Edgewater Mall
Biloxi, Mississippi - circa 1960'sThe beautiful fountain in Edgewater Mall (originally Edgewater Plaza). See my previous entries below on this mall for more nice shots of it. Though she took a direct hit from Katrina, and suffered some severe damage, Edgewater Mall galliantly reopened just 10 weeks after the storm, and continues its healthy recovery and operation today. Bravo!!
Mall history: 1950's - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Previous entries: 1, 2
posted by Keith @ 7/05/2006
17 Comments:
I guess you'd call that a "groin vault." It looks great with the fountain.
Architecturally speaking, right you are (I think), Steven. :) And it sure does all paint a pretty picture together.
And don't forget those swanktastick lights in the back-right corner! Some of my faves.
Edgewater Mall didn't get a chance to get ruined by Hurricane Katrina. The mall ruined itself with a two hideous re-models in the 80's and 90's. My friends and I all agreed that the new look was too reminescent of a big bathroom.
The stores. Gayfer's was an anchor retailer. (Gaylord's was a stand-alone discount store nearby) Gayfer's was the only two-story merchant in the mall and had the only escalator in town for many, many years. Gayfer's was bought out by Dillards in the late 90's. Belk's is the new owner of McRae's Dept Store, which was added in one of the re-models.
The toy store was Thornberry's and had a big picture of a monkey's head next to the name on the wall. There was never an Baskin Robbins in the mall, but there was Dapper Dan's ice cream parlor which had a "roaring 20's" theme and was a lot of fun.
No, beer was not served in the mall until the late 80's and only in Bernie's Restaurant. Mississippi had blue laws which severely limited the serving or sales of spirits in all places.
The food court was added in the 80's re-model and was built in the former Godchaux's dept store. JC Penney replaced my personal favorite store, Newberry's.
I have extrememly vivid memories of Edgewater Mall as it was a big part of my childhood and teen years in the seventies/eighties. If anyone has any questions about the mall from that era, I would be more than happy to try and resurrect old memories! Peace, Wes
Yes there was a Baskin Robbins on the beach near the Sheraton (which may have been changed to the Royal D'Iberville Hotel by that point).
Gayfer's may not have had a decent toy dept., but I used to love the Russell Stover candy counter upstairs where the chocolates were made fresh every day.
I remember the yellow shelves at Thornberry's, too. And the large red, yellow and blue stripes running all around the store walls. The store was re-modeled into a Waldenbooks in the eighties.
I'm not sure which discount store you mention. Behind the mall and across the railrooad tracks on Pass Road (which led into Keesler AFB) was Woolco in a shopping center with K & B Drugs and a Delchamps Food Store. Roses Family Store was also on Pass Road along with Grant's. Roses had a fire and was turned into a TG & Y somewhere around '78 or '79. Going towards Keesler was Gibson's which I recall had a great toy dept. as well as a large selection of records.
I hope this helps. If you would like to see some pretty good pictures of what the area looks like now, there is a before/after section on the website of the local paper at sunherald.com. Some of it is quite depressing to see the hurricane damage, though. Which apartments did you live and where?
Does anyone have photos of the old Edgewater Hotel? I use to live in Biloxi in the 70's. As kids we would sneek into the pool during the summer months.
Does anyone have photos of the old Edgewater Hotel? I use to live in Biloxi in the 70's. As kids we would sneek into the pool during the summer months.
I smiled when I saw the fountain. I've lived here in Biloxi all my life and remember throwing pennies in that fountain as a child. I'll tell you what I remember fondly about Edgewater Mall is The Swiss Colony store and there was a furniture store I think the name of it was Colonial American store my parents still own a rocking chair they bought from it. I also remember there use to be a small grotto type hall where there were small shops where Colonial American was at the end of the hall, but the store that is still there I use to and still like is the shop where you can buy glass figurines, porcelain figurines and all kinds of religious jewelry. That shop is still there. I remember the Karamel Korn store which use to be at the southeast corner around the corner from Penney's. That store use to sell kettle korn, caramel apples, fudge and all kinds of sweets. The mall actually needs a good candy shop!
I remember visiting Santa there and the Christmas Parade that would be taking place out in the parking lot. Those were the days!
When I was a kid, my family vacationed on the Gulf Coast every summer. We usually made at least 2 weekend trips each summer. We stayed at the Alamo Plaza (where my mother had stayed on family vacations in the 40s and 50s). For a $30 a night motel, it was clean and lacking prostitutes and crackheads...of course, this was the late 70s/early 80s.
I remember the Edgewater Mall frequently had antique car shows with cars parked throughout the mall.
The renovation that included the new food court ruined the atmosphere of the whole place. This was probably in the mid to late 80s and it drastically changed the whole mall.
Does anyone know the name of the open-air restaurant that was right beside the Walgreen's at the Gayfer's end of the mall...across from the fountain?
Cora, Maison d Orleans is still there I know I live here now and have for 3 years. lol
I believe it was morrisons. And I'm thinking it was a k&b between there an gayfers
Sears is now leveled for the new theatre being built. Faucets is now DILLARDS, J.C. Penney was originally Newberrys, GAYLORDS WAS on Pass Rd near Hewes Ave in Gulfport, and Kernersville, which was next to Godchauxs, is part of the food court. I hope that helps. I've been trying to remember a few of the places there in late 60's, early 70's.
It was a diner that was part of the Woolworth's. It was like a five and dime store. I remember you could sit in a booth and look out at that fountain. The burgers were good.
Wes, do you remember where Gaylord's Department store was? I know it wasn't in the mall but I thought you might know. My Momma and I were discussing it.
Thanks, julie
Gaylord's was on pass road in gulfport in the spot right across from which is now L&M liquor store.
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Gayfers was the store. I worked there in the 80's/early 90's until Dillards took over.
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