A Microsoft Paint depiction of the sign that stood along Las Vegas' East Charleston Boulevard. It promoted the Fox Theatre in the CHARLESTON PLAZA mall. The movie house opened in March 1965.
Showing posts with label Nevada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nevada. Show all posts
Vegas' -and Nevada's- first mall-type shopping center had humble beginnings as the strip plaza seen here. It included a small enclosed shopping concourse.
Photo from University of Nevada, Las Vegas University Libraries / Bill Willard Photograph Collection
By 1966, the CHARLESTON PLAZA mall is fully realized. The original core complex (in black) has been expanded. A new enclosed concourse now connects with a Woolco discount mart. A single-screen Fox Theatre anchors the south end of the complex. With these improvements, the PLAZA encompasses approximately 320,000 leasable square feet. There are forty-two tenant spaces.
CHARLESTON PLAZA TENANTS 1966:
WOOLCO (with Red Grille) / THRIFTIMART supermarket / SKAGGS DRUG CENTER / S.S. KRESGE 5 & 10 (with Dinette luncheonette) / Audiophile Center / Bank of Nevada / Bob's Liquor Store / Brown Brothers Adjusters / Charleston Plaza Barber Shop / Cornelius Shoe Repair / Dana Mckay Books & Cards / Edie Domarus ladies' fashions / Fox Theatre (single screen) / Glassock's Gift Shop / Jollie Hair Fashions / Lapie's Charleston Plaza Bake Shop / Lebeau Monde ladies' fashions / Lingerie By Candlelight / Lullabye Shops / M. J. Christensen Jewelers / Marijane Interiors / Maxie's Famous Deli & Restaurant / Meridian Insurance / Mode O'Day Frock Shop / Motherhood Maternity / Nick Esposito's Music Mart / Pizza Bar / Plaza Kitchen / Portraits by Homer / Reeve's Shoes / Qualicraft Shoes / Ruth Mcgroarty's Broaster Haven / Sally's Homemade Candy / Sports, Incorporated / Sybil's DoNut Shop / Tally Ho / Three Little Pigs of Las Vegan Old-fashioned Southern Barbeque / Tomiyasu Garden Shop / Union Oil Company service station (outparcel) / Valet Cleaners / Wendel's Hobby Shop / Western Furniture Company
Three major shopping malls had been built in Greater Las Vegas by 1981. CHARLESTON PLAZA was commercially upstaged and didn't even last till the end of the decade. The past-its-prime property was knocked down in 1988, leaving only its Woolco structure standing. This was worked into a new CHARLESTON PLAZA power center.
Photo from www.loopnet.com
Photo from https://www.officespace.com
CHARLESTON PLAZA
East Charleston Boulevard and Burnham Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada
The story of Nevada's first shopping mall begins in September 1959. A combination Thriftimart supermarket and Skaggs Drug Center open for business at a 30-acre site, located 1 mile southeast of downtown Las Vegas.
With all of the competition, CHARLESTON PLAZA entered a downward spiral. Woolco was shuttered in January 1983 and was followed by a California-based HomeBase (a home improvement store). The mall's Skaggs Drug Center was rebranded as an Osco Drug in November 1984. By mid-decade, CHARLESTON PLAZA was a semi-vacant, dilapidated property.
The complex was demolished in 1988, leaving only the HomeBase store standing. The moribund mall was replaced by a 254,800 square foot power center of the same name. The new CHARLESTON PLAZA included a (46,100 square foot) Lucky Stores supermarket and (21,400 square foot) Sav-On Drug.
East Charleston Boulevard and Burnham Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada
The story of Nevada's first shopping mall begins in September 1959. A combination Thriftimart supermarket and Skaggs Drug Center open for business at a 30-acre site, located 1 mile southeast of downtown Las Vegas.
In 1961, a strip-type shopping center was added. Developed by Las Vegas' William P. "Bill" Peccole, its largest store was a (23,000 square foot) S.S. Kresge 5 & 10. Soon after, it was decided to add a fully-enclosed shopping concourse to the south side of the existing strip center. This opened in 1963, making CHARLESTON PLAZA the first shopping mall in Las Vegas, as well as the state of Nevada. With this addition, the structure encompassed approximately 184,800 leasable square feet.
