Graphic from Eastern Shopping Centers, Incorporated
GR-based Wurzburg's opened the mall's first operational store in late 1966. Other charter tenants began business during 1967.
Drawing from the F.W. Wurzburg Company
Showing posts with label Michigan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michigan. Show all posts
A Woolco discount mart anchored the mall's southeast end. The store encompassed 100,000 square feet and included a Red Grille restaurant.
EASTBROOK MALL was formally dedicated in September 1967. By 1968, the fully-enclosed complex covered approximately 664,000 leasable square feet and housed fifty stores and services under its roof. Free parking was provided for 5,400 autos.
Less than a year after EASTBROOK was completed, another major retail hub opened for business right across the avenue. WOODLAND MALL, which covered approximately 750,000 leasable square feet, held its grand opening in March 1968.
Graphic from the Taubman Company
Originally a Hills, this store was added to EASTBROOK MALL in 1986. Hills closed in 1991 and was retenanted by the Menards seen here in the mid-1990s.
Photo from http://www.hillsstores.com (Bob)
Photo from http://www.hillsstores.com (Bob)
CENTERPOINTE MALL TENANTS 2004:
BEST BUY (outparcel) / KLINGMAN'S FURNITURE / MENARDS / NORDSTROM RACK / T.J. MAXX / A Legal Solution / Amerasia / Arbor Mortgage / Arnie's restaurant (outparcel) / Bargain Books / Blazing Buffalo Wings / Blue Pacific Grill / C.J. Banks apparel / Cheri's Bridal Accessories / Christopher & Banks apparel / Chuck E. Cheese's / Corey's Jewel Box / Creative Telecommunications / David's Bridal / DSW - Designer Shoe Warehouse / Deb Shops ladies' wear / Digicom / DTE Gas Company (outparcel) / Dunham's Sporting Goods / Eastbrook Auto Wash (outparcel) / Eastbrook Lanes (outparcel) / Famous Footwear / Fifth Third Bank (outparcel) / Golf Galaxy / Good Grinds / Grand Rapids Brewing Company (outparcel) / Hairem East / Health Coach / Hip Salon / J.C. Rocs books, cards & gifts / Janie's Cookies / Kim's Laundry (outparcel) / Klumpps Leather & Luggage / Krispy Kreme Donus (outparcel) / LDO apparel / Leather Lobby / Linens 'n Things / Men's Wearhouse (outparcel) / Millennium Nails / Nail Pub / Modern Skate Park - Modern Skate & Surf Retail Store / Old Country Buffet / Old Navy apparel / Orbit Room (outparcel) / Party USA / Peacock LTD Extreme Sportswear / Picasso Joe's Cafe / Relcon Apartment Finders / Secretary of State / Steve & Barry's University Sportswear / The Gallery By Artfest / Toys "R" Us (outparcel) / Tuesday Morning (outparcel) / Uccello's Pizza Lounge (outparcel) / US Post Office / Wild Gifts
The Main Entrance was also rebuilt during the 2001-2004 remodeling.
Photo from Lormax Stern Development Company
Ulta Beauty and Five Below lease space in today's power center.
Photo from http://shopsatcenterpoint.com
EASTBROOK MALL
28th Street Southeast and East Beltline Avenue Southeast
Grand Rapids, Michigan
28th Street Southeast and East Beltline Avenue Southeast
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids' first fully-enclosed shopping center, ROGERS PLAZA, opened for business in March 1961. Two years later, BRETON VILLAGE CENTER was completed. In September 1965, ground was broken at a 67-acre site, located 5.2 miles southeast of the center city. A prospective retail facility was tentatively known as EAST BELTLINE CENTER. A renaming contest was held in mid-1966, with EASTBROOK MALL chosen as the new moniker.
EASTBROOK was designed by the firm of Hornbach, Steenwyck & Thrall, of Grand Rapids. It was developed by Eastern Shopping Centers, Incorporated of Yonkers, New York. When fully-realized, the complex would encompass approximately 664,000 leasable square feet.
A 2-level (160,000 square foot), Grand Rapid's-based Wurzburg's opened, as the first operational EASTBROOK store, on November 17, 1966. Steketee's, another Grand Rapids-based chain, welcomed first shoppers on July 13, 1967. A 1-level (100,000 square foot) Woolco discount mart debuted, as part of the mall's official dedication, on September 27, 1967.
The dedication ceremony was attended by US Congressman -and eventual US President- Gerald Rudolph Ford (R). Twenty stores and services were in business, out of an eventual fifty. Charter EASTBROOK tenants included Gantos ladies' wear, Winkelman's ladies wear, Regal Shoes, Fox Jewelers a Schensul's Cafeteria and J.G. McCrory 5 & 10.
