Anderson's Mounds Mall
The third shopping mall developed by Melvin Simon & Associates -the mother company of today's Simon Property Group- was built in Anderson.
Graphic from Melvin Simon & Associates
Drawing from Montgomery Ward & Company
Showing posts with label Indiana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indiana. Show all posts
MOUNDS MALL TENANTS 1974:
H.P. WASSON / MONTGOMERY WARD (with Snack Shop, Seasonal Sales Area and attached Auto Center) / J.C. PENNEY (with Snack Bar, Beauty Salon, Lawn & Garden Shop and freestanding Auto Center) / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / KROGER supermarket / Anderson Bank (outparcel) / Breslers 33 Flavors ice cream / Butler Shoes / Christian Book Store / Dutch Mill Candies / French Cafe / Hoyt Wright / Jean Nicole ladies' wear / Jo-Ann Fabrics / Kiddie Kolor / Kinney Shoes / Mayfair Beauty Salon / MCL Cafeteria / M.S. Management / Model Home Store / Mounds Mall Barber Shop / Mounds Cinema (outparcel) / Mounds Mall Cinema I & II (outparcel) / Neumode Hosiery / Party House / Paul Harris ladies' wear / Regal Shoes / Roselyn's Bakery / Roth's ladies' wear / Sears Liquor Store / Smith-Alsop / SupeRx Drugs / Vision Center / Zales Jewelers
We zoom forward in time over 30 years, arriving at the Hoosier State shopping hub of the early 2000s. The mall was given a face lift in 2003-2004, with its name being changed to MOUNDS MALL OF ANDERSON.
Photo from http://www.moundsmallanderson.com
In a circa-2004 layout, we see that Sears has assumed a vacant Ward's space (1983). Wasson's morphed into Meis (1981) and Elder-Beerman (1989). Renovations done in 1986 are shown in dark gray, with those completed in 2004 being indicated in light gray. As part of this remodeling, a vacant J.C. Penney was razed and replaced with a 10-screen multiplex.
In a 2010s interior view, we see the Nirvana shop, which is a ladies' wear retailer. In the '60s mall, the store space was occupied by Paul Harris, who also sold women's apparel.
Photo from https://www.flickr.com / "Gameking3"
Over the years, three different movie theaters have operated in -or around- MOUNDS MALL. The first two were freestanding venues. They opened for business in 1970 and 1974. The Mounds 10, an in-mall megaplex, is seen above. It opened in 2004.
Photo from https://www.flickr.com / "Gameking3"
Opened, in late 1964, as an Indy-based Wasson's, the mall's northeast anchor store went through two nameplate changes before re-opening under a Carson's brand. This store, and the shopping concourse, were shuttered in April 2018.
Photo from https://www.flickr.com / "Gameking3"
MOUNDS MALL
South Scatterfield and Mounds Roads
Anderson, Indiana
Indiana's Melvin Simon & Associates built their first mall-type shopping center in Fort Collins, Colorado. Originally known as UNIVERSITY PLAZA, the partially-enclosed complex was officially dedicated in November 1964. Simon chose Bloomington, a satellite city of Indianapolis, as the site for their second covered shopping center. COLLEGE MALL was dedicated in March 1965.
Simon's third shopping mall was developed in Anderson, another Indianapolis satellite. Ground was broken on December 30, 1963 for the "Mall Shopping Center." This was being developed on a 32-acre tract, formerly a landfill, that was located 2.5 miles southeast of downtown Anderson. The land beneath the mall-to-be was owned by the Cook Family (of Anderson) and was leased to Melvin Simon & Associates.
By May 1964, the name of the prospective shopping hub had been changed to MOUNDS MALL. The single-level complex would be anchored by a 2-level (87,000 square foot) Montgomery Ward and 1-level (53,000 square foot), Indianapolis-based H.P. Wasson. These stores held grand openings on November 12, 1964. Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Frank Allis (Mayor of Anderson), Louis C. Wolf (President of the H.P. Wasson Company) and Richard D. McCloskey (Manager of Montgomery Ward Mounds Mall).
A (15,600 square foot) Kroger supermarket was dedicated in March 1965, with an (18,000 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 making its debut in April. A mall-wide grand opening, with twenty-three participating stores, was held on May 1, 1965.