Charter CHARLESTON PLAZA tenants included Mode O' Day Frock Shop, Pizza Den, Karl's Shoes, The Bank of Nevada, Maxi's Famous Deli & Restaurant, Lullabye Shops, a well as the aforementioned (18,300 square foot) Skagg's Drug Center and (30,900 square foot) Thriftimart supermarket.
The next expansion brought 19,900 square feet of new inline store space. The single-screen Fox West Coast Theatres Fox Theatre showed its first feature on March 5, 1965. A 1-level (104,500 square foot) Woolco discount mart was dedicated in October of the same year. CHARLESTON PLAZA now housed around 320,000 leasable square feet. Its tenant list of thirty-six included Williams Photography, M.J. Christensens Jewelers, Kinney Shoes and Garheim's Music. The center was heralded as the "largest shopping center mall in Nevada."
Unfortunately for CHARLESTON PLAZA, bigger and better malls evolved in Greater Las Vegas. THE BOULEVARD {2.1 miles southwest, in Clark County} was officially dedicated in 1968. It was joined by MEADOWS MALL (1978) {3.8 miles northwest, in Las Vegas} and THE FASHION SHOW (1981) {3.1 miles southwest, in Clark County}.
Unfortunately for CHARLESTON PLAZA, bigger and better malls evolved in Greater Las Vegas. THE BOULEVARD {2.1 miles southwest, in Clark County} was officially dedicated in 1968. It was joined by MEADOWS MALL (1978) {3.8 miles northwest, in Las Vegas} and THE FASHION SHOW (1981) {3.1 miles southwest, in Clark County}.
With all of the competition, CHARLESTON PLAZA entered a downward spiral. Woolco was shuttered in January 1983 and was followed by a California-based HomeBase (a home improvement store). The mall's Skaggs Drug Center was rebranded as an Osco Drug in November 1984. By mid-decade, CHARLESTON PLAZA was a semi-vacant, dilapidated property.
The complex was demolished in 1988, leaving only the HomeBase store standing. The moribund mall was replaced by a 254,800 square foot power center of the same name. The new CHARLESTON PLAZA included a (46,100 square foot) Lucky Stores supermarket and (21,400 square foot) Sav-On Drug.
Lucky Stores was absorbed -and rebranded- by the Albertsons chain in November 1999. HomeBase closed in early 2001. It was followed by the Rodeo Discount Mall, which eventually morphed into the Bonanza Indoor Swap Meet.
Sources:
Sources:
The Las Vegas Sun
Description of Charleston Plaza by Mark A. Curry
https://special.library.unlv.edu / University of Nevada, Las Vegas / University Libraries / Special Collections & Archives
https://www.classiclasvegas.com
http://www.eforum.reviewjournal.com
"A Desert Paradise" / Ralph Roske / September 1986
https://www.cinematreasures.org
http://www.safcocapital.com / Safco Capital Corporation
Las Vegas' The Boulevard
Vegas' first major shopping mall was built in the city's southern environs. Going under the prospective name of PARKWAY MALL, the complex-to-be had been renamed THE BOULEVARD by the time of its completion, in 1968.
The fully-enclosed and air-conditioned facility stretched for 1,645 feet from end-to-end. Sears anchored the north, with J.C. Penney presiding over the center of the center. A Broadway store stood on the south end.
Photo from https://vintagelasvegas.com / Vintage Las Vegas / Hank DeLespinasse
.JPG)
Irwin Molasky (1927-2020) was the primary developer of THE BOULEVARD mall, as well as the 1,000-dwelling, Paradise Palms housing development. He was also instrumental in the construction of the Sunrise Hospital, McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas Convention Center and University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus.
Photo from https://www.nah.org / Nathan Adelson Hospice
THE BOULEVARD was built to serve as the de facto downtown of the neighboring Paradise Palms plat.