A Convenience Center in the northwest parking area housed a (17,000 square foot) Eberhard's supermarket and Butterfield Theatres Eastbrook Theatre. This venue showed a first feature on August 25, 1967. It was divided into the Eastbook Twin in the early '80s and was shuttered on August 19, 1987.
Retail competitors of EASTBROOK MALL included the aforementioned ROGERS PLAZA {5.1 miles west, in Wyoming} and BRETON VILLAGE CENTER {1 mile west, in Grand Rapids}. In 1968, WOODLAND MALL {.3 mile west, in Kentwood} was completed.
The first anchor store rebranding at EASTBROOK involved Wurzburg's, which closed and re-opened, as a Grand Rapids-based Klingman's Furniture, in 1979. Woolco's January 1983 demise created a vacant space that was divided by three. The largest section became a (62,500 square foot) Burlington Coat Factory. There was also a (20,300 square foot) F & M Distributors and (12,000 square foot) Show Biz Pizza Place.
The first expansion of EASTBROOK MALL was completed in 1986. The project added a 1-level (81,200 square foot), Canton, Massachusetts-based Hills discount mart and eight inline stores. The complex now spanned approximately 764,300 leasable square feet and contained fifty-eight stores and services.
Hills shut down in 1991 and was followed by an Eau Claire, Wisconsin-based Menards home improvement center in 1995. Show Biz Pizza had morphed into a Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theater in 1984 and came under the Chuck E. Cheese's banner in 1992. F & M Distributors closed in 1998 and re-opened as a short-lived MC Sports outlet.
By this time, EASTBROOK MALL was in decline. In June of the year 2000, the complex was acquired by a joint venture of West Bloomfield, Michigan-based Lormax Stern Development, FH Management and Southfield, Michigan-based Ariel Enterprises.
Steketee's was shuttered on January 14, 2001. The empty store was gutted and rebuilt as an extended north-south mallway flanked by five new tenant spaces and two exterior entries. A 1-level (36,900 square foot), Seattle-based Nordstrom Rack was constructed north of this rebuilt section. It debuted on October 25, 2001.
Meanwhile, the name of the complex had been changed to CENTERPOINTE MALL in August 2001. A 70 million dollar reworking of the shopping complex got underway. Various inline tenants were relocated with vacated store area expanded into larger, big box spaces. Courts and concourses were refurbished with new flooring, landscaping and skylights. Likewise, the exterior was given a complete makeover and the parking lot repaved.
Meanwhile, the name of the complex had been changed to CENTERPOINTE MALL in August 2001. A 70 million dollar reworking of the shopping complex got underway. Various inline tenants were relocated with vacated store area expanded into larger, big box spaces. Courts and concourses were refurbished with new flooring, landscaping and skylights. Likewise, the exterior was given a complete makeover and the parking lot repaved.
Existing tenants, such as Menards, T.J. Maxx, Famous Footwear, Old Country Buffet and Golf Galaxy, were joined by Linens 'n Things (August 2001) and Steve & Barry's University Sportswear (October 2001).
The revitalized CENTERPOINTE MALL was officially dedicated during a three-day celebration that got underway on October 25, 2002. New stores continued to open, such as DSW (March 2004), Old Navy (June 2004), Dunham's Sports (August 2004) and Lane Bryant (September 2004). The shopping facility, including its outparcels, now spanned approximately 915,000 leasable square feet.
The revitalized CENTERPOINTE MALL was officially dedicated during a three-day celebration that got underway on October 25, 2002. New stores continued to open, such as DSW (March 2004), Old Navy (June 2004), Dunham's Sports (August 2004) and Lane Bryant (September 2004). The shopping facility, including its outparcels, now spanned approximately 915,000 leasable square feet.
By the 2010s, the CENTERPOINTE property was in decline. Its recent reinvention had not brought a retail resurgence. The mall could no longer compete with WOODLAND MALL and RIVERTOWN CROSSINGS (1999) {9 miles southwest, in Grandville}.
In 2007, a demalling plan was announced. CENTERPOINTE would be reconfigured as an open-air complex. The Great Recession slammed the brakes on any such redevelopment. The economic doldrums also resulted in the demise of the Linens 'n Things and Steve & Barry's chains. Their respective CENTERPOINTE stores were replaced by a Jo-Ann Fabrics Superstore (November 2008) and Below Wholesale (February 2009). Klingman's Furniture had vacated their spot in May 2008.