Charter MOUNDS MALL tenants included Hoyt Wright & Company, Paul Harris ladies' wear, Roselyn's Bakery, Zale's Jewelers, SupeRx Drugs, and an MCL Cafeteria. The primary feature of the original mall was a large, Center Court Sunken Garden. An elevated stage provided a venue for fashion shows, concerts and other public events.
A 2-level (134,000 square foot) J.C. Penney opened on January 2, 1969. The Cinecom Theatres Mounds Cinema showed a first feature on December 25, 1970. The venue was a southwestern outparcel of the mall. It was eventually expanded into a two-screen -and then four-screen- facility. The mall's second movie house was built south of the mall proper. The General Cinema Corporation Mounds Mall Cinema I & II debuted on August 16, 1974.
MOUNDS MALL had no major rival, as it was the only mall-type center in -or around- Anderson. Moreover, the malls nearest to it, MUNCIE MALL (1970) {in Muncie} and Indianapolis' CASTLETON SQUARE (1972), were also Simon-owned.
Anchor store rebrandings at MOUNDS MALL were many. Montgomery Ward closed and was replaced by Sears in 1983. H.P. Wasson went dark in January 1981 and re-opened, as a Terra Haute-based Meis, in August of the same year. The store became a Dayton-based Elder-Beerman on August 13, 1989.
The mall was given a major overhaul in 1986, when the Sunken Garden was torn out and replaced by a Food Court. In the mid-1990s, Sears expanded their store space. A small addition was built onto the southwest corner, with the interior being renovated. When the remodeled Sears was rededicated in October 1995, it encompassed around 109,100 square feet.
J.C. Penney was shuttered on April 28, 2001, with its building being demolished. The Kerasotes Mounds 10 Theatre opened on its space on April 16, 2004. By this time, the mall's Kroger had morphed into an Elder-Beerman Home Store.
MOUNDS MALL was acquired by the Coral Gables, Florida-based Bayview Financial Corporation in January 2003. They initiated a renovation of the 407,400 square foot facility soon after. This included new skylights, signage and an updated Food Court. As part of the renovation, the official name of the complex was changed to MOUNDS MALL OF ANDERSON. The mall structure was sold again in September 2009, with the buyers being a joint venture of the Cook Family and Natalie Campbell.
Anchor store rebrandings continued into the 21st century. The mall's two Elder-Beerman locations were rebannered as Carson's, another operative of York, Pennsylvania-based The Bon Ton Stores, on August 14, 2011.
Sears pulled up stakes on April 29, 2012. The two Carson's stores closed for good on April 1, 2018. Being as how the complex was going to be left with no operational department stores, it was decided to also shutter the shopping hub at this time. Two tenants remained in business; the Mounds 10 Theatre and an optometrist's office. The Mounds 10 shut down in 2019.
Sources:
The Herald Bulletin (Anderson, Indiana)
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
https://tedshideler.com / "Three shuttered cinemas a stone's throw apart" / Ted Shideler / February 2023
http://www.moundsmallanderson.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
http://moundsmall.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
"Mounds Mall" article on Wikipedia
Terre Haute's Honey Creek Square
Three logos that have been used to promote this "Queen City of the Wabash" shopping mall. Dedicated, in 1970, as HONEY CREEK SQUARE, it morphed into HONEY CREEK MALL in 1992. The third trademark, HAUTE ["hote"] CITY CENTER, was officially adopted in 2019.
Graphics from Honey Creek Square, Incorporated , CBL & Associates and Out of the Box Ventures, Limited Liability Company
Graphics from Honey Creek Square, Incorporated , CBL & Associates and Out of the Box Ventures, Limited Liability Company
Stores in HONEY CREEK SQUARE opened for business between October 1968 and August 1970. The initial anchors were Sears and a Terre Haute-based The Root Store (a.k.a. Root Dry Goods). In mid-1971, the dumbell plan complex spanned approximately 448,500 leasable square feet and housed thirty-four stores and services under its roof.
