Northgate Shopping Center
El Paso, Texas - circa 1960s
'60s aerial of the Northgate Shopping Center. I'm not familiar with this "Northgate" in El Paso, but I wanted to at least get the shot added here, since it's a mall I haven't covered previously.
A quick search, though, turned up no website or concrete information on it, and it's not even labeled on the mapping websites. But it certainly looks like the building is still there nonetheless--albeit quite empty looking in the current aerials. Maybe it's a dead mall? I don't know, I'll see what I can dig up later and update this entry with any new info I might find (maybe someone here knows a little more about this one?). The truth must be out there...
Mall history: n/a
Current website: n/a
Current aerial view
Previous entries: none
posted by Keith @ 9/08/2006
32 Comments:
I don't know much about Northgate Mall in El Paso, but it was home to the Popular Dry Goods Store which opened there in 1966. This local chain of stores finally succumbed to market pressure in 1995.
WOW! It's from the 1960's that's amazing, I can't wait to see more!!!!!!!
I have discovered online that this is now called the North Park Mall. I dont know if that helps much, though Keith. They do have a Natural History Museum as an anchor, but cant find anything else on it yet.
What kind of mall has a Natural History Museum as an anchor?
Aside from what Jessy said...
This mall is now once again known as Northgate. It sits in Northeast El Paso. Mostly unused aside from a Cosmetology branch of EPCC and some small law offices. Now it's simply, merely a ghost mall. Mostly uninhabited. There are some new additions however...like the Walgreens and A & W restaurant out front. But most of the shops become abandoned rather quickly. Sad too, I remember having so much fun there as a kid. *Cheers* -Drea
As others have said, Northgate Shopping Center was a big deal in the 1960's, and the neighborhoods around it were pretty nice, too. It was not originally an enclosed mall -- that came years later. Now its a White Elephant surrounded by houses and apartment buildings that have seen better days. Like its Northeast El Paso cousin, Rushfair Shopping Center, it is too small to attract major stores & not easily accesible from the freeways that have been built in recent years. Shoppers have moved on to bigger and more convenient locations.
I met a lovely girl there in 1965. It was 14 Sept. Love at first sight. There was either a Clock drive inn or a Red Rooster. I believe it was the latter. Last talked to her in 1998...what memories having stumbled on to this sight have brought back to me.
Here is an article from KFOX TV's website dated October 2007:
EL PASO, Texas -- Northpark Mall, located on Dyer in Northeast El Paso, used to have shops of all kinds. Now only a business or two remain. Kyles Wolfe Jr. has called El Paso home since 1979.
"You got this beautiful building and they are letting it go to waste. They're spending money elsewhere, and they could take this place and restore like it was before," said Wolfe.
He's just one of many Northeast residents who want to see something done with the nearly vacant mall. Only a few businesses call Northpark Mall home.
"Most of the time when we talk to people, they'll be like, 'Oh, you guys are there?' They should fix it. I mean it's nice here, so I think they should fix it and bring it up," said Jennifer Gandara, who works at Allstate Insurance in Northpark Mall.
"There is a registered owner right now, but to tell you the truth, there is very little contact information at this point," said El Paso city Rep. Melina Castro.
The city lists Northpark Mall as owned by T-Northgate, but when KFOX called them, they said they sold the mall to T-Group Properties in 2000. KFOX left a message with T-Group, but they did not return our call.
"It's privately owned, so we really can't force the owners to do something with it. As long as the place is boarded up and it's in a safe condition, the city really can't go in there to do anything much," said Castro.
So for now, Northpark Mall will stay as it is.