In 2007, a demalling plan was announced. CENTERPOINTE would be reconfigured as an open-air complex. The Great Recession slammed the brakes on any such redevelopment. The economic doldrums also resulted in the demise of the Linens 'n Things and Steve & Barry's chains. Their respective CENTERPOINTE stores were replaced by a Jo-Ann Fabrics Superstore (November 2008) and Below Wholesale (February 2009). Klingman's Furniture had vacated their spot in May 2008.
There were now thirty-seven stores in operation, out of fifty-eight spaces. The demalling plan first proposed in 2007 gained momentum. In October 2011, Lormax Stern announced that demolition of 350,000 square feet of the existing structure would soon get underway. The enclosed shopping concourse, two south store blocks, and Wurzburg's building would be torn down.
Phase One of the demalling began with demolition of old Wurzburg's structure, in March 2012. It was replaced by a two-unit building housing a (52,000 square foot) T.J. Maxx-HomeGoods. These opened on March 3, 2013. A second newly-built structure was occupied by a downsized (10,000 square foot) David's Bridal.
Phase Two of the reconstruction was underway by late 2012. Retail space remaining from the enclosed mall was reconfigured and retenanted by stores such as Ulta Beauty, Five Below, World Market and Dress Barn. DSW and Men's Wearhouse moved to new buildings. Four freestanding structures were also built in the south parking area.
Phase One of the demalling began with demolition of old Wurzburg's structure, in March 2012. It was replaced by a two-unit building housing a (52,000 square foot) T.J. Maxx-HomeGoods. These opened on March 3, 2013. A second newly-built structure was occupied by a downsized (10,000 square foot) David's Bridal.
Phase Two of the reconstruction was underway by late 2012. Retail space remaining from the enclosed mall was reconfigured and retenanted by stores such as Ulta Beauty, Five Below, World Market and Dress Barn. DSW and Men's Wearhouse moved to new buildings. Four freestanding structures were also built in the south parking area.
Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy, Dunham's Sports, Jo-Ann Fabrics and Golf Galaxy remained in place. Menard's, a tenant since the mid-1990s, closed for good on March 29, 2013. A (38,400 square foot) Planet Fitness assumed a portion of the vacant space. The renovation of the shopping hub was completed in late 2013. SHOPS AT CENTERPOINT now encompassed approximately 575,000 leasable square feet and housed over twenty-two stores and services.
Sources:
The Grand Rapids Press
Sources:
The Grand Rapids Press
Cadence (East Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Suburban Life (Kent County, Michigan)
The Grand Valley Ledger (Lowell, Michigan)
Grand Union Company Annual Report 1966
http://www.grbj.com / Grand Rapids Business Journal
http://www.centerpointemall.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.cinematour.com
https://www.shopsatcenterpoint.com
"Centerpointe Mall" article on Wikipedia
http://www.grbj.com / Grand Rapids Business Journal
http://www.centerpointemall.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.cinematour.com
https://www.shopsatcenterpoint.com
"Centerpointe Mall" article on Wikipedia
A map showing the locations of Greater Detroit's directionally-designated shopping malls. Three were originally planned. NORTHLAND {in Southfield} opened in March 1954. EASTLAND {in Harper Woods} was dedicated in August 1957. WESTLAND {in Westland} joined the fold in July 1965. A fourth mall -SOUTHLAND {in Taylor}- opened in July 1970.
The first of four SOUTHLAND plans depicts the mall of late 1970. At this time, the fully-enclosed complex was a single-level structure of sixty-five stores and around 535,500 leasable square feet. There was a sole anchor department store; Detroit's venerable J.L. Hudson.
SOUTHLAND CENTER TENANTS 1970:
HUDSON'S (with Budget Store, Coiffures Americana Beauty & Wig Salon, Pharmacy & Southland Restaurant) / KROGER supermarket / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / Albert's / Artiste Beauty Salon / Athlete's Foot / Baker's Shoes / Big Boy restaurant / Dr. Bordand, Optometrist / Brenda R. Studio / Candy World / Chess King / Circus World / Corey's Jewel Box / Detroit Bank & Trust / Elliott Travel Service / Fanny Farmer Candies / Flagg Brothers Shoes / Foxmoor Casuals / Franklin Simon / L.G. Haig Shoes / Bamby's Barber Shop / Hartman's / Homemaker Shop / Hot Sam Pretzels / Hudson's Juice Bar / Hugh Jarvis Gifts / Hughes Hatcher Suffrin / Jo-Ann Fabrics / Kinney Shoes / Lady Orva Hosiery / Land of Hi-Fi / Lane Bryant / Marianne Shops / Meyer Jewelry / Phillip's Shoes / Plum Tree / Petal Pusher / Ray's Prime Meats / Richman Brothers / Sallan Jewelers / Sander's / Schiller Millinery / Singer Sewing Center / Sonny's Hair Stylist / Southland 1 & 2 Theatres / Southland Coney Island / Suzy Shop / Tell Time Shop / T.H.E. Service Center / Thom McAn Shoes / Tie Rak / United Shirt / US Post Office / Van Horne's / Winkelman's ladies' wear / Wurlitzer Store
The Southland Theatres 1 & 2 was the first cinematic venue to operate at the SOUTHLAND mall. The twin venue showed first features in October 1970.