Graphic from https://www.paradisepalmslasvegas.org / Paradise Palms
Among the 1,000 Paradise Palms homes were dwellings of the Americana Series. Above, we see the Westcliff Plan C model. This sprawling, hip-roofed ranch came complete with an "estate size" formal living room, family room, double-sided fireplace, four bedrooms and two and-a-half baths. A "Gold Medallion" (all-electric) home, it sold for under $40,000.
THE BOULEVARD TENANTS 1968:
J.C. PENNEY (with coffee shop, beauty salon, patio shop and freestanding Auto Center) / THE BROADWAY (with restaurant and freestanding Broadway Tire ) / SEARS (with Coffee House, Garden Center and freestanding Auto Center) / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with Harvest House restaurant) / RONZONE'S / Barricini Candies / Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors ice cream / Boulevard Beauty Salon / Boulevard Camera / Boulevard Liquor Store / Carousel Snack Bar / C.H. Baker Shoes / Clower Jewelers / Dana McKay Books & Cards / Edwards Children's Shoe & Shear / El Poco Candle Shop / Gallenkamp Shoes / Happy Holiday Gifts / Harris & Frank men's wear / Hatch's Hallmark Cards / Herb & Marv's / Hickory Farms of Ohio / House of Fabrics / House of Nine ladies' wear / Household Finance Corporation / Joan Bari / Kimo / King's Flowers / Kinney Shoes / Leed's Qualicraft Shoes 1 / Leed's Qualicraft Shoes 2 / Lerner Shops ladies' wear / Mode O'Day Frock Shop / Motherhood Maternity / Orange Julius / Parklane Hosiery / Portraits by Homer / Regal Shoes / Ronzone's Bootery / Singer Sewing Center / Strusser Interiors / Sweetbriar Shop / Sydney's / The Cambridge Shop / The Cinnamon Bun / Vance Pepi Wigs / Zales Jewelers
MARYLAND SQUARE CONVENIENCE CENTER:
Austin Drug / Boulevard Market / House of Treats / Kut & Style Barber Shop / Sir George's Smorgasbord / The Winner cocktail lounge / Vido Musso's Shoe Repair
THE BOULEVARD TENANTS 1998:
DILLARD'S / J.C. PENNEY (with Styling Salon and Portrait Studio ) / MACY'S / SEARS (with Garden Center and freestanding Auto Center) / 360° Communications (kiosk) / African & World Imports / Afterthoughts I accessories / Afterthoughts II accessories / Americana Realty / Animal World / Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar (outparcel) / August Max Woman ladies'n wear / All State Keychains (kiosk) / Baskin Robbins ice cream / Bath & Body Works cosmetics / B. Dalton Bookseller / Bean Buddies & Friends / B*Koz / Bostonian shoes / Brookstone electronics / Cacique ladies' wear / Calla Bay / Casual Corner - Petite Sophistocate ladies' wear / Champs Sports / Charlotte Russe ladies' wear / Claire's Boutique accessories / Coda men's wear / Colorado apparel / Contempo Casuals ladies' wear / County Seat apparel / Crescent Jewelers / Diane's Beachhouse ladies' wear / Dress Barn ladies' wear / El Portal Luggage / Ethel M. Chocolates / Express ladies' wear / Famous Footwear / Firestone Tire & Auto (outparcel) / FootAction USA / Foot Locker / Franklin Covey / Frisky Pet Center / GNC / Glamour Shots / Gloria Jean’s Gourmet Coffee / Going To The Game apparel / Gordon's Jewelers / Gymboree children's wear / Hallmark / Harris & Frank men's wear / Hibachi San / Hot Cats apparel / Hot Dog On A Stick / Hot Topic apparel / Howard & Phil's Western Wear ladies' wear / IHOP (International House of Pancakes / iNatural Beauty Salon & Cosmetics / Jagged Edge apparel / J. Riggings men's wear / J W men's wear / Kay-Bee Toys / Kiddie Kandids -/ Kids Foot Locker / Kinney Shoes / Lady Foot Locker / Lane Bryant ladies' wear / Las Vegas Denim / Leed's shoes / LensCrafters Optique / Lerner New York ladies' wear / Linda Ray's Gifts / Linebacks accessories / Lundstrom Jewelers / Magic Pens / Mario's of Palm Springs / Marks Brothers Jewelers / McDonald's hamburgers / MDA For Kids / Modern Woman ladies wear / Mrs. Fields Cookies / Mr. Rags / Name