North Stadium Boulevard and West Worley Street
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri is situated 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 situated 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 (spouse 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 1-2-3, an in-mall venue, showed first features on March 15, 1973.
During the early years, BISCAYNE MALL had just one major competitor; the aforementioned PARKADE PLAZA {1.4 miles northeast, in Columbia}.
In January 1983, the BISCAYNE MALL Woolco was shuttered. The space was leased as an early shopping mall-format Wal-Mart, with the store being dedicated in October 1983. Meanwhile, a formidable rival mall was on the horizon. COLUMBIA MALL {located directly across West Worley Street, in Columbia} was completed in October 1985. BISCAYNE MALL could not compete and was soon in a downward spiral.
By January 1990, the struggling center was in receivership. The following August, it was acquired by the Columbia-based Kroenke Group. Wal-Mart had considered replacing their aging store with a new SuperCenter in the summer of 1994, but abandoned this 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" 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.
Sources:
The Columbia Missourian
The Columbia Daily Tribune
http://cdm.sos.gov/ / Missouri Digital Heritage
www.ggp.com
www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.loopnet.com
Sources:
The Columbia Missourian
The Columbia Daily Tribune
http://cdm.sos.gov/ / Missouri Digital Heritage
www.ggp.com
www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.loopnet.com