SEARS (with Coffee House and Attached Auto Center) / THE ROOT STORE COMPANY (with Beauty Salon) / G.C. MURPHY 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / GREAT SCOT supermarket (outparcel) / Allied Radio Shack / Andre Duval Beauty Salon / Bacharachs men's wear / Ben Becker Shoes / Breslers 33 Flavors ice cream / Brooks Fashions / Docktor Pet Center / Fannie Mae Candies / GNC / Hallmark Hall of Cards & Gifts / Harem Hosiery / Hillman Jewelers / Honey Creek Square Cinema I & II / Indiana State Bank / Jimmy's Magnavox Color TV & Stereo / Jo-Ann Fabrics / Le Petit Cafe' / Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio / Nobil Shoes / Nuemode Fashions ladies' wear / Orange Julius / Osco Drug / Paul Harris ladies' wear / QualiCraft Shoes / Ragskeller Jeans / Regal Shoes / Relax-n-Trim figure salon / Singer Sewing Center / Smith Alsop Paint & Varnish Company / Stuarts ladies ready-to-wear / The Junction Cheese 'n Things / Waldenbooks
The Root Store Company, based in Terra Haute, anchored the south end of HONEY CREEK SQUARE. The unit, which welcomed first customers in August 1970, covered 173,000 square feet.
Drawing from Mercantile Stores Company, Incorporated Annual Report 1968
A HONEY CREEK SQUARE logo montage is comprised of trademarks of stores that operated in -or around- the mall in the early '70s. The Qualicraft store sold shoes, with Smith Alsop dealing in paint and wallpaper.
Photo from the Estelle Wholesale Company / John V. Pontiere, Junior
During a 1992 redo, mall entrances were rebuilt. Here we see a close-up detail of the main entry, which faces South Honey Creek Drive. As part of the renovation, the official name of the facility was changed to HONEY CREEK MALL.
Photo from www.honeycreekmall.com
Sears was the first operational HONEY CREEK SQUARE store. It anchored the north end of the complex for 50 years.
Photo from https://www.flickr.com / "Gameking3"
A 2010s view of one of the center's three shopping concourses.
Photo from https://www.flickr.com / "Gameking3"
A circa-2015 layout catches us up on various renovations and rebrandings. The early '90s face lift converted a vacant G.C. Murphy into the Food Courtyard (in medium gray). Two anchor stores have been renamed (and were renamed again). Meis became an Elder-Beerman in 1989 and a Carson's in 2011. The Root Store came under the L.S. Ayres brand in 1999. The store morphed into a Macy's in 2006.
The HONEY CREEK Macy's closed for good in March 2018. This was followed by the demise of Carson's in June of the same year. The mall's "anchors away" scenario continued into late 2018, when the shuttering of Sears was announced. This store's closing, in early 2019, left only one operational anchor...J.C. Penney.
Photo from https://www.flickr.com / "Gameking3"
HONEY CREEK SQUARE
South Honey Creek Drive and West Honey Creek Parkway
Vigo County (Terre Haute ["Hoht"]), Indiana
Plans for Terre Haute's first -and only- shopping mall were formally announced in August 1966. A single-level complex was to be built on a 52-acre site, located 2.2 miles south of downtown Terre Haute. At the time, the parcel was within Vigo County's Honey Creek Township.
HONEY CREEK SQUARE was designed by the Ewing Miller & Associates firm of Terra Haute and developed by Evansville's Guthrie May and Donald G. Davis. The original shopping hub encompassed 275,500 leasable square feet and contained thirty-five stores and services.
Anchoring the initial mall was a 1-level (127,000 square foot) Sears. This store's dedication, held on October 16, 1968, was attended by Katherine Virginia Field, "Miss Indiana 1968". Stores in the mall proper opened during 1970. Charter tenants included Hillman Jewelers, Osco Drug, Singer Sewing Center, Bacharach men's wear, Orange Julius and a (32,600 square foot) G.C. Murphy 5 & 10.
The General Cinema Corporation Honey Creek Square Cinema I & II made its debut on July 29, 1970. The venue was reconfigured as the GCC Honey Creek Square Cinema I-II-III in 1977.
A 2-level (173,000 square foot), Terre Haute-based Root Store Company opened, as the center's second anchor, on August 13, 1970. This increased the mall's gross leasable area to approximately 448,500 square feet. On February 8, 1972, a freestanding (33,000 square foot) Great Scot supermarket was dedicated on a pad adjacent to the mall's northeast parking area.