Express / Naturalizer shoes / Nine West ladies wear / Nordic Track / Oak Tree men's wear / Pacific Wave men's wear / Prestige Travel / Pretty Woman accessories / Pretzel Time / Radio Shack / Ritz Camera / Roland's of Las Vegas ladies' wear / Sam & Libby / Sam Goody music / San Francisco Music Box Company / Sanrio Surprises / See's Candies / Silver City / Size 5-7-9 Shops ladies' wear / Software Etcera / Spencer Gifts / Sporting Eyes accessories / Sports Logo apparel / Stringers apparel / Structure men's wear / Styles Hair Salon / Suncoast Motion Picture Company / Sunglass Designs (kiosk) / Sunglass Designs Too / Sweet Factory / The Body Shop cosmetics / The Bombay Company home furnishings / The Chainery jewelry / The Disney Store / The Gap apparel - Gap Kids / The Jewelers / The Limited ladies' wear / The Mole Hole gifts / The Nature Company / The Tinderbox International / The Wild Pair shoes / The Writer's Edge / Things Remembered / Tiffany's Jewelers / Trade Secret Beauty Salon / Tropical Sno / Tropik Sun Fruit & Nut (kiosk) / Victoria's Secret lingerie / Wet Seal ladies' wear / Wherehouse Records / Whitehall Company Jewelers / Wilson's, The Leather Experts / Yorkville Gift Shops / Zales Jewelers
PANORAMA CAFES FOOD COURT:
Baskin Robbins ice cream / Big Easy Cajun / Cinnabon / Everything Yogurt & Salad Cafe / Flamers Charbroiled Hamburgers / Great Steak & Potato Company / Hibachi San / La Salsa / Orange Julius - Dairy Queen / Panda Express / Sbarro the Italian Eatery / The Soup & Sandwich Company
CONVENIENCE CENTER:
Marshalls / The Good Guys! / Ulta 3 cosmetics & salon
In this circa-2006 image, we see The Promenade concourse. At this time, the complex had relinquished its title as largest mall in Nevada. A 1999-2003 expansion of the FASHION SHOW increased the size of that shopping venue to 1.8 million leasable square feet. This made FASHION SHOW around 668,000 square feet larger than THE BOULEVARD.
Photo from www.labelscar.com / "Caldor"
A circa-2012 view shows the North (Sears) Wing. The mall's 12-bay Food Court is on the left.
Photo from Wikipedia / John Phelan
THE BOULEVARD Dillard's did an "anchors away" in October 2008. The building would sit vacant for over 6 years. It was eventually retenanted by Goodwill Industries, John's Incredible Pizza and a Sutherland Global Services call center.
Photo from www.loopnet.com
By the 2010s, the mall was in decline. A new owner did a renovation and repositioning. THE BOULEVARD was marketed to the Latino and Filipino communities. By early 2017, things looked really rosy. Then the mall was hit with several closings. By early 2019, Macy's, J.C. Penney and Sears had gone dark. In spite of these setbacks, the revitalization marched onward. A cinema megaplex, SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium and Headz Up attraction opened for business.
A circa-2019 view of the mall's Main Entrance.
Photo from Wikipedia / "AJFU"
THE BOULEVARD
Maryland Parkway and Desert Inn Road
Clark County, Nevada
The first mall-type shopping center in the Silver State, CHARLESTON PLAZA, was built in southeast Las Vegas in the early 1960s. This neighborhood shopping complex was torn down and replaced by a strip center of the same name in 1988. Hence, Sin City's second shopping mall became its oldest by default.
THE BOULEVARD was built on a 77-acre tract. This was located 2.5 miles southeast of downtown Las Vegas, in a section of unincorporated Clark County known as Paradise. The shopping hub was conceived by Irwin Molasky, a real estate entreprenuer.
In the late 1950s, Molasky had formed the Paradise Development Company with fellow Las Vegan Merv Adelson. They envisaged Paradise Palms, an ultra-modern housing plat. This 720-acre community would eventually comprise over 1,000 homes. The first models debuted in July 1960. By 1963, planning for an adjacent shopping center was underway.
