malltimemachine

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In 2001, the former Abraham & Straus/Strawbridge's building at The Court was converted into a mall expansion named "The Pavilion." In 2006, May Department Stores dissolved Strawbridge's and their remaining anchor store at The Plaza (the former Wanamaker's) became a second Macy's anchor store, before closing the following year. The mall served as the home of the Philadelphia Freedoms tennis team of World TeamTennis in 2008 and 2009. Whenever a tennis event was to occur, a temporary tennis stadium that seated 3,000 was constructed in the parking lot of the Bloomingdale's anchor store. The Freedoms left for The Pavilion at Villanova University in 2010. #kingofprussia #mall #pennsylvania #nostalgia #shopping

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In June 1977, Melvin Simon & Associates announced the development of a shopping mall on a 104-acre tract of land along Texas State Highway Loop 360 in southwest Austin. Initial plans called for over 1 million ft2 of retail space and parking capacity for nearly 6,000 cars, which would make the mall the largest in Austin. Finalization of plans to extend Texas State Highway Loop 1 ("MoPac") to intersect with Highway 360 adjacent to the planned site delayed construction, but clearing and grading of the land was begun by late October 1977. Continued delays in the MoPac extension caused further delays in the mall's construction and negotiations between the developers and potential tenants. Designs for Barton Creek Square were finalized in 1978; Gordon Sibeck, designer of the Windsor Park Mall in San Antonio, was selected as the mall's designer. During construction of the mall, worsening water quality on the nearby Barton Creek and the possibility that the mall's construction could do further damage to the creek prompted daily municipal surveillance of the site in 1980. Erosion control measures were approved for the site after the City of Austin's Environmental Board found the site in violation of city standards. Barton Creek Square Mall opened in 1981 as one of the largest malls in Texas. The mall was originally anchored by Sears, JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, Foley's, Joskes, and the Austin-based Scarbrough's department store. Opening of the mall occurred in phases, with the first stores (Sears and JCPenney) opening on August 1 while construction within the rest of the mall continued. Barton Creek Square officially opened on August 19 with 77 stores out of an anticipated 175–185 businesses; 85,000–90,000 people visited the mall on its opening day. In November 1981, the mall became the first in Texas to have Braille and bold print signage throughout the center. #austin #texas #mall #80s #nostalgia

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Grapevine Mills opened on October 30, 1997 as a joint venture between Mills Corporation, the KanAm Grund Group of Germany, and Simon DeBartolo Group. It was one of the company's malls to use the Landmark Mills template, which involved bringing in major department stores and outlet stores as anchors, as well as off-price retail chains and large stores that offer a wide range of products. Mills-owned malls also had "Entertainment Zones" that included restaurants, games, and movie theaters. In December 1999, it was announced that the Polar Ice Skating Rink opened at the mall. In July 2002, Simon Property Group sold its shares in the mall. In November 2002, the ESPN X Games Skate Park opened at the mall. In January 2007, the Mills Corp. accepted a $1.35 billion buyout offer from Brookfield Asset Management. The following month, Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management offered $1.64 billion for the company, and Mills accepted the higher offer. As part of the acquisition, Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital took over the 38 malls owned by the Mills Corp. at the time, including Grapevine Mills, under "The Mills: A Simon Company" banner. In June 2012, the City of Grapevine approved $14 million for renovations of the mall. The mall's new look was based on the newly-renovated Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, Tennessee, and Simon announced the renovation plans in April 2014. #grapevine #mall #texas #grapevinemills #nostalgia