Texoma Parkway / US 75 and Gallagher Drive
Grayson County (Sherman), Texas
One of the first major shopping centers in North Central Texas, SHERDEN MALL was conceived in 1968. The complex occupied a 42.2-acre plot, located 4 tenths of a mile northeast of downtown Sherman. The northern half of the site housed the Perrin Drive-In Theater between 1953 and 1969.
Named for its proximity to the adjacent cities of Sherman and Denison, the mall was also 75 miles north of Dallas. It was built by Charles Parrish, under the auspices of Enterprise Development Associates. The fully-enclosed shopping venue encompassed approximately 497,400 leasable square feet and, when fully leased, housed fifty-three stores and services.
The first operational tenant, a 1-level (82,600 square foot) Montgomery Ward, was dedicated on July 30, 1970. A freestanding Ward's Auto Center had opened on July 20th. On the mall's south end was a 2-level (141,900 square foot) J.C. Penney. This full-line store was inaugurated on November 12, 1970.
SHERDEN MALL was officially dedicated, with forty-one operational stores, on November 12. Charter tenants included Embassy Fabrics, Longhorn Ranchwear, Mode O' Day Frock Shop, Musicland, Topper's Men's Wear, a (26,600 square foot) Lilley's department store, (16,200 square foot) Kroger supermarket and 1-level (23,300 square foot) S.H. Kress 5 & 10.
Soon after the mall's grand opening, the Robb & Rowley Circuit Cinema 1 & 2 showed its first features. It was expanded into a 4-screen venue -the United Artists Cinema 4- in 1979. By this time, the mall featured stores such as Docktor Pet Center, Chess King, Fashion Fair, Hickory Farms of Ohio, Pants America and Toys By Roy. Bealls ("belz") had assumed space vacated by the S.H. Kress 5 & 10.
SHERDEN MALL had a short trajectory of success and decline. The complex began a downward spiral in 1986, with the completion of MIDWAY MALL {4 tenths of a mile north, in Sherman}. As a competitive measure, SHERDEN MALL was given an interior face lift, with its Center Court refurbished. Two entry corridors were also partially filled with new store space.
Unfortunately, the mall continued to falter. J.C. Penney moved to a new store at MIDWAY MALL with Burlington Coat Factory assuming the vacancy at SHERDEN. By the early 1990s, the complex was virtually vacant. In January 1999, Montgomery Ward -the final operational store- went dark. Demolition of the past-its-prime property got underway in May 2004 and was concluded in January 2005.
Sources:
The Denison Herald (Denison, Texas)
The Howe Enterprise (Howe, Texas)
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Case Study of Total Energy System, Sher-Den Mall, Sherman, Texas" / George B. Myrtetus and Merton D. Levy / Argonne National Laboratory / December 1980
https://photos.google.com / Jimmy Ramsey
http://looplink.natl.cbre.us / Midway Mall Marketing Brochure
https://www.lpcretail.com / Sherman Town Center Marketing Brochure
"Case Study of Total Energy System, Sher-Den Mall, Sherman, Texas" / George B. Myrtetus and Merton D. Levy / Argonne National Laboratory / December 1980
https://photos.google.com / Jimmy Ramsey
http://looplink.natl.cbre.us / Midway Mall Marketing Brochure
https://www.lpcretail.com / Sherman Town Center Marketing Brochure