Going under the provisional name of PARKWAY MALL, the complex was renamed THE BOULEVARD before its completion. It was designed by a consortium of three architectural firms; Robert R. Weber & Associates {of Texas}, John Graham & Company {of Washington State} and Charles Luckman & Associates {of California}.
THE BOULEVARD was developed by a joint venture of Paradise Development and Dallas' Haas & Hayne Investment Corporation. The center was built in three phases. Ground was broken on June 30, 1964, with construction getting underway in January 1965. A 2-level (218,300 square foot) Sears opened in December of the same year.
A 2-level (120,000 square foot), Los Angeles-based The Broadway was completed next. This store was christened on April 29, 1966. The mall, and a 2-level (193,000 square foot) J.C. Penney, were officially dedicated on March 6, 1968. The 10-day grand opening celebration was attended by Nevada Governor Paul Laxalt (R).
In its original state, THE BOULEVARD spanned approximately 750,000 leasable square feet and housed forty-eight tenant spaces under its roof. Eleven stores were contained in a south site convenience center. Charter stores included King's Flowers, Orange Julius, Happy Holiday Gifts, Zales Jewelers, a 2-level (75,000 square foot) F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10 and 2-level (40,000 square foot) Las Vegas-based Ronzone's junior department store.
Major shopping hubs in THE BOULEVARD trade area would eventually include THE COMMERCIAL CENTER (1963) {.9 mile northwest, in Clark County}, MEADOWS MALL (1978) {4.4 miles northwest, in Las Vegas} and FASHION SHOW (1981) {1.7 miles west, in Clark County}.
In 1979, operation of The Broadway store at THE BOULEVARD was assumed by Phoenix-based Broadway Southwest (a new division of Carter Hawley Hale Stores). Ronzone's was acquired -and rebranded- by Phoenix-based Diamond's in 1970. The store, which had been expanded into existing mall space, was rebranded by Dillard's in September 1986.
A 60 million dollar remodeling of THE BOULEVARD was done between October 1990 and August 1992. The project included rerouting East Twain Avenue around a 2-level (192,500 square foot) anchor store, which became a new home for Dillard's on November 6, 1991.
A southeast mall concourse, known as The Promenade, was built along with three Parking Terraces. The interior and exterior of the original mall were also refurbished with an Egyptian motif. The renovation doubled the size of center, making it the largest mall in Las Vegas, as well as the state of Nevada.
When all construction dust settled, THE BOULEVARD encompassed approximately 1,210,000 leasable square feet and housed 133 stores and services. The mall's "largest in the state" distinction was surrendered after 11 years. It was bumped down to the second-place position following a 1999-2003 expansion of FASHION SHOW.
Meanwhile, Broadway Southwest was renovated and expanded to 179,000 square feet. A grand re-opening was held December 1, 1994, with THE BOULEVARD now spanning 1,250,000 leasable square feet. The Broadway Southwest store was rebranded by Macy's in May 1996. In June 1998, Chicago-based General Growth Properties acquired the assets of Dallas' MEPC American Properties, with THE BOULEVARD becoming a GGP holding. GGP placed the mall under the ownership of Rouse Properties, a newly-formed subsidiary, in January 2012.
By this time, competition from other malls -especially FASHION SHOW- had left THE BOULEVARD in dire straits. The shuttering of Dillard's, on October 31, 2008, exacerbated the mall's maladies. Rouse Properties bought the Dillard's building in September 2011, leading to speculation that a replacement tenant, or tenants, would be announced. This would take years to happen.
Rouse decided to sell the ailing complex. Henderson, Nevada's Sansone Real Estate Services acquired it in November 2013. A major renovation was announced in March 2014. The shopping hub would be marketed to a Latin and Filipino customer base. This concept had been successful in revitalizing moribund malls such as Greater Atlanta's PLAZA FIESTA and Fort Worth's LA GRAN PLAZA.
The remodeling project at THE BOULEVARD included a total rebuild of the mall's Main Entrance and west-facing facade, using an Art Deco motif. The existing Food Court was upgraded and a 99 Ranch Market Asian grocery installed in vacant Circuit City space in mall's south site Convenience Center.