On August 16, 1973, an expansion of HONEY CREEK SQUARE was dedicated. It added a 1-level (69,700 square foot), Terre Haute-based Meis and 20,000 square feet of inline store space. A second mall enlargement, dedicated on August 5, 1981, included a 1-level (95,700 square foot) J.C. Penney and 60,000 square feet of new inline stores. HONEY CREEK SQUARE now spanned approximately 693,900 leasable square feet. The center was annexed into the City of Terre Haute in 1983.
Anchor store rebrandings commenced on August 13, 1989, when Dayton-based Elder-Beerman assumed the mall's Meis location. In August 1998, Fairfield, Ohio-based Mercantile Stores, which owned the two Root Store locations, was acquired by Dillard's. The Little Rock retailer sold the Roots division to May Company, who rebannered the stores under their L.S. Ayres brand. The HONEY CREEK unit was Macy's-branded on September 9, 2006.
Meanwhile, a 5 million dollar mall renovation had been completed in 1992. It converted a vacant G.C. Murphy into the Food Courtyard, an 8-bay culinary complex. The east-facing front of the shopping center rebuilt with an exterior-entranced Streetscape . A new moniker was also bestowed; HONEY CREEK MALL.
The in-mall tri-plex was joined by the Kerasotes Honey Creek West 8 on November 11, 1993. This theater was built as freestanding structure, on a pad northwest of the mall. An additional multiplex was constructed south of the Honey Creek West 8. It opened, as the Kerasotes ShowPlace Terre Haute 12, in the year 2000. The in-mall cinema was then shuttered. The two outparcel multiplexes were rebranded by the AMC chain in 2010.
Chattanooga's CBL & Associates Properties purchased HONEY CREEK MALL in April 2004. 3 years later, they completed a face lift renovation, which brought new flooring, lighting and remodeled restrooms. The complex was rededicated on November 9, 2007. HONEY CREEK MALL now encompassed 676,400 leasable square feet and housed seventy-six store spaces.
Vigo County (Terre Haute ["Hoht"]), Indiana
Plans for Terre Haute's first -and only- shopping mall were formally announced in August 1966. A single-level complex was to be built on a 52-acre site, located 2.2 miles south of downtown Terre Haute. At the time, the parcel was within Vigo County's Honey Creek Township.
HONEY CREEK SQUARE was designed by the Ewing Miller & Associates firm of Terra Haute and developed by Evansville's Guthrie May and Donald G. Davis. The original shopping hub encompassed 275,500 leasable square feet and contained thirty-five stores and services.
Anchoring the initial mall was a 1-level (127,000 square foot) Sears. This store's dedication, held on October 16, 1968, was attended by Katherine Virginia Field, "Miss Indiana 1968". Stores in the mall proper opened during 1970. Charter tenants included Hillman Jewelers, Osco Drug, Singer Sewing Center, Bacharach men's wear, Orange Julius and a (32,600 square foot) G.C. Murphy 5 & 10.
The General Cinema Corporation Honey Creek Square Cinema I & II made its debut on July 29, 1970. The venue was reconfigured as the GCC Honey Creek Square Cinema I-II-III in 1977.
A 2-level (173,000 square foot), Terre Haute-based Root Store Company opened, as the center's second anchor, on August 13, 1970. This increased the mall's gross leasable area to approximately 448,500 square feet. On February 8, 1972, a freestanding (33,000 square foot) Great Scot supermarket was dedicated on a pad adjacent to the mall's northeast parking area.
On August 16, 1973, an expansion of HONEY CREEK SQUARE was dedicated. It added a 1-level (69,700 square foot), Terre Haute-based Meis and 20,000 square feet of inline store space. A second mall enlargement, dedicated on August 5, 1981, included a 1-level (95,700 square foot) J.C. Penney and 60,000 square feet of new inline stores. HONEY CREEK SQUARE now spanned approximately 693,900 leasable square feet. The center was annexed into the City of Terre Haute in 1983.
Anchor store rebrandings commenced on August 13, 1989, when Dayton-based Elder-Beerman assumed the mall's Meis location. In August 1998, Fairfield, Ohio-based Mercantile Stores, which owned the two Root Store locations, was acquired by Dillard's. The Little Rock retailer sold the Roots division to May Company, who rebannered the stores under their L.S. Ayres brand. The HONEY CREEK unit was Macy's-branded on September 9, 2006.
