Williamson Road Northwest / US 11 and Hershberger Road Northwest
Roanoke County (Roanoke City), Virginia
The first interior mall in The Old Dominion was also the first major shopping complex developed by Salem, Virginia's Double T Corporation. This was a joint venture of Thomas "T.D." Steele and T.A. Carter, Junior. The double-level mall was situated on 36 acres, formerly the Watts Dairy Farm, which was located 3 miles north of center city Roanoke. T.A. Carter, Junior designed the structure.
During its early development, the prospective retail center had gone by several names. SKYWAY SHOPPING CENTER morphed into the CROSSROADS SHOPPING CENTER which eventually became CROSSROADS MALL. Construction commenced in May 1960, the complex being dedicated on July 27, 1961. Charlotte Ann Thomas, "Miss Virginia 1961," cut the ceremonial ribbon. The 4 million dollar center was located in unincorporated Roanoke County, but was annexed into the Independent City of Roanoke in 1976.
In its original state, CROSSROADS MALL encompassed approximately 310,000 leasable square feet and contained twenty-eight stores and services. Its shopping concourse, or Tropical Garden, was 65 feet wide, 260 feet long and 25 feet high. This area was accented by trees, plants, fountains, reflecting pools and seating areas and was used for concerts, trade shows and sock hops.
The mall was anchored by a 1-level (33,700 square foot), Henderson, North Carolina-based Roses 5-10 & 25 Cent store and 2-level (50,000 square foot) J.C. Penney. Charter tenants included Fink's Jewelers, Smartwear Irving-Saks, Hoffmeir's, Lazarus ladies' wear, Cato Ladies' Fashions, Sidney's ladies' wear, Peoples Drug and Kroger and Winn-Dixie supermarkets.
An expansion was completed in the mid-1960s. A 1-level (103,000 square foot) Woolco discount mart opened for business on September 28, 1966. At the same time, the existing J.C. Penney was enlarged. The (88,000 square foot) "New Generation" store included a freestanding "Penneys" Auto Center.
The Dominion Theatres Terrace Theatre was built as a northeastern outparcel of the mall. The single-screen "UltraVision" venue held its grand opening on May 4, 1967. Over the years, the movie house would be operated by Dominion Theatres, Plitt Theatres, Cineplex Odeon, Neighborhood Entertainment, Incorporated, USA Cinemas and James Duffy.
An expansion was completed in the mid-1960s. A 1-level (103,000 square foot) Woolco discount mart opened for business on September 28, 1966. At the same time, the existing J.C. Penney was enlarged. The (88,000 square foot) "New Generation" store included a freestanding "Penneys" Auto Center.
The Dominion Theatres Terrace Theatre was built as a northeastern outparcel of the mall. The single-screen "UltraVision" venue held its grand opening on May 4, 1967. Over the years, the movie house would be operated by Dominion Theatres, Plitt Theatres, Cineplex Odeon, Neighborhood Entertainment, Incorporated, USA Cinemas and James Duffy.
The Roanoke-based S.H. Heironimus chain opened a CROSSROADS store, in existing mall space, on May 8, 1967. With these modifications, the shopping hub encompassed approximately 565,000 leasable square feet. On August 26, 1974, a SupeRx Drugs and (54,000 square foot) Kroger supermarket opened in a freestanding building on the west end of the mall site. The in-mall Kroger was shuttered and divided into inline store spaces.
Zane May Interests, a new Dallas-based mall owner, came on the scene in March 1988. They signed Myrtle Beach-based Waccamaw (Pottery) to lease 70,000 square feet of mall area; this section taking in space previously occupied by Winn-Dixie, Peoples Drug and thirteen adjacent inline stores. The new Waccamaw welcomed first shoppers at a soft opening held on August 17, 1989.
By May 2001, the mall's proprietor was going through bankruptcy. Kroger had closed in June 1994 and was eventually replaced by Birmingham-based Books-A-Million. The Waccamaw store was shuttered on June 29, 2001, with Circuit City shutting down in late 2004. A subsidiary of the Southeast Real Estate Corporation, of Mobile, Alabama, acquired CROSSROADS MALL at this time.
New office-type tenants were signed to fill vacant space. Advance Auto Parts leased the (70,000 square foot) Waccamaw's spot in August 2001 and reconfigured it as offices. Dollar Duz It opened a retail store on November 7, 2001.
Another attempt at reinventing CROSSROADS MALL was announced in January 2006. 4 million dollars was spent separating retail area from 300,000 square feet of offices. The office segment, renamed CROSSROADS CORPORATE BUSINESS CENTER, was comprised mainly of a newly-created corporate headquarters for Advance Auto Parts, who assumed the space vacated by Circuit City and now occupied 102,500 square feet of the complex.
Ownership of CROSSROADS MALL and CORPORATE BUSINESS CENTER changed hands in March 2009. Crossroads Investors, of New York City, completed the conversion of the retail mall into an office complex. Dollar Duz It moved out in 2007, followed by Jo-Ann Fabrics, in early 2011.
The entire Lower Level of the complex was now occupied by the Advance Auto Parts headquarters. The Upper Level had State of Virginia offices (in the old Goody's space). Big Kmart was now the only retail tenant still in operation. The complex, excluding Kmart, was now officially known as CROSSROADS CORPORATE BUSINESS PARK. Kmart, and the retail structure west of it, were known (collectively) as CROSSROADS CENTER.