A vacant Dillard's was also repurposed. Its first level was sectioned into a (60,000 square foot) John's Incredible Pizza family entertainment center and (28,000 square foot) Goodwill Industries thrift store. The second level became a (103,000 square foot) Sutherland Global Services call center.
Said call center was in operation by mid-2015. Goodwill held its grand opening on October 16, 2015, with John's Incredible Pizza debuting December 20 of the same year. In the mall proper, Olivia's Latin Cuisine opened in May 2016, followed by Furniture Fashions Las Vegas (August 2016) and Hitari Restaurant Sports Bar (January 2017). The (31,000 square foot) SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium was also dedicated in January 2017.
The mall's resurgence was stymied by several store shutterings, which took place in rapid succession. The Olivia's and Hitari stores abruptly closed in April 2017. Macy's shuttered their store on March 26, 2017, followed by J.C. Penney, which went dark on July 31st.
Undaunted, Sansone initiated construction of a Galaxy Boulevard Luxury Theatre 9-plex. Other family fun facilities opened at the mall. The (30,000 square foot) Rex Center, which included a go-kart track, climbing wall, mini-golf and laser tag, was dedicated in October 2017 (but closed in August 2018). Headz Up, a (41,000 square foot) "virtual reality attraction", began business (in a portion of the old J.C. Penney) in February 2018.
The new movie megaplex was dedicated on April 5, 2019. The openings of new stores and attractions were followed by the shuttering of an old tenant. Sears, a charter -1965- anchor store, closed for good on March 2, 2019.
Sources:
The Las Vegas Review-Journal
https://www.paradisepalmslasvegas.org
http://www.blvdmall.com (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
http://www.labelscar.com / "Caldor"
https://vintagelasvegas.com / Vintage Las Vegas
http://www.molaskyco.com
https://www.clarkcountynv.gov / Clark County, Nevada
http://www.wrin.unlv.edu/biographies / Bertha Ronzone
http://www.ggp.com / General Growth Properties (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
http://www.rouseproperties.com / Rouse Properties (website on Internet Archive Wayback Machine)
http://boulevardmall.com
https://www.pressreader.com
Couples dance at a formal ball held as part of the official dedication of CARSON MALL, in March 1966.
Photo from http://www.carsoncitymall.com
Gray Reid's, a Reno-based department store, anchored the original CARSON MALL.
Photo from http://www.carsoncitymall.com
In this vintage view, we see the north end of the 380-foot-long, air-conditioned shopping concourse. A small seating area and information kiosk are visible.
Photo from http://www.carsoncitymall.com
Photo from http://www.carsoncitymall.com
Photo from http://www.carsoncitymall.com
CARSON MALL was promoted as "Northern Nevada's biggest and most imaginative shopping center." The complex encompassed around 165,000 leasable square feet. The original directory listed thirty-two stores, restaurants, offices and services. There was also free parking for 826 autos.
CARSON MALL TENANTS 1966:
GRAY REID'S (with freestanding Dayton Tire Center) / SAFEWAY supermarket / SPROUSE-REITZ 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / American Savings & Loan Association / Bobby Page's Dry Cleaners / Carson Travel Center / Chicken Box / Conner's Jewelry / Country Club Shoes / Daneri Laundry / Davis, Stokes & Wright Attorneys at Law / Francis Realty, Incorporated / George C. Huff's Golden Pocket Billiard Parlor & Restaurant / Gerber's Cameras & Art Supplies / Greco's Music / Heidi's Pancake House / Karl's Shoes / Lizbet Gift Shop / Mall Barber Shop / Marge's Yarn & Fabric Shop / Mode O'Day Frock Shop / Muller's Rexall Drug Center / Pelligrino's Shoe Repair / Security National Bank of Nevada / Smart Set Beauty Salon / Stork Date Apparel / Swensen's Ice Cream Parlor / The Wright Paints / Title Guarantee Company of Carson City / Trophy Room cocktail lounge / Webb's Toggery / Western States Realty & Investment Company
We now zoom through time, to the early 21st century. The northeast corner of the mall was rebuilt as the Carson Cove Streetscape between the years 2008 and 2010. This urban village featured Schat's Bakery, Charley's Grilled Subs and the Paradise Cove Cafe.