Northgate shopping center had many stores TG&Y, WHITES AUTOMOTIVE, Revco, ClothWorld, Fin&Feather PET SHOP, WHAT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS MALL IS THIS AMAZING FACT. WAY BACK IN TIME BEFORE THE REMODELING OF NORTHGATE, THERE WERE BOMB SHELTERS BUILT UNDER THE SHOPPING CENTER, THEY WERE NEVER FULLY FINISHED, I HAVE SEEN A TOTAL OF THREE OF THE BOMB SHELTERS. WHICH WERE ALSO ASSEABLE THREW CLOTHWORLD, RADIO SHACK, AND FIN AND FEATHER PET SHOP. THE DOORS ARE THERE UNDERNEATH CERTAIN STORES, THERE IS ONE BUILDING THAT WAS ADDED AFTER THE EIGHTS THAT WAS BUILT BETWEEN WHAT WAS CLOTHWORLD AND FIN AND FEATHER THAT BUILDING WAS BUILT BECAUSE IT WAS THE MAIN ENTRANCE OUTSIDE TO THE BOMB SHELTERS. IN 1989 THE BOMB SHELTERS WERE STILL THERE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE THERE TODAY. OTHER STORES THAT HAVE BEEN TENATES OF NORTHGATE AKA NORTHPARK SHOPPING MALL..... JC PENNY, MONTGOMERRY WARDS, NEWBERRYS, LERNERS, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF THREE ADDED BUILDINGS TO NORTHGATE MALL THE FURRS GROCERY STORE, THE JC PENNY STORE, AND THE ERASER DUST. THEY WERE ADDED TO TRY TO HELP CREAT AN INDOOR MALL EFFECT.... IN THE NIGHTYS THERE WAS A BIG STORM THAT TOOK DOWN THE SIDES OF TWO BUILDINGS WHICH WAS JENKINS COMPUTER STORE, AND THE FURNITURE STORE. NO ONE WAS INJURED.. ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE MALL WHERE YOU NOW SEE THE BUS STOP USE TO BE A POPULAR MOVIE THEATER WHICH HAS BEEN A DAY CARE AND NOW GONE.
I remember Northgate Mall from the 1960's. I lived near by. I also remember the Red Rooster Drive-In it was round and had car hops, great cherry cokes and hamburgers. I have been looking for a picture of the Red Rooster but can't find one. My husband and I met in El Paso and were married there. He was stationed at Ft. Bliss and so was my Dad.
There used to be a baseball park there. Richard Burgess Library branch was there just off of Diana Drive. A movie theater was there where I saw "A Man For All Seasons", "Dr. Zhivago", "Three Bites of The Apple", etc. My father was a career Marine stationed there in August of 1962 and went to Vietnam in July of 66, so we continued to live in El Paso until he returned safely in August of 67. Those five years were very special ones for me and since I lived at 5001 Blue Ridge Drive and attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary, Northgate Shopping Center was so very convenient for anything and everything we needed. Some neighborhoods remain the same for many decades, but the inevitable happens and the businesses either fold or relocate in a newer and more vibrant neighborhood with a more critical mass of wealth to service. I can still remember the summer of 67 when my mother drove our 65 Chevy Impala to Northgate Shopping Center and the Beatles' song "A Day In The Life" was playing on the radio. We shopped often at the Popular Department Store which was a lot like J.C. Penneys. Life goes on, but it is sometimes nice to remember these special places that are no more.
From NewsChannel 9:
EL PASO - After years of neglect and decay, the city of El Paso is taking over Northpark Mall.
City Council today unanimously approved the purchase of the northeast shopping center for $6 million.
The 23 acre mall, once one of the most popular places to shop in the city, has been nearly vacant for several years.
The city plans to demolish the decaying property and turn it into a transit-orented development with office and residential space.
The El Paso Times has a photo archive of 22 pictures from the 1960's in their Web Site's photo album.
http://elpasotimes.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1291676&CategoryID=34683&ListSubAlbums=0
From the El Paso Times 8/10/11:
City Rep. Carl Robinson says it's time to have a demolition party.
He wants to celebrate the razing of Northpark Mall, a Northeast El Paso eyesore that has sat
mostly empty for more than 15 years.
"It will go boom," Robinson said.
The El Paso City Council on Tuesday voted to spend just more than $1 million to demolish the mall, a library building and a movie theater on the site.
The city acquired the 23-acre property at 9530 Dyer for $6 million last year and spent $100,000 preparing for the demolition.
City Manager Joyce Wilson said the city's staff plans to seek proposals from developers and
outline a master plan for the site by late fall. The city hopes to attract a private company to buy or lease the site.
City Rep. Eddie Holguin questioned the city's investment in the site, but Wilson said a private developer could potentially offset much of that.