Advert from Suburban Detroit Theatres
The third expansion of the mall -completed in November 1992- added the Picnic In The Garden food court to the south-facing facade. The 12-bay culinary complex featured an 85-foot-high quadrangular skylight. The completion of the Picnic facility expanded the gross leasable area of SOUTHLAND CENTER to approximately 1,053,000 square feet.
Photo from www.bing.com
Alas, Picnic In The Garden had become passe' by 2005. It was gutted, partially demolished and expanded southward into a new Best Buy. The towering skylight became part of the new store.
Photo from Wikipedia / "BooBooBay1"
The Cinemark Southland Center & XD made its debut in April 2016. The state-of-the-art 12-screen venue followed a 4-screen multiplex, which closed in 1999.
Photo from https://brookfieldpropertiesretail.propertycapsule.com / Brookfield Properties
Photo from https://brookfieldpropertiesretail.propertycapsule.com / Brookfield Properties
SOUTHLAND CENTER
Eureka and Pardee Roads
Taylor, Michigan
Greater Detroit's fourth -and final- directional shopping mall was built on a 67.9-acre site, located 13 miles southwest of Detroit's Central Business District. When planning got underway for SOUTHLAND CENTER in the mid-1960s, its site was located in an unincorporated section of Wayne County known as Taylor Township. The City of Taylor, which took in the SOUTHLAND site, came into being in May 1968.
Like its three sibling centers, SOUTHLAND was developed by the J.L. Hudson Company, under the auspices of Shopping Centers, Incorporated. The mall was designed by Los Angeles' Victor Gruen Associates and Southfield, Michigan's Louis G. Redstone Associates.
Encompassing approximately 535,500 leasable square feet and sixty-five stores and services, the fully-enclosed facility was officially dedicated on July 20, 1970. Like the original NORTHLAND, EASTLAND and WESTLAND malls, it was initially a single-anchor complex.
The SOUTHLAND mall was situated around a 3-level (247,200 square foot), Detroit-based Hudson's. There were also a single-level (35,000 square foot) Hudson's Budget Store, (33,900 square foot) Kroger supermarket and (34,400 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10. At the north end of the East Court was a water wall fountain and stage. In the main shopping concourse, connecting the East and West Courts, was a large bird aviary.
Charter tenants included Chess King, Foxmoor Casuals, Hot Sam Pretzels, Land of Hi-Fi, Singer Sewing Center and Winkelman's ladies' wear. The Suburban Detroit Theatres Southland 1 & 2 debuted on October 8, 1970. The venue was reconfigured as the Southland 4, which opened on December 16, 1983.
The first expansion of the mall was completed in the mid-1970s. It added a 2-level (215,000 square foot) J.C. Penney, dedicated on October 6, 1976, and an East Wing of twenty-five stores. SOUTHLAND CENTER now encompassed approximately 929,100 leasable square feet and contained eighty-three stores and services.
A 1-level (75,000 square foot) Mervyn's opened its doors on August 12, 1988. As part of a 4 million dollar renovation, the West Wing concourse was reconfigured to accommodate the new Mervyn's. New skylights and signage were installed and all mall entrances rebuilt. The original fountain wall and bird aviary were removed.
There were -and are- three primary SOUTHLAND competitors in Greater Detroit's "Downriver" area. The first was a medium-sized strip complex known as SOUTHGATE CENTER (1958) {3.1 miles east, in Southgate}. Next was FAIRLANE TOWN CENTER (1976) {8 miles northeast, in Dearborn}. Lastly, there was FRENCHTOWN SQUARE MALL (1988) {17.9 miles southwest, in Monroe County}, which was renamed MALL OF MONROE in 2009.
The first anchor rebranding at SOUTHLAND took place in August 2001, when the Hudson's nameplate was replaced with a Marshall Field's brand. In 2004, Chicago's General Growth Properties acquired the assets of The Rouse Company, making SOUTHLAND CENTER a GGP holding.
The year 2006 brought major changes. Picnic In The Garden closed in January, with five fast food outlets relocating within the mall. The vacant food court was gutted and expanded into a 1-level (45,000 square foot) Best Buy, which opened for business in late 2006. Mervyn's shut down in February. The Marshall Field's name was retired, and replaced with a Macy's brand, in September.