Meanwhile, a 5 million dollar mall renovation had been completed in 1992. It converted a vacant G.C. Murphy into the Food Courtyard, an 8-bay culinary complex. The east-facing front of the shopping center rebuilt with an exterior-entranced Streetscape . A new moniker was also bestowed; HONEY CREEK MALL.
The in-mall tri-plex was joined by the Kerasotes Honey Creek West 8 on November 11, 1993. This theater was built as freestanding structure, on a pad northwest of the mall. An additional multiplex was constructed south of the Honey Creek West 8. It opened, as the Kerasotes ShowPlace Terre Haute 12, in the year 2000. The in-mall cinema was then shuttered. The two outparcel multiplexes were rebranded by the AMC chain in 2010.
Chattanooga's CBL & Associates Properties purchased HONEY CREEK MALL in April 2004. 3 years later, they completed a face lift renovation, which brought new flooring, lighting and remodeled restrooms. The complex was rededicated on November 9, 2007. HONEY CREEK MALL now encompassed 676,400 leasable square feet and housed seventy-six store spaces.
Elder-Beerman morphed into a Carson's on August 14, 2011. Macy's shuttered their store in March 2018, followed by Carson's, who pulled up stakes in June. Sears went dark in January 2019. CBL Properties sold the mall to Miami-based Out of the Box Ventures in May 2019. A formal name change was implemented on December 16, 2019. The shopping hub would be known, henceforth, as HAUTE CITY CENTER.
Sources:
The Terre Haute Tribune
Johnson & Miller Architectural Records / Ball State University
https://www.vigocounty.in.gov / Vigo County, Indiana
The Terre Haute Tribune
Johnson & Miller Architectural Records / Ball State University
https://www.vigocounty.in.gov / Vigo County, Indiana
http://www.honeycreekmall.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
https://www.hautecitycenter.com
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
https://www.hautecitycenter.com
"Haute City Center" article on Wikipedia
Hammond's Woodmar Center
This Hoosier State shopping hub was built in the Woodmar district of Hammond. Construction started on WOODMAR CENTER in December 1953.
Graphic from Landau & Perlman Development
The concave-shaped shopping plaza was designed by renowned mall architect Victor Gruen. It featured a pentagonal Carson Pirie Scot department store at its center point. A National Food supermarket extended from its south end.
Drawing from Victor Gruen Associates
Graphic from Landau & Perlman Development
The concave-shaped shopping plaza was designed by renowned mall architect Victor Gruen. It featured a pentagonal Carson Pirie Scot department store at its center point. A National Food supermarket extended from its south end.
Drawing from Victor Gruen Associates
Photo from http://sheptalk.flicklives.com / The Jean Shepherd Forum
WOODMAR CENTER TENANTS 1955:
CARSON PIRIE SCOTT / J. J. NEWBERRY 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / NATIONAL FOOD STORES supermarket / Andes Candies / Benson-Rixon men's wear / Chapman Launderers & Cleaners / Einhorn’s Town & Country Sportswear / Fabric Fair Draperies & Upholstery / Hansel & Gretel Shop children's wear / Hoosier State Bank of Hammond / Kinney Shoes / Lerner Shops ladies' wear / Maling Shoes / Maternity Modes / Miles Paint & Wallpaper Company / O’Connor & Goldberg Shoes / Powell Bakery / Rothschild ladies' wear / Ritz Millinery / The Cotton Shop ladies' wear / The Fabric Fair / Walgreen Drug / Watland Brothers Camera Shop / Woodmar Grill
In October 1965, work commenced on the first WOODMAR renovation. The complex was enclosed and climate-controlled, with Carson's being expanded and totally refurbished. The new & improved WOODMAR CENTER was unveiled in October 1966.
Advert from Landau & Perlman Development
The next mall remodeling repurposed a newly-vacant J.J. Newberry 5 & 10. A fourteen-shop mall within a mall, known as the Court of Lions, was installed. It was dedicated in September 1975.
Graphic from Landau & Perlman Development
The Court of Lions proved so successful that, when another large store space became vacant, a second mini-mall was created.
Graphic from Landau & Perlman Development
The Court of the Turtles housed eight shops and opened for business in August 1978. It filled space previously leased as a Sterk's Super Foods (nee' National Stores) grocery.
