North Stadium Boulevard and West Worley Street
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri is located 111 miles west of St. Louis and 119 miles east of Kansas City. The first fully-enclosed mall in -or around- "CoMo" was PARKADE PLAZA, which was dedicated in March 1965. The region's second interior mall was built on a 32-acre parcel, located 2.3 miles northwest of center city Columbia.
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri is located 111 miles west of St. Louis and 119 miles east of Kansas City. The first fully-enclosed mall in -or around- "CoMo" was PARKADE PLAZA, which was dedicated in March 1965. The region's second interior mall was built on a 32-acre parcel, located 2.3 miles northwest of center city Columbia.
BISCAYNE MALL was built by Gladstone, Missouri's Hanson Development Company,. The original shopping complex encompassed approximately 270,000 leasable square feet and housed twenty-seven stores and services. The mall was anchored by a 1-level (80,000 square foot) Woolco discount mart and 1-level (81,300 square foot) Montgomery Ward.
The first operational store, a freestanding McDonald's restaurant, opened on February 1, 1972. The mall proper, including Montgomery Ward, was dedicated on February 23rd. Orville E. Hobart (Mayor of Columbia) officiated at the grand opening. He and Mrs. Kit Pace (wife of the manager of Montgomery Ward) cut a ceremonial ribbon.
The Woolco store was inaugurated on March 15th, 1972. When fully realized, the 4 million dollar BISCAYNE MALL featured House of Fabrics, Wyatt's Cafeteria, Glover the Clothier, Cloud 9 Gifts, Ann's Fashion Center and the Stag Shop.
A freestanding Convenience Center housed two stores. A (21,000 square foot) Kroger supermarket opened for business on February 29, 1972, with an (11,200 square foot) SupeRx Drugs welcoming first customers on May 30th. The Jerry Lewis Cinemas, a 3-screen venue, showed first features on March 15, 1973.
During the early years, BISCAYNE MALL had one major competitor, the aforementioned PARKADE PLAZA {1.4 miles northeast, in Columbia}. A more formidable rival mall was completed in October 1985. COLUMBIA MALL -located
directly across West Worley Street- sent BISCAYNE MALL into a downward
spiral.
The BISCAYNE MALL Woolco was shuttered in January 1983. The space was leased as a shopping mall-format Wal-Mart, whose official dedication was held in October 1983. By January 1990, BISCAYNE MALL was in receivership. It was acquired by the Columbia-based Kroenke Group in August 1991.
Wal-Mart considered replacing their aging BISCAYNE MALL store with a new SuperCenter, but abandoned the plan...at least for the time being. The mall's decline was exacerbated by the shuttering of Montgomery Ward, on June 15, 1997. The store sat vacant for over 2 years. It was reoccupied, in September 1999, by a Call To Serve International Warehouse. This was shuttered in October 2001.
In January 2002, it was announced that a 2-level (140,000 square foot), St. Louis-based Famous-Barr would be built on the south end of the BISCAYNE MALL site. The mall was demolished, leaving Wal-Mart temporarily standing.
Famous-Barr opened for business on November 15, 2003. This new store was incorporated into an upscale power center, known as THE SHOPPES AT STADIUM. Its first section, completed in May 2005, housed a (19,200 square foot) Old Navy, (8,300 square foot) David's Bridal, (10,000 square foot) Shoe Carnival and (28,100 square foot) Linens 'n Things.
Famous-Barr was "Macy-ated" on February 1, 2006. On October 18, the old BISCAYNE MALL Wal-Mart relocated into a (173,000 square foot) SuperCenter, which was built on a site located .4 mile southwest. The old Woolco-Wal-Mart -the last remnant of BISCAYNE MALL- fell to a wrecking ball in 2007.
Famous-Barr opened for business on November 15, 2003. This new store was incorporated into an upscale power center, known as THE SHOPPES AT STADIUM. Its first section, completed in May 2005, housed a (19,200 square foot) Old Navy, (8,300 square foot) David's Bridal, (10,000 square foot) Shoe Carnival and (28,100 square foot) Linens 'n Things.
Famous-Barr was "Macy-ated" on February 1, 2006. On October 18, the old BISCAYNE MALL Wal-Mart relocated into a (173,000 square foot) SuperCenter, which was built on a site located .4 mile southwest. The old Woolco-Wal-Mart -the last remnant of BISCAYNE MALL- fell to a wrecking ball in 2007.
Woolco-Wal-Mart was replaced by a 2-level (64,500 square foot) Dick's Sporting Goods and (17,100 square foot) PetSmart. These were dedicated between March 2009 and July 2010. Linens 'n Things had been shuttered in late 2008. The store re-opened, as a Bed, Bath & Beyond, in December 2010. Macy's closed for good on March 20, 2016.
Bed, Bath & Beyond was replaced by HomeGoods on February 20, 2025. The vacant Macy's was substantially renovated, with the building divided into several store spaces. A (14,500 square foot) Trader Joe's was proposed. A Burlington store was also planned for the old Macy's building. Burlington was scheduled to open in July 2025, but its grand opening has been postponed.
Sources:
The Columbia Missourian
The Columbia Daily Tribune
http://cdm.sos.gov / Missouri Digital Heritage
http://www.ggp.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.cinematreasures.org