Meanwhile, the Southland 4 cinema had closed for good in January 1999. In August 2000, its space became a (22,500 square foot) Borders Books. This was shuttered in September 2011, with a relocated Forever 21 moving into the space in the spring of 2013.
General Growth Properties created Rouse Properties, a spin-off Real Estate Investment Trust for "Grade B" malls, in January 2012. SOUTHLAND CENTER became a Rouse Properties holding at this time. The portfolio of thirty-five shopping centers was sold in July 2016, with the buyer being an affiliate of Toronto's Brookfield Asset Management.
Meanwhile, Rouse Properties had embarked on a 60 million dollar renovation of SOUTHLAND CENTER in the summer of 2014. The vacant Mervyn's was demolished. It was replaced by the state-of-the-art Cinemark Southland Center & XD. The 12-screen multiplex showed its first features on April 21, 2016.
An outdoor plaza, with two sit-down restaurants, was installed adjacent to Forever 21, in the southwest corner of the mall. A Primanti Brothers sandwich shop welcomed its first diners on August 2, 2016. Grimaldi's Coal Brick Oven Pizzeria debuted on April 24, 2017. With these modifications, the shopping hub housed approximately 920,000 leasable square feet and eighty tenant spaces.
Sources:
The Detroit Free Press
http://motor-city-retail-history.blogspot.com / "Matt Burb"
https://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
Eureka and Pardee Roads
Taylor, Michigan
Greater Detroit's fourth -and final- directional shopping mall was built on a 67.9-acre site, located 13 miles southwest of Detroit's Central Business District. When planning got underway for SOUTHLAND CENTER in the mid-1960s, its site was located in an unincorporated section of Wayne County known as Taylor Township. The City of Taylor, which took in the SOUTHLAND site, came into being in May 1968.
Like its three sibling centers, SOUTHLAND was developed by the J.L. Hudson Company, under the auspices of Shopping Centers, Incorporated. The mall was designed by Los Angeles' Victor Gruen Associates and Southfield, Michigan's Louis G. Redstone Associates.
Encompassing approximately 535,500 leasable square feet and sixty-five stores and services, the fully-enclosed facility was officially dedicated on July 20, 1970. Like the original NORTHLAND, EASTLAND and WESTLAND malls, it was initially a single-anchor complex.
The SOUTHLAND mall was situated around a 3-level (247,200 square foot), Detroit-based Hudson's. There were also a single-level (35,000 square foot) Hudson's Budget Store, (33,900 square foot) Kroger supermarket and (34,400 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10. At the north end of the East Court was a water wall fountain and stage. In the main shopping concourse, connecting the East and West Courts, was a large bird aviary.
Charter tenants included Chess King, Foxmoor Casuals, Hot Sam Pretzels, Land of Hi-Fi, Singer Sewing Center and Winkelman's ladies' wear. The Suburban Detroit Theatres Southland 1 & 2 debuted on October 8, 1970. The venue was reconfigured as the Southland 4, which opened on December 16, 1983.
The first expansion of the mall was completed in the mid-1970s. It added a 2-level (215,000 square foot) J.C. Penney, dedicated on October 6, 1976, and an East Wing of twenty-five stores. SOUTHLAND CENTER now encompassed approximately 929,100 leasable square feet and contained eighty-three stores and services.
A 1-level (75,000 square foot) Mervyn's opened its doors on August 12, 1988. As part of a 4 million dollar renovation, the West Wing concourse was reconfigured to accommodate the new Mervyn's. New skylights and signage were installed and all mall entrances rebuilt. The original fountain wall and bird aviary were removed.
The gross leasable area of SOUTHLAND CENTER had been expanded to approximately 1,001,000 square feet. In 1989, the mall was acquired by Maryland's Rouse Company. They hired New Mexico's Reginald Wade Richey to design a culinary complex to be added to the south facade. Plans were announced in September 1991. The 12-bay Picnic In The Garden was dedicated on November 19, 1992. Its vendors included McDonald's, Sbarro the Italian Eatery and Taco Bell.
There were -and are- three primary SOUTHLAND competitors in Greater Detroit's "Downriver" area. The first was a medium-sized strip complex known as SOUTHGATE CENTER (1958) {3.1 miles east, in Southgate}. Next was FAIRLANE TOWN CENTER (1976) {8 miles northeast, in Dearborn}. Lastly, there was FRENCHTOWN SQUARE MALL (1988) {17.9 miles southwest, in Monroe County}, which was renamed MALL OF MONROE in 2009.
The first anchor rebranding at SOUTHLAND took place in August 2001, when the Hudson's nameplate was replaced with a Marshall Field's brand. In 2004, Chicago's General Growth Properties acquired the assets of The Rouse Company, making SOUTHLAND CENTER a GGP holding.