Graphic from Landau & Perlman Development
A 5-bay culinary complex, dubbed Cafe' Woodmar, was built in a small circa-1981 mall addition. The food court featured Schoop's Hamburgers, Pizza Pizzazz, Zante's Deli and Franks & Fries. Vendors opened in December 1986.
Graphic from Landau & Perlman Development
The main retail corridor, showing the rather makeshift mallway that was attached to the open-air strip center in 1966. After several years in decline, WOODMAR MALL was shuttered and demolished in 2006. Its Carson's anchor store was left standing, at least for the time being.
Photo from www.labelscar.com / "Prange Way"
The mall and its 3-level Carson Pirie Scott. The store, which had opened as the Chicago-based chain's second branch, was given a face lift in 1996. It achieved its 60th year in business in November 2014.
Photo from https://malls.fandom.com/wiki / Kim Mason
A rendering of a shopping-center-to-be...that never panned out. A change in ownership of Chicago-based Carson's resulted in construction on a power center project being delayed and finally abandoned. Plans for a new Carson's were scrapped, as well.
Drawing from www.praediumdevelopment.com / Praedium Development
A second rendering depicts what was actually built at the WOODMAR MALL site. The Hammond Sportsplex, an 18 million dollar indoor athletic center, was officially dedicated in late 2018. The Carson's store, seen on the right, closed for good in 2018 and was knocked down in August 2019.
Drawing from http://www.nwitimes.com
WOODMAR CENTER
Indianapolis Boulevard and East 165th Street
Hammond, Indiana
One of the first regional shopping centers in Chicago's Indiana suburbs was designed by Los Angeles' Victor Gruen Associates and Sidney C. Finck. The complex was built by Chicago's Herbert Heyman and Howard Landau.
Situated on 19.7 acres, WOODMAR CENTER was located 1 mile south of downtown Hammond. Ground was broken on December 22, 1953. The shopping complex would be anchored by a 2-level (65,000 square foot), Chicago-based Carson Pirie Scott. The store, which was the chain's second branch and the first Carson's in Indiana, was officially dedicated on November 1, 1954.
Eight inline stores held a collective grand opening on March 30, 1955. Among these were Andes Candies, Kinney Shoes, Chapman Launderers & Cleaners, a (22,000 square foot) J.J. Newberry 5 & 10 and (18,000 square foot) National Food Stores supermarket.
A second grand opening, held on May 19, 1955, introduced nine stores. These included Benson-Rixon men's wear, Fabric Fair Draperies & Upholstery, Miles Paint & Wallpaper Company, Einhorn's Town & Country Sportswear and the Hoosier State Bank of Hammond. When fully-leased, the 3 million dollar WOODMAR CENTER encompassed around 200,000 leasable square feet and housed twenty-six stores and services.
Indianapolis Boulevard and East 165th Street
Hammond, Indiana
One of the first regional shopping centers in Chicago's Indiana suburbs was designed by Los Angeles' Victor Gruen Associates and Sidney C. Finck. The complex was built by Chicago's Herbert Heyman and Howard Landau.
Situated on 19.7 acres, WOODMAR CENTER was located 1 mile south of downtown Hammond. Ground was broken on December 22, 1953. The shopping complex would be anchored by a 2-level (65,000 square foot), Chicago-based Carson Pirie Scott. The store, which was the chain's second branch and the first Carson's in Indiana, was officially dedicated on November 1, 1954.
Eight inline stores held a collective grand opening on March 30, 1955. Among these were Andes Candies, Kinney Shoes, Chapman Launderers & Cleaners, a (22,000 square foot) J.J. Newberry 5 & 10 and (18,000 square foot) National Food Stores supermarket.
A second grand opening, held on May 19, 1955, introduced nine stores. These included Benson-Rixon men's wear, Fabric Fair Draperies & Upholstery, Miles Paint & Wallpaper Company, Einhorn's Town & Country Sportswear and the Hoosier State Bank of Hammond. When fully-leased, the 3 million dollar WOODMAR CENTER encompassed around 200,000 leasable square feet and housed twenty-six stores and services.
The center's first commercial competition came in the mid-1960s. DIXIE SQUARE MALL {9.6 miles northwest, in Harvey, Illinois} held its grand opening in August 1966. RIVER OAKS CENTER {3.6 miles west, in Calumet City, Illinois} was dedicated in the following October.
