FRANDOR CENTER
North Clippert and East Saginaw Streets
Ingham County (Lansing), Michigan
Greater Detroit's NORTHLAND CENTER opened -in March 1954- as the first regional shopping center in Michigan. The Wolverine State's second regional retail complex was built on a 55-acre site. This was located 2.3 miles east of the Michigan State House, in an unincorporated section of Ingham County. The mall site, which had contained the 9-hole Glenmoor Golf Course, was eventually annexed into the city of Lansing.
FRANDOR CENTER was developed by Lansing's Francis "Jake" Corr, Junior. Its name was an amalgamation of FRANcis and his wife DORothy. The complex consisted of the East Mall (a linear strip center), the open-air Mall Court (at the center of the CENTER), and a basement level Concourse. This housed a barber shop, beauty salon, dental practice and public restrooms.
A (19,200 square foot) Kroger supermarket became the first operational FRANDOR store, on November 2, 1954. A (9,600 square foot) F.W. Woolworth debuted on November 4th. A 1-level (175,200 square foot) Sears welcomed first shoppers on November 18th. This store was a freestanding structure -not technically part of the shopping hub- and served as its "shadow anchor."
Store inaugurations continued into 1955. A 2-level (19,600 square foot) Wrigleys Super Market began business on March 29th. A 1-level (75,000 square foot) Federal department store was officially dedicated on March 30th, 1955. It was the twenty-first location in the Dearborn-based chain. A 2-level (14,000 square foot) S.S. Kresge 5 & 10 opened on the same day.
When fully-realized, the 14 million dollar FRANDOR CENTER encompassed approximately 500,000 leasable square feet, with a tenant list of fifty stores and services. These included Tie Rak, Three Sisters ladies' wear, Grinnell's Music, Green's Apparel, Holden-Reid Clothiers For Men & Boys, Peter Pan Snack Shop and a Michigan National Bank.
Kiddieland, a children's amusement area, featured several "mini" rides, including a ferris wheel, roller coaster, airplanes, merry-go-round and Turnpike. Terrace Putt-Putt Golf was situated on the northwest corner of the mall superblock.
The National General Corporation Spartan Twin Theatre showed first features on October 11, 1967. The venue was built on the Terrace Putt-Putt Golf site. It re-opened, as the Mann Theatres Spartan 3 Theatre, on October 20, 1978 and was permanently shuttered in February 1994. Kiddie Land was dismantled in 1981.
Kroger moved out of the East Mall, into a freestanding (24,700 square foot) store, on March 26, 1962. Soon after, FRANDOR CENTER faced two major competitors; LANSING MALL {6 miles west, in Eaton County} and MERIDIAN MALL {4.3 miles southeast, in Ingham County}. Both complexes opened for business during 1969.
As a keeping up measure, a plan to enclose the FRANDOR East Mall was drawn up. First announced in November 1970, the 250,000 dollar project would not be completed until November 1972. An enclosed concourse was built, which was 20 feet wide and 900 feet long. It was floored with carpet and polished concrete. The Mall Court -at the center of the center- remained open-air. It was enclosed, with a skylight roof, and re-dedicated in May 1977.
In spite of these improvements, FRANDOR lost its prominence as the area's foremost shopping complex. By the mid-1990s, it had become a dilapidated eyesore. A redevelopment project was initiated by a joint venture of the original developer, Lansing's Frandorson Properties, and Farmington Hills, Michigan-based Lormax Stern and First Chicago NBD Real Estate Services.
Demolition commenced in March 1998. The Mall Court was razed, along with the enclosed concourse. The old twin cinema building was also knocked down. Construction was underway by June 1998. The remaining East Mall structure was returned to its original, open-air format, with new Post Modern storefronts installed. A power center was created which surrounded a central parking area.
Four big-box stores were added north and south of the existing Kroger. These were a (30,000 square foot) Office Depot, (33,000 square foot) Linens 'n Things, (18,500 square foot) Cost Plus World Market and (27,600 square foot) CompUSA. Office Depot became the first to open, on June 7, 1999. CompUSA became the last, on August 19th. FRANDOR CENTER now spanned approximately 435,000 leasable square feet and housed fifty-eight stores and services. A formal grand opening was held on September 16, 1999.
Sources:
The Lansing State Journal
https://www.lostlansing.com
https://www.waterwinterwonderland.com
https://www.shopfrandor.com
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
