Blue Ridge Boulevard and East 43rd Street
Kansas City and Independence, Missouri
The Show Me State's second shopping mall straddled the corporate lines of Kansas City and Independence, Missouri. It was built on a 63-acre tract, situated 7 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The site was adjacent to the proposed route of the Interstate 70 expressway, which would run parallel to the north side of the complex. BLUE RIDGE CENTER was developed by a joint venture led by Kansas City's Reich Brothers; William, Robert and Walker.
Several architectural firms contributed to the mall's design. Among these were Kansas City's J.F. Lauck & Associates, Washington, DC's Homer Hoyt & Associates and New York City's Lathrop Douglass Architects. Construction commenced in April 1957. The 12 million dollar complex was officially dedicated on October 16, 1958, with thirty-two stores. In its original configuration, the open-air facility encompassed approximately 525,000 leasable square feet.
Major stores included a 3-level (103,000 square foot) Montgomery Ward, 2-level (63,100 square foot) J.C. Penney, 2-level (50,300 square foot) J.J. Newberry and 2-level (36,500 square foot) F.W. Woolworth. There were also Harzfeld's apparel, Crown Drug, Western Auto, Lerner Shops, Bond Clothes, Velvet Freeze Ice Cream, Thom McAn Shoes and a Safeway supermarket.
A lower floor beneath the southwest corner of the mall was known as the Community Concourse. This area contained eighteen tenant spaces and included a dance school, barber shop, beauty salon, optical shop, children's nursery, community room, studios for KCCV radio and 16-lane bowling alley.
By 1959, BLUE RIDGE CENTER contained forty-nine stores and services. A 3-level (120,000 square foot), Kansas City, Missouri-based The Jones Store was added, which held its grand opening on August 16, 1962. Initially, The Jones Store utilized only the 2 upper levels of its building.
A major renovation was announced in July 1968. Promoted as "The Great Cover Up", its construction commenced in January 1970. Courts and concourse were air-conditioned with a roof structure including twelve skylights. The enclosed mall was re-dedicated on June 10, 1971. Soon after, the Mid-America Cinema Corporation Blue Ridge Cinemas was completed. Built as a freestanding structure in the east parking area, the 4-screen venue opened for business on December 25, 1971.
As the enclosing renovation was proceeding, Montgomery Ward was being expanded. When construction was finished, the store encompassed 171,000 square feet. The Jones Store also completed work on its basement, which extended its selling space to 3-levels and 183,000 square feet. A 3-level (208,000 square foot) J.C. Penney was built on the west end of the complex. This store held its grand opening on March 8, 1972.
The original J.C. Penney, now vacant, was reconfigured as the South Court. This 2-level area encompassed twenty-eight stores and included Frederick's of Hollywood, Mailiard's men's wear, Robinson's Shoes, The Village Set and Putsch's Tivoli restaurant.
Major stores included a 3-level (103,000 square foot) Montgomery Ward, 2-level (63,100 square foot) J.C. Penney, 2-level (50,300 square foot) J.J. Newberry and 2-level (36,500 square foot) F.W. Woolworth. There were also Harzfeld's apparel, Crown Drug, Western Auto, Lerner Shops, Bond Clothes, Velvet Freeze Ice Cream, Thom McAn Shoes and a Safeway supermarket.
By 1959, BLUE RIDGE CENTER contained forty-nine stores and services. A 3-level (120,000 square foot), Kansas City, Missouri-based The Jones Store was added, which held its grand opening on August 16, 1962. Initially, The Jones Store utilized only the 2 upper levels of its building.
A major renovation was announced in July 1968. Promoted as "The Great Cover Up", its construction commenced in January 1970. Courts and concourse were air-conditioned with a roof structure including twelve skylights. The enclosed mall was re-dedicated on June 10, 1971. Soon after, the Mid-America Cinema Corporation Blue Ridge Cinemas was completed. Built as a freestanding structure in the east parking area, the 4-screen venue opened for business on December 25, 1971.
As the enclosing renovation was proceeding, Montgomery Ward was being expanded. When construction was finished, the store encompassed 171,000 square feet. The Jones Store also completed work on its basement, which extended its selling space to 3-levels and 183,000 square feet. A 3-level (208,000 square foot) J.C. Penney was built on the west end of the complex. This store held its grand opening on March 8, 1972.
The original J.C. Penney, now vacant, was reconfigured as the South Court. This 2-level area encompassed twenty-eight stores and included Frederick's of Hollywood, Mailiard's men's wear, Robinson's Shoes, The Village Set and Putsch's Tivoli restaurant.
With the completion of its massive renovation, in 1972, BLUE RIDGE MALL incorporated over 1 million leasable square feet. There were now 100 stores and services under its roof. The shopping hub was sold to the Prudential Insurance Company of America in November 1973.
The first major competitor of BLUE RIDGE MALL was INDEPENDENCE CENTER {4 miles east, in Independence}. This shopping hub was dedicated in 1974. BANNISTER MALL {7 miles southwest, in Kansas City, Missouri} opened for business in 1980.