Photo from www.labelscar.com / "Caldor"
In this snapshot, the old Gray Reid's building is occupied by Bealls ["Belz"] and Sportsman's Warehouse stores. These opened in early 2014.
Photo from www.loopnet.com
Photo from www.loopnet.com
CARSON MALL, circa 2015. The Carson Cove section is shown in medium gray. The south end anchor housed a Gottschalks department store between 1995 and 2009. After its shuttering, the space was divided between the of the aforementioned Sportsman's Warehouse and Bealls stores.
CARSON MALL was given an exterior face lift during 2017. The photo above can be viewed as a "before" view of the northwest store block.
Photo from https://aroundcarson.com / Scott Schrantz
Here, we see an "after" image of the same section of the mall.
Photo from https://aroundcarson.com / Scott Schrantz
This restaurant structure was built in 1966, as part of CARSON MALL. Over the years, food service businesses have come and gone. Most recently, the building has housed Station Grille (1993-2008), Tahoe Ridge Winery & Bistro (2015-2016), Flavors of India (2017-2021 ) and Nashville Social Club (2022- ).
Photo from Carson City, Nevada
We wrap up our CARSON MALL visit with a circa-2022 site plan. New retail and office space has been created in the south parking area. Bealls closed in June 2017 and was replaced by Carson Home Furnishings in August 2018.
CARSON MALL
South Carson Street / US 50 and South Stewart Street
Ormsby County (Carson City), Nevada
Ground was broken for Northern Nevada's first climate-controlled shopping mall on May 11, 1965. Built on a 13.2-acre plot, located .3 of a mile south of the Nevada State House, CARSON MALL was developed by real estate entrepreneur Francis Carrington and designed by Reno's Seldon & Stewart Architects & Planners.
The shopping hub encompassed approximately 165,000 leasable square feet and housed thirty-two stores and services. Anchoring the 3 million dollar facility was a 1-level (60,000 square foot), Reno-based Gray Reid's. This store opened for business on March 17, 1966.
A mall-wide dedication was held on March 24, 1966. The Master of Ceremonies was Ted Stokes (Ormsby County district attorney). The grand opening was attended by Paul Laxalt (R) (Lieutenant Governor of Nevada), James Robertson (Mayor of Carson City) and developer Francis Carrington.
Charter tenants included Bobby Page's Dry Cleaners, Mode O'Day Frock Shop, Muller's Rexall Drug Center, Farrell Barber Shop, Carson Travel Center, Smart Set Beauty Salon, a Swensen's Ice Cream Parlor, (10,200 square foot) Sprouse-Reitz 5 & 10 and (25,000 square foot) Safeway supermarket.
The mall site was originally located in unincorporated Ormsby County, just south of the Carson City limits. On April 1 1969, the political jurisdiction of Ormsby County merged with Carson City, forming the Consolidated Municipality of Carson City.
Gray Reid's was in business at the mall for only 3 and-a-half years. The store was shuttered on September 1, 1969. It was quickly replaced by a Disco discount mart. This Beverly Hills-based store made its debut on December 3, 1969. Disco closed in March 1975 and was followed by J.C. Penney, who opened for business in November of the same year.
Safeway pulled out of the mall in 1983, with J.C. Penney using the vacancy to create a double-header store. The old Safeway Penney's was devoted to furniture and home merchandise, with the original store selling men's, women's and children's apparel.
Shopping centers in the vicinity of CARSON MALL included SILVER CITY MALL (1976-2000) {.2 of a mile south, in Carson City}, SOUTHGATE CENTER (1994) {1.6 miles south, also in Carson City} and CARSON VALLEY PLAZA (2007) {3.1 miles south, in Douglas County}. Farther out of town were MEADOWOOD MALL (1979) {21 miles north, in Reno} and SUMMIT SIERRA (2006) {16.2 miles north, in Washoe County}.