The year 2006 brought major changes. Picnic In The Garden closed in January, with five fast food outlets relocating within the mall. The vacant food court was gutted and expanded into a 1-level (45,000 square foot) Best Buy, which opened for business in late 2006. Mervyn's shut down in February. The Marshall Field's name was retired, and replaced with a Macy's brand, in September.
Meanwhile, the Southland 4 cinema had closed for good in January 1999. In August 2000, its space became a (22,500 square foot) Borders Books. This was shuttered in September 2011, with a relocated Forever 21 moving into the space in the spring of 2013.
General Growth Properties created Rouse Properties, a spin-off Real Estate Investment Trust for "Grade B" malls, in January 2012. SOUTHLAND CENTER became a Rouse Properties holding at this time. The portfolio of thirty-five shopping centers was sold in July 2016, with the buyer being an affiliate of Toronto's Brookfield Asset Management.
Meanwhile, Rouse Properties had embarked on a 60 million dollar renovation of SOUTHLAND CENTER in the summer of 2014. The vacant Mervyn's was demolished. It was replaced by the state-of-the-art Cinemark Southland Center & XD. The 12-screen multiplex showed its first features on April 21, 2016.
An outdoor plaza, with two sit-down restaurants, was installed adjacent to Forever 21, in the southwest corner of the mall. A Primanti Brothers sandwich shop welcomed its first diners on August 2, 2016. Grimaldi's Coal Brick Oven Pizzeria debuted on April 24, 2017. With these modifications, the shopping hub housed approximately 920,000 leasable square feet and eighty tenant spaces.
Sources:
The Detroit Free Press
http://motor-city-retail-history.blogspot.com / "Matt Burb"
http://www.therousecompany.com (Website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
https://www.flickr.com / "Downriver Things" Photostream
http://www.detroityes.comhttps://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
https://brookfieldproperties.com / Brookfield Properties
"Southland Center" article on Wikipedia
An ad announces the official grand opening of Sears, which took place in November 1954. The freestanding store was a "shadow anchor" of the adjacent shopping center. Reading along, one can pick up on the glowing hyperbole that was often used to promote new retail complexes and stores in this era. Potential patrons were promised "The greatest shopping thrill in years!"
Advert from Sears, Roebuck & Company
A view of the south parking area at FRANDOR CENTER. The lot could accommodate over 3,000 autos at one time.
Photo from Frandor Shopping Center-Market Report / Merchandising Service Department / The State Journal / Lansing, MI 1957
The original Capital City shopopolis, circa-1956. It was a simple strip center, with a small, open-air Mall Court in the middle. In its early days, FRANDOR included a putt-putt golf course and kiddie ride amusement area.
FRANDOR CENTER TENANTS 1956:
SEARS (with attached Auto Center) / FEDERAL / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / S.S. KRESGE 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / KROGER supermarket / WRIGLEYS supermarket / A.S. Beck Shoes / B.J.'s / Chicken Shack / Cunningham Drug (with luncheonette) / Crystal Barber Shop / Dutch Mill Bakery / Erin Paint Stores / Fanny Farmer Candies / Flash Cleaners / Fox Hole PX military surplus store / Green's Apparel / Grinnell's Music / Harryman's Shoes / Holden-Reid Clothiers For Men & Boys / Howard Johnson's restaurant (outparcel) / Kiddieland (outparcel) / Kinney Shoes / Lansing Cotton Shop ladies' wear / Thom McAn Shoes / Michigan National Bank (outparcel) / Peter Pan Snack Shop / Rental Freezer, Incorporated / Riker's Cleaners / Sew 'N Save Shop / Spartan Carpet Company / Three Sisters ladies' wear / United Shirt / Van Horn's men's wear / Ziegler's Charcoal House restaurant
ON THE MALL COURT:
Brothers Delicatessen / Doctor Harold Shnider, Optometrist / Gilbert's Chocolate Shop / Linn's Camera Shop / Modern Youth Shoes / National Finance Company / Pino's Music Shop / Ring Clear hosiery & accessories shop / Tie Rak / Thompson's Jewelry Company / TV Engineer's television repair
IN THE CONCOURSE:
Doctor Dennis Day, Optometrist / Dohm Barber Shop / Frandor Beauty Shop
An early '60s view of the open-air Mall Court at the center of the CENTER
Photo from Colourpicture Publishers, Incorporated
Kroger moved into its second FRANDOR location in March 1962. The store, ultra-modern in every way, featured a door-less, "air curtain" entry.
Drawing from The Kroger Company
A FRANDOR logo montage is composed of trademarks of stores that were operating in the shopping center in 1970.