As a competitive measure, BLUE RIDGE MALL was given a face lift. A vacant J.J. Newberry was refashioned into the North Court. Its upper floor housed a small Food Court. The basement included the Mid-America Cinema Corporation Blue Ridge West Cinema on the Mall. Originally a 3-screen venue, it was reconfigured as the Blue Ridge West 6 in December 1985. The original outparcel theater had been renamed as the Blue Ridge Cinema East.
The first major competitor of BLUE RIDGE MALL was INDEPENDENCE CENTER {4 miles east, in Independence}. This shopping hub was dedicated in 1974. BANNISTER MALL {7 miles southwest, in Kansas City, Missouri} opened for business in 1980.
As a competitive measure, BLUE RIDGE MALL was given a face lift. A vacant J.J. Newberry was refashioned into the North Court. Its upper floor housed a small Food Court. The basement included the Mid-America Cinema Corporation Blue Ridge West Cinema on the Mall. Originally a 3-screen venue, it was reconfigured as the Blue Ridge West 6 in December 1985. The original outparcel theater had been renamed as the Blue Ridge Cinema East.
In October 1988, Prudential Insurance sold the mall to a Wisconsin and New York City-based joint venture known as the Blue Ridge Center Limited Partnership. A mid-1990s renovation redecorated the interior of the mall in a Persian motif. Unfortunately, this failed to curtail the center's decline, which was well underway by the time that Woolworth's was shuttered, in July 1997. In November 1998, Kansas City-based IAS Partners became the shopping hub's new proprietors.
An "anchors away" scenario began to play out in March 2001, when Montgomery Ward went out of business. J.C. Penney went dark in January 2002, with the Jones Store closing up shop in January 2003.
A fifth renovation of the retail hub had been proposed in 2001, with a price tag of between 10 and 15 million dollars. This project was to add an open-air "Main Street" facade of stores to the north side of the existing complex. A new megaplex cinema was also mentioned.
In the meantime, vacant space on the lower level of the mall was filled by Courtyard of the Arts, which included an art gallery, performance spaces, classrooms and a ninety-seven table dinner theater. The lower level of the South Court became an Antique Mall.
Alas, the remodeling plan was abandoned after the mall's three anchor stores closed their doors. By early 2004, the facility was virtually vacant. In May, it was announced that it was going to be completely demolished and replaced by a new Wal-Mart SuperCenter, which was to be part of a new BLUE RIDGE CROSSING strip complex.
This plan created a great deal of controversy, especially when it was revealed that the mega-retailer was going to receive a 25 million dollar "tax increment financing" break to aid in demolishing the existing shopping center. Nevertheless, the controversial plan was approved. The mall was reduced to rubble between late 2005 and early 2006.
The 1-level (197,000 square foot) Wal-Mart opened for business on January 19, 2007. It was joined by a 1-level (135,000 square foot) Lowe's Home Improvement Center on December 26, 2008. Smaller pads in BLUE RIDGE CROSSING were leased by tenants such as Applebee's, Starbuck's Coffee and Games Workshop.
Sources:
The Kansas City Star
The Fort Scott Tribune (Fort Scott, Kansas)
http://www.rodslair.com / Site created and maintained by Rod Shelley
http://www.labelscar.com
http://www.wai.com / Weidlinger Retail
http://www.cinematour.com
http://www.movie-theatre.org
http://www.acppubs.com / "Wrecking Blue Ridge Mall"
http://www.blueridgecrossing.com
An "anchors away" scenario began to play out in March 2001, when Montgomery Ward went out of business. J.C. Penney went dark in January 2002, with the Jones Store closing up shop in January 2003.
A fifth renovation of the retail hub had been proposed in 2001, with a price tag of between 10 and 15 million dollars. This project was to add an open-air "Main Street" facade of stores to the north side of the existing complex. A new megaplex cinema was also mentioned.
In the meantime, vacant space on the lower level of the mall was filled by Courtyard of the Arts, which included an art gallery, performance spaces, classrooms and a ninety-seven table dinner theater. The lower level of the South Court became an Antique Mall.
Alas, the remodeling plan was abandoned after the mall's three anchor stores closed their doors. By early 2004, the facility was virtually vacant. In May, it was announced that it was going to be completely demolished and replaced by a new Wal-Mart SuperCenter, which was to be part of a new BLUE RIDGE CROSSING strip complex.
This plan created a great deal of controversy, especially when it was revealed that the mega-retailer was going to receive a 25 million dollar "tax increment financing" break to aid in demolishing the existing shopping center. Nevertheless, the controversial plan was approved. The mall was reduced to rubble between late 2005 and early 2006.
The 1-level (197,000 square foot) Wal-Mart opened for business on January 19, 2007. It was joined by a 1-level (135,000 square foot) Lowe's Home Improvement Center on December 26, 2008. Smaller pads in BLUE RIDGE CROSSING were leased by tenants such as Applebee's, Starbuck's Coffee and Games Workshop.
Sources:
The Kansas City Star
The Fort Scott Tribune (Fort Scott, Kansas)
http://www.rodslair.com / Site created and maintained by Rod Shelley
http://www.labelscar.com
http://www.wai.com / Weidlinger Retail
http://www.cinematour.com
http://www.movie-theatre.org
http://www.acppubs.com / "Wrecking Blue Ridge Mall"
http://www.blueridgecrossing.com