In January 2015, it was announced that German discount grocer Aldi would open a (21,000 square foot) location in CROSSROADS CENTER. The store, occupying space adjacent to Books-A-Million, was dedicated in November 2015. Big Kmart went dark in March 2017. The building was demolished and replaced by a 1-level (100,000 square foot) BJ's Wholesale Club, whose dedication was held on November 3, 2018.
Sources:
The Roanoke Times
The first regional-class competitor for CROSSROADS MALL opened in March 1973. TANGLEWOOD MALL {5.9 miles south, in Roanoke County} was also developed by the Double T organization. A more formidable competitor was officially dedicated in July 1985. VALLEY VIEW MALL {.7 mile southwest, in Roanoke City} enveloped 886,000 leasable square feet. It snatched five CROSSROADS tenants.
As a keeping up measure, CROSSROADS was given a 2 million dollar face lift. A "futuristic space frame" network was suspended over the center court (nee' Tropical Garden) area and new flooring was installed throughout the complex. A vacant Winn-Dixie space was retenanted by Tons O' Toys. In September 1985, a new name was introduced; CROSSROADS CONSUMER MALL.
Meanwhile, the CROSSROADS Woolco had closed in January 1983. Kmart set up shop in 87,400 square feet and began business on July 21, 1983. The remaining 15,500 square feet of store space was fashioned into a Food Court. This culinary complex, which included The Sandwich Shop and Oriental Express, opened in June 1986. J.C. Penney had pulled up stakes in July 1985. A (71,000 square foot) section was rebuilt as a 2-level Circuit City Superstore, which opened for business on November 26, 1986.
Zane May Interests, a new Dallas-based mall owner, came on the scene in March 1988. They signed Myrtle Beach-based Waccamaw (Pottery) to lease 70,000 square feet of mall area; this section taking in space previously occupied by Winn-Dixie, Peoples Drug and thirteen adjacent inline stores. The new Waccamaw welcomed first shoppers at a soft opening held on August 17, 1989.
Alas, the shopping hub's discount-oriented reinvention had not been an astounding success. In October 1989, its original name was reinstated. In April 1991, the struggling mall was deeded back to the lender. The Pennsylvania-based George D. Zamias Company acquired the property in October. They decided to reconfigure the moribund mall as a big box-based center. Larger tenants were given exterior entrances. Knoxville's Goody's Family Clothing opened a (23,300 square foot) Upper Level store on August 6, 1993. Jo-Ann Fabrics retenanted the old Roses.
By May 2001, the mall's proprietor was going through bankruptcy. Kroger had closed in June 1994 and was eventually replaced by Birmingham-based Books-A-Million. The Waccamaw store was shuttered on June 29, 2001, with Circuit City shutting down in late 2004. A subsidiary of the Southeast Real Estate Corporation, of Mobile, Alabama, acquired CROSSROADS MALL at this time.
New office-type tenants were signed to fill vacant space. Advance Auto Parts leased the (70,000 square foot) Waccamaw's spot in August 2001 and reconfigured it as offices. Dollar Duz It opened a retail store on November 7, 2001.
Another attempt at reinventing CROSSROADS MALL was announced in January 2006. 4 million dollars was spent separating retail area from 300,000 square feet of offices. The office segment, renamed CROSSROADS CORPORATE BUSINESS CENTER, was comprised mainly of a newly-created corporate headquarters for Advance Auto Parts, who assumed the space vacated by Circuit City and now occupied 102,500 square feet of the complex.
Ownership of CROSSROADS MALL and CORPORATE BUSINESS CENTER changed hands in March 2009. Crossroads Investors, of New York City, completed the conversion of the retail mall into an office complex. Dollar Duz It moved out in 2007, followed by Jo-Ann Fabrics, in early 2011.
The entire Lower Level of the complex was now occupied by the Advance Auto Parts headquarters. The Upper Level had State of Virginia offices (in the old Goody's space). Big Kmart was now the only retail tenant still in operation. The complex, excluding Kmart, was now officially known as CROSSROADS CORPORATE BUSINESS PARK. Kmart, and the retail structure west of it, were known (collectively) as CROSSROADS CENTER.
In January 2015, it was announced that German discount grocer Aldi would open a (21,000 square foot) location in CROSSROADS CENTER. The store, occupying space adjacent to Books-A-Million, was dedicated in November 2015. Big Kmart went dark in March 2017. The building was demolished and replaced by a 1-level (100,000 square foot) BJ's Wholesale Club, whose dedication was held on November 3, 2018.
Sources:
The Roanoke Times
The World News (Roanoke, Virginia)
The Salem Times-Register
The Salem Times-Register
The Covington Virginian
Virginia Record / Ninth Annual Virginia Architectural Arts Edition / November 1961
http://www.mallmemories.com / Doug Force
http://stevenswain.blogspot.com / Steven Swain
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.flickr.com / Joe Architect
http://www.roanoke.com
Roanoke County, Virginia property tax assessor website
http://www.mallmemories.com / Doug Force
http://stevenswain.blogspot.com / Steven Swain
http://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.flickr.com / Joe Architect
http://www.roanoke.com
Roanoke County, Virginia property tax assessor website