Here, we see the West Mall of the demalled FRANDOR. Kroger occupies space which originally housed the Federal department store.
Photo from http://www.corrcommercial.com / Corr Commercial Real Estate, Incorporated
Jo-Ann Fabrics became a FRANDOR tenant in June 1974. The original store took the place of the S. S. Kresge 5 & dime. A new Jo-Ann location (seen here) was established after Office Depot shut down in early 2001.
Photo from www.loopnet.com
An early 2000s view of the East Mall store strip.
Photo from Wikipedia / "DJ1997"
Kirkland's, a home decor store, set up shop at FRANDOR CENTER in September 2015.
Photo from www.shopfrandor.com
T.J. Maxx was added to the store directory in October of 2015.
Photo from www.loopnet.com
Ulta Beauty welcomed its first FRANDOR shoppers in September 2017.
Photo from www.loopnet.com
FRANDOR CENTER
North Clippert and East Saginaw Streets
Ingham County (Lansing), Michigan
Greater Detroit's NORTHLAND CENTER opened -in March 1954- as the first regional shopping center in Michigan. The Wolverine State's second regional retail complex was built on a 55-acre site. This was located 2.3 miles east of the Michigan State House, in an unincorporated section of Ingham County. The mall site, which had contained the 9-hole Glenmoor Golf Course, was eventually annexed into the city of Lansing.
FRANDOR CENTER was developed by Lansing's Francis "Jake" Corr, Junior. Its name was an amalgamation of FRANcis and his wife DORothy. The complex consisted of the East Mall (a linear strip center), the open-air Mall Court (at the center of the CENTER), and a basement level Concourse. This housed a barber shop, beauty salon, dental practice and public restrooms.
A (19,200 square foot) Kroger supermarket became the first operational FRANDOR store, on November 2, 1954. A (9,600 square foot) F.W. Woolworth debuted on November 4th. A 1-level (175,200 square foot) Sears welcomed first shoppers on November 18th. This store was a freestanding structure -not technically part of the shopping hub- and served as its "shadow anchor."
Store inaugurations continued into 1955. A 2-level (19,600 square foot) Wrigleys Super Market began business on March 29th. A 1-level (75,000 square foot) Federal department store was officially dedicated on March 30th, 1955. It was the twenty-first location in the Dearborn-based chain. A 2-level (14,000 square foot) S.S. Kresge 5 & 10 opened on the same day.
When fully-realized, the 14 million dollar FRANDOR CENTER encompassed approximately 500,000 leasable square feet, with a tenant list of fifty stores and services. These included Tie Rak, Three Sisters ladies' wear, Grinnell's Music, Green's Apparel, Holden-Reid Clothiers For Men & Boys, Peter Pan Snack Shop and a Michigan National Bank.
Kiddieland, a children's amusement area, featured several "mini" rides, including a ferris wheel, roller coaster, airplanes, merry-go-round and Turnpike. Terrace Putt-Putt Golf was situated on the northwest corner of the mall superblock.
The National General Corporation Spartan Twin Theatre showed first features on October 11, 1967. The venue was built on the Terrace Putt-Putt Golf site. It re-opened, as the Mann Theatres Spartan 3 Theatre, on October 20, 1978 and was permanently shuttered in February 1994. Kiddie Land was dismantled in 1981.
Kroger moved out of the East Mall, into a freestanding (24,700 square foot) store, on March 26, 1962. Soon after, FRANDOR CENTER faced two major competitors; LANSING MALL {6 miles west, in Eaton County} and MERIDIAN MALL {4.3 miles southeast, in Ingham County}. Both complexes opened for business during 1969.
As a keeping up measure, a plan to enclose the FRANDOR East Mall was drawn up. First announced in November 1970, the 250,000 dollar project would not be completed until November 1972. An enclosed concourse was built, which was 20 feet wide and 900 feet long. It was floored with carpet and polished concrete. The Mall Court -at the center of the center- remained open-air. It was enclosed, with a skylight roof, and re-dedicated in May 1977.
In spite of these improvements, FRANDOR lost its prominence as the area's foremost shopping complex. By the mid-1990s, it had become a dilapidated eyesore. A redevelopment project was initiated by a joint venture of the original developer, Lansing's Frandorson Properties, and Farmington Hills, Michigan-based Lormax Stern and First Chicago NBD Real Estate Services.
Demolition commenced in March 1998. The Mall Court was razed, along with the enclosed concourse. The old twin cinema building was also knocked down. Construction was underway by June 1998. The remaining East Mall structure was returned to its original, open-air format, with new Post Modern storefronts installed. A power center was created which surrounded a central parking area.