As a keeping up measure, WOODMAR CENTER embarked on a 1.5 million dollar renovation in late 1965. The open-canopied storefronts had glass-enclosed walkways installed. Moreover, the Carson's store was expanded, to 111,000 square feet, with a connecting mall entrance and third level. It now featured a Beauty Salon and The Heather Room, an upscale restaurant. The temperature-controlled shopping center was re-dedicated on October 24, 1966.
A second mall renovation came about after J.J. Newberry was shuttered, on April 30, 1975. The vacant space was rebuilt into a twelve-store mini-mall, known as the Court of Lions. The "Old World" motif section featured stores such as Rockin' Horse Records, The Gift Box, Just Jeans and The Pastry Kitchen. It was officially dedicated on September 11, 1975.
The supermarket on the south end of WOODMAR CENTER had been rebranded as a Sterk's Super Foods in July 1974. This store went dark in early 1978. Its space was refashioned into a second mini-mall, dubbed The Court of the Turtles. This eight-store section was decorated in a modern motif. Its stores included So-Fro Fabrics, Foxmoor Casuals, Lewin's Dresses & Tresses and the Keepsake Diamond Center. A grand opening celebration commenced on August 10, 1978, with shopping complex now containing forty-eight stores.
An enlargement of WOODMAR had also been proposed. It was re-envisaged as a 3-anchor -750,000 square foot- shopping venue. This expansion was never built. A small-scale enlargement was constructed on the southeast corner of the mall in 1982, which added five inline stores.
This area, and the luncheonette-grill portion of Walgreen Drug, was reconfigured as Cafe' Woodmar. This 5-bay food court featured Schoop's Hamburgers, Pizza Pizazz, Zante's Delicatessen and Franks & Fries. It was completed in December 1986. WOODMAR MALL now encompassed 275,000 leasable square feet and contained fifty-two stores and services.
The location of the mall, in a largely industrial area, eventually contributed to its decline. Moreover, the closing of several steel plants in the vicinity took its toll on the local economy. A new Wal-Mart and supermarket, built on adjoining property west of WOODMAR, was the final nail in the coffin.
By the early 1990s, the shopping hub was virtually vacant. By the end of the decade, its owner was bankrupt. The center was acquired by a Denver-based insurance company, but remained in a downward spiral.
A group of California-based investors bought the past-its-prime property in February 2003, with a redevelopment announced in May. Unfortunately, the project never got off the ground. The twelve remaining tenants complained about the center's leaking roofs, overflowing sewers and pot-holed parking lot. Reputedly, mall management was only around when rents were due.
Northbrook, Illinois-based Praedium Development came on the scene in 2005, with a plan to demolish all of the shopping center, save for Carson's. The plan was to build a new 127,000 square foot strip center and 2-level (100,000 square foot) Carson's. The original Carson's was -then- to be razed. Demolition of the mall structure got underway in February 2006.
One of many snags were encountered in March 2006, when Saks Incorporated sold the Carson's chain to York, Pennsylvania-based The Bon Ton Stores. Eventually, the plan for an all-new Carson's was scrapped; the existing store would not be replaced. However, it would remain open during the mall's demolition.
As a keeping up measure, WOODMAR CENTER embarked on a 1.5 million dollar renovation in late 1965. The open-canopied storefronts had glass-enclosed walkways installed. Moreover, the Carson's store was expanded, to 111,000 square feet, with a connecting mall entrance and third level. It now featured a Beauty Salon and The Heather Room, an upscale restaurant. The temperature-controlled shopping center was re-dedicated on October 24, 1966.
A second mall renovation came about after J.J. Newberry was shuttered, on April 30, 1975. The vacant space was rebuilt into a twelve-store mini-mall, known as the Court of Lions. The "Old World" motif section featured stores such as Rockin' Horse Records, The Gift Box, Just Jeans and The Pastry Kitchen. It was officially dedicated on September 11, 1975.
The supermarket on the south end of WOODMAR CENTER had been rebranded as a Sterk's Super Foods in July 1974. This store went dark in early 1978. Its space was refashioned into a second mini-mall, dubbed The Court of the Turtles. This eight-store section was decorated in a modern motif. Its stores included So-Fro Fabrics, Foxmoor Casuals, Lewin's Dresses & Tresses and the Keepsake Diamond Center. A grand opening celebration commenced on August 10, 1978, with shopping complex now containing forty-eight stores.
