERSITY HILLS SOUTH (1967) {.1 mile south, in Denver}, CINDERELLA CITY (1968) {3 miles southwest, in Englewood}, BUCKINGHAM SQUARE (1971) {4.3 miles northeast, in Aurora} and SOUTHGLENN MALL (1974) {5.1 miles southwest, in Arapahoe County}.
A freestanding movie theater was built across the street from UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER, as part of the UNIVERSITY HILLS SOUTH mini-mall. The Tom Goldfarb-Marvin Davis University Hills 2 premiered on November 3, 1972. It was expanded into the University Hills 3 in the 1980s. Over the ensuing years, the venue was owned and operated by Highland Theatres, Commonwealth Theatres and United Artists. It was re-named, as the Landmark Theatres' Chez Artiste, in 1992.
Meanwhile, UNIVERSITY HILLS CENTER was enclosed and climate-controlled in the mid-1970s. Renamed UNIVERSITY HILLS MALL, it was officially rededicated on November 28, 1975. A 5-alarm fire raged through the complex on November 22, 1983, with nearly 50 percent of the mall being damaged. It was rebuilt, and re-opened in August 1984.
The first blow to the longevity of U-HILLS MALL came in August 1990, when May D & F moved into a newly-built, flagship store at the enclosed mall at CHERRY CREEK CENTER. A petition drive was held to try and convince Denver-based Joslins to take over the empty anchor spot at U-HILLS; all to no avail.
The mall continued to founder. In February 1995, an entity known as U-Hills, Incorporated acquired the land the shopping center was built on from St. Louis-based May Centers. Ownership of the mall structure was secured in July 1996. A redevelopment scenario was put in motion by a joint venture of Denver-based Goldberg Property Associates and the Greystone Realty Group.
The shopping center was demolished, leaving only two small outparcels standing. A 229,400 square foot power center was erected. Known as simply UNIVERSITY HILLS, its first phase of stores opened for business on October 1, 1997.
Anchoring the complex was a 1-level (66,000 square foot) King Soopers grocery. Other tenants included a (32,400 square foot) Linens 'n Things, (15,200 square foot) PetSmart and (30,000 square foot) Office Max. A second phase, which included a (9,700 square foot) Ulta Beauty, was dedicated in October 2001. UNIVERSITY HILLS was sold to Beachwood, Ohio-based Developers Diversified Realty in 2003.
Sources:
The Denver Business Journal
The Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colorado)
National Registry of Historic Places / Multiple Property Documentation Forum / United States Department of the Interior / National Park Service / "Historic Residential Subdivisions of Denver, 1940-1965" / Revised March 1992 and October 2010
preservenet.cornell.edu/publications/Longstreth Branch Store.doc
preservenet.cornell.edu/publications/Longstreth Branch Store.doc
www.cinematreasures.com
www.uhna.com (University Hills Neighborhood Association)
http://www.ddr.com/listings/default.aspx?pn=20560 / Developers Diversified Realty
http://www.renewdenver.org/redevelopment/dura-redevelopment-projects/denver-county/university-hills.html / Denver Urban Renewal Authority
www.uhna.com (University Hills Neighborhood Association)
http://www.ddr.com/listings/default.aspx?pn=20560 / Developers Diversified Realty
http://www.renewdenver.org/redevelopment/dura-redevelopment-projects/denver-county/university-hills.html / Denver Urban Renewal Authority