Four big-box stores were added north and south of the existing Kroger. These were a (30,000 square foot) Office Depot, (33,000 square foot) Linens 'n Things, (18,500 square foot) Cost Plus World Market and (27,600 square foot) CompUSA. Office Depot became the first to open, on June 7, 1999. CompUSA became the last, on August 19th. FRANDOR CENTER now spanned approximately 435,000 leasable square feet and housed fifty-eight stores and services. A formal grand opening was held on September 16, 1999.
Linen's 'n Things went out of business in late 2008. Its FRANDOR space, vacant for over 4 years, was assumed by Guitar Center, which opened on February 7, 2013. CompUSA also went bust in 2008. Its space was taken by A.J. Wright discount apparel in April 2010. This store was short-lived and was shuttered in February 2011. It was followed by HomeGoods, which debuted in March of the same year.
Sears, a "shadow anchor" of FRANDOR CENTER for over sixty-five years, closed for good in February 2020. The building had been acquired by Lansing's Gillespie Group in 2007. In August 2022, they announced plans to repurpose the vacant structure as RoeCo, a "regional mixed-use entertainment destination."
Sources:
The Lansing State Journal
https://www.lostlansing.com
https://www.waterwinterwonderland.com
https://www.shopfrandor.com
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
Sources:
The Lansing State Journal
https://www.lostlansing.com
https://www.waterwinterwonderland.com
https://www.shopfrandor.com
https://www.cinematreasures.org
https://www.movie-theatre.org / Mike Rivest
https://www.allbusiness.com
https://www.wlns.com
https://rejournals.com
https://www.gillespie-group.com / Gillespie Group
Detroit's Wonderland Center
The original logo for Greater Detroit's WONDERLAND CENTER. The rooster was a component of the shopping center's "animal designated" parking lots. As with SOUTHDALE CENTER, in Minnesota, the parking areas of WONDERLAND were indicated by animal names and signage.
Graphic from Wonderland Shopping Center, Incorporated
WONDERLAND CENTER was built on the site of a municipal airport. The mall featured a system of maintenance tunnels that served the two north store blocks. The parking area provided for-free spaces for over 3,000 autos. Lots were indicated by signs depicting animals, flowers and geometric figures.
WONDERLAND CENTER TENANTS 1959:
MONTGOMERY WARD (with snack bar and freestanding Auto Center) / FEDERAL / FOOD FAIR supermarket / WRIGLEYS supermarket / S.S. KRESGE 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / Artiste beauty salon / Baker's Qualicraft Shoes / Brothers Delicatessen / Children's Fashion Shop / Cunningham Drug (with luncheonette) / Dunn Camera Shop / Elliott Travel Service / Fanny Farmer Candies / Father & Son Shoes / Fenley's Curtains / Gay Top Beauty Shop / Good Housekeeping / Grayson Robinson ladies' wear / Hughes & Hatcher / Jaworski Sausage Shop / Kinney Shoes / Lieb Brothers / Marianne Shops ladies' wear / Mary Jane Shoes / Powder Box / Raimi's Curtains / Rashiti's Children's Wear / Richman Brothers men's wear / Rose Jewelers / Sanders / Singer Sewing Center / Tie Rak / Thom McAn Shoes / United Shirt Shop / Vanity Fair / Winkelman's ladies' wear / Wonderland Barber Shop / Wonderland Shoe Repair / Wonderland Watch Repair / Zuieback's Suburban ladies' wear
WONDERLAND CENTER TENANTS 1959:
MONTGOMERY WARD (with snack bar and freestanding Auto Center) / FEDERAL / FOOD FAIR supermarket / WRIGLEYS supermarket / S.S. KRESGE 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / Artiste beauty salon / Baker's Qualicraft Shoes / Brothers Delicatessen / Children's Fashion Shop / Cunningham Drug (with luncheonette) / Dunn Camera Shop / Elliott Travel Service / Fanny Farmer Candies / Father & Son Shoes / Fenley's Curtains / Gay Top Beauty Shop / Good Housekeeping / Grayson Robinson ladies' wear / Hughes & Hatcher / Jaworski Sausage Shop / Kinney Shoes / Lieb Brothers / Marianne Shops ladies' wear / Mary Jane Shoes / Powder Box / Raimi's Curtains / Rashiti's Children's Wear / Richman Brothers men's wear / Rose Jewelers / Sanders / Singer Sewing Center / Tie Rak / Thom McAn Shoes / United Shirt Shop / Vanity Fair / Winkelman's ladies' wear / Wonderland Barber Shop / Wonderland Shoe Repair / Wonderland Watch Repair / Zuieback's Suburban ladies' wear
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