J.C. Penney shuttered their dual-store CARSON MALL operation in August 1994. The north anchor space was divided between two tenants. A (10,800 square foot) section was leased as an Urgent Care facility, which opened in June 2000. The remaining (12,800 square foot) area was occupied by Corral West Ranchwear. This was rebranded by the Boot Barn chain in January 2009. Meanwhile, Fresno-based Gottschalks had leased the vacant south anchor space. They expanded it to 72,500 square feet and opened for business in March 1995.
CARSON MALL was given a 12 million dollar renovation in the early 2000s. Existing store space adjacent to the western wear store was gutted and rebuilt as Carson Cove, a small streetscape of restaurants. These were L & L Hawaiian Barbeque, Schat's Bakery, Charley's Grilled Subs and Paradise Cove Cafe. L & L Hawaiian Barbeque welcomed first customers in January 2009, but closed in January 2011. Schat's Bakery opened in October 2010. Paradise Cove Cafe began business in April 2010 and shut down in February 2012.
It seemed that CARSON MALL was on a commercial rebound following its early 2000s renovation. However, the shuttering of its Gottschalks, on December 27, 2009, left it anchor-less. Tenants such as The Labyrinth (a maniacal maze) and Spirit Halloween filled the space on a temporary basis.
A permanent leasing arrangement was finalized in July 2013, with Midvale, Utah's Sportsman's Warehouse. Their (42,000 square foot) store was dedicated on March 28, 2014. The remaining space was occupied by a (24,000 square foot) Houston-based Bealls ["belz"], whose store commenced operation on April 24, 2014. Bealls went dark on June 24, 2017. The vacant space was leased to Carson Home Furnishings, which opened its doors on August 23, 2018.
Sources:
Nevada State Journal (Reno, Nevada)
Nevada State Journal (Reno, Nevada)
Reno Gazette-Journal
The Nevada Appeal (Carson City, Nevada)
https://data-carsoncity.opendata.arcgis.com / Carson City, Nevada
https://www.labelscar.com
http://aroundcarson.com / Scott Schrantz
https://www.bigmallrat.com
https://www.horrorfind.com
http://www.carsoncitymall.com
http://aroundcarson.com / Scott Schrantz
https://www.bigmallrat.com
https://www.horrorfind.com
http://www.carsoncitymall.com
https://www.carsonnow.org
PARK LANE CENTRE TENANTS 1967:
SEARS (with Coffee House, Garden Center and freestanding Auto Center) / WEINSTOCK'S (with Beauty Salon) / F.W. WOOLWORTH 5 & 10 (with luncheonette) / JOSEPH MAGNIN (with Coiffures Americana Beauty Salon) / ROOS-ATKINS / Anita Shops / Barricini Candies / Black Angus Restaurant / Durkee Travel Bureau / Eddie Mays Prime Rib restaurant / First National Bank / Frederick's of Hollywood / Hallmark Cards / House of Fabrics / Huston's Shoes / Karmelkorn / Kinney Shoes / Lanz Shop ladies' wear / Leed's Qualicraft Shoes / Mirabelli's Music City / Mode O'Day Frock Shop / Motherhood Maternity / Mt Rose Sporting Goods / Nevada Photo Service / Pauson's Men's Store / Pik & Letty's Smoke Shop / Schilling's Luggage / Smith Clothiers / Smithton's Singer Sewing Center / The Fashion ladies' wear / The Swiss Colony / Wig Garden / World of Toys / Youngland children's shoes / Zales's Jewelers
Graphics from the Macerich Real Estate Company
The Macerich Company, known within the industry as The Mall Doctor, bought a majority interest in the property in December 1977. They did a roofing renovation in 1978-'79. Plans for a third anchor store, which was to be completed in the early 1980s, never panned out.
In this view, we see the sunlit shopping concourse at PARK LANE MALL. The property was given a second renovation during 1986, when new flooring and lighting were installed.
Photo from www.labelscar.com / "Prange Way"
The mall's exterior was also given a major makeover during the 1986 face lift. Four entrances were rebuilt, with an additional one added to the east side of the complex. We see the southwest entry here.
Photo from www.labelscar.com / "Prange Way"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