An enlargement of WOODMAR had also been proposed. It was re-envisaged as a 3-anchor -750,000 square foot- shopping venue. This expansion was never built. A small-scale enlargement was constructed on the southeast corner of the mall in 1982, which added five inline stores.
This area, and the luncheonette-grill portion of Walgreen Drug, was reconfigured as Cafe' Woodmar. This 5-bay food court featured Schoop's Hamburgers, Pizza Pizazz, Zante's Delicatessen and Franks & Fries. It was completed in December 1986. WOODMAR MALL now encompassed 275,000 leasable square feet and contained fifty-two stores and services.
The location of the mall, in a largely industrial area, eventually contributed to its decline. Moreover, the closing of several steel plants in the vicinity took its toll on the local economy. A new Wal-Mart and supermarket, built on adjoining property west of WOODMAR, was the final nail in the coffin.
By the early 1990s, the shopping hub was virtually vacant. By the end of the decade, its owner was bankrupt. The center was acquired by a Denver-based insurance company, but remained in a downward spiral.
A group of California-based investors bought the past-its-prime property in February 2003, with a redevelopment announced in May. Unfortunately, the project never got off the ground. The twelve remaining tenants complained about the center's leaking roofs, overflowing sewers and pot-holed parking lot. Reputedly, mall management was only around when rents were due.
Northbrook, Illinois-based Praedium Development came on the scene in 2005, with a plan to demolish all of the shopping center, save for Carson's. The plan was to build a new 127,000 square foot strip center and 2-level (100,000 square foot) Carson's. The original Carson's was -then- to be razed. Demolition of the mall structure got underway in February 2006.
One of many snags were encountered in March 2006, when Saks Incorporated sold the Carson's chain to York, Pennsylvania-based The Bon Ton Stores. Eventually, the plan for an all-new Carson's was scrapped; the existing store would not be replaced. However, it would remain open during the mall's demolition.
After several starts and stops, ground was broken for a new WOODMAR CENTER in February 2011. Work ground to a halt a few months later but resumed in October. Two strip-type retail buildings were erected on the north end of the site, with one encompassing 12,000 leasable square feet. The parking lot was also repaved. The first tenant in the new complex, a Subway sandwich shop, opened for business in February 2012.
In June 2016, the City of Hammond announced plans to purchase the mall site and build a 17 million dollar sports complex. This 135,000 square foot facility would house indoor soccer fields, baseball diamonds, volleyball courts, batting cages and a running track.
Ground was broken for the project in August 2017, with its official dedication being held in September 2018. In the previous month, the 63-year-old Carson's store had been shuttered as part of the Bon Ton Stores bankruptcy. The 54-year-old building was knocked down in August 2019.
Sources:
The Times (Munster, Indiana)
"Dual Anchor Shopping Centers 1952-1965" / Richard Longstreth
http://www.labelscar.com
http://www.praediumdevelopment.com / Praedium Development
In June 2016, the City of Hammond announced plans to purchase the mall site and build a 17 million dollar sports complex. This 135,000 square foot facility would house indoor soccer fields, baseball diamonds, volleyball courts, batting cages and a running track.
Ground was broken for the project in August 2017, with its official dedication being held in September 2018. In the previous month, the 63-year-old Carson's store had been shuttered as part of the Bon Ton Stores bankruptcy. The 54-year-old building was knocked down in August 2019.
Sources:
The Times (Munster, Indiana)
"Dual Anchor Shopping Centers 1952-1965" / Richard Longstreth
http://www.geocities.com/Jaloweplays/woodmar.html / John Arthur Lowe
https://engage.xsoftinc.com / Lake County, Indiana
http://www.hammonindiana.comhttp://www.labelscar.com
http://www.praediumdevelopment.com / Praedium Development
Evansville's Washington Square
Everything's coming up roses! We begin our WASHINGTON SQUARE excursion with a vintage logo, which dates to the mall's grand opening in October 1963. The complex is noteworthy as the Hoosier State's very first enclosed shopping center.
Graphic from Erie Investments, Incorporated
Graphic from Erie Investments, Incorporated
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