The mall, opened in the 1960s, used to have a J.C. Penney, a Radioshack, a supermarket and
other stores.
One problem was that the mall's owners, located in the Mexican state of Durango, didn't spend
much on capital improvements and upkeep.
When other malls started building enclosures, Northpark didn't follow suit.
Eventually, the mostly vacant mall began to attract crime, including several rapes, prompting city officials to act.
Northgate Mall was a family shopping experience. Many fun family activities, moonlight sales and great department and small business stores! I worked at the Popular Department Store Hair salon in 1981. Sadly over the decades, business's closed due to declining shoppers. My last visit in July 2011 confirmed that it will be demolished and a Bus Depot will be relocated ( from where the Northgate movie theatre used to be and is the present location of the current Depot) and built on the site. Many great memories of this once fabulous mall!
What a great place to grow up. Those that were around back in the 60's and 70's remember the largest Christmas tree every year on the Northwest side parking lot. Gunning-Casteel drug store soda fountain had the best burgers and shakes!! Even now, those iconic parking lot light stancions still tower high but now dark. Hope the city saves them. Good bye Northgate!!
Northgate was a venue for all kinds of things over the years, including a little league baseball diamond, a Super Slide, numerous carnivals, and christmas tree lots. Local bands and various other forms of free entertainment would draw people from all over town.
Demolition has now begun, and nobody seems to know what will replace it.
Northgate Mall, also known as Northpark Mall is no longer standing. all buildings have been brought down and it is possible that apartments will be going up on the land.
Northgate has now been demolished. So sad to see what was once such a magnificent center go to pot by out of town people who had no interest in maintaining and improving it. When the mall opened, I worked in the grocery store at the NW corner, and lived down the street on Roanoke.
More on Northgate Shopping Center in El Paso, which recently was razed due to decay.
http://elpasotimes.typepad.com/neighborhoods/2011/08/there-was-not-enough-room-for-thetime-linein-mondays-elpasotimes-here-is-a-look-at-some-major-events-that-shapednorthgate.html
I live in Raleigh, NC now but grew up in El Paso and spent lots of time at that mall. I remember the Popular, JC Penny, TG&Y and the movie theater, I won second place in a hula hoop contest on the breezeway there when I was a kid. A man tried molesting me and my girlfriend on a Sunday when the mall was closed and we were sitting on one of the little $0.10 cent rides. There was a huge hole in the ground where they were putting in another shop and he was just hanging out there. Came over to us and mention that big whole. I was sitting on the ears of the elephant and my friend in the saddle. He grabbed her shorts, I jumped down to run and he started to chase me, then went back and hit her in the forhead. Yep, I remember that mall well.
This mall is no longer there. it was demolished earlier this year. nothing remains at all. just an empty lot. it was on its way out for almost 30 years. Business left slowly over the years till only one or two remained. after they left the building sat empty for almost a decade. Sadly it was home to the areas destituteand unsavoury types. Several arson incidents and a rape or two convinced the city to buy the building, at a substantial profit for the owner, if I my say so. Anyway I digress. The building was a landmark for most of my childhoood, and now its gone.
I grew up at that mall! My father owned the Texas State Optical, he was an optometrist. I spent most of my childhood at his office or in the mall - all summer and every day after school. I remember so many stores coming and going over the years. My cousin was a hair stylist at a shop in the mall called Patrice's. My sister modeled clothing for a store called Gilberts. I modeled clothes for The Popular! I miss that place - as it is really the home of my childhood. I love the photo you have above - that is the "incarnation" that still shows up in my dreams sometimes. Thanks for posting it. So sad that it is gone.
This is definately NOT the North Gate Mall on DYER ST. that I remember being in El Paso.....!!!!!!
I lived there in the mid 70s ('74 - '77)....
There was the Neatest Little German resturant there that I would walk to in June/July of'75....
I've wondered about them from time to time...
That was Sunrise Center. It's still there and the restaurant might still be there too.
Any one remember a restaurant near Kmart on the corner of Sanders an Dyer Street.late1970s.its no longer their.its been more than 25years it was knocked down.it was across the circle k an were the Popeye chicken now stands.its been years I can't remember.hector el Paso TX. It was also near North park mall.aswell
The entire structure shown here is long gone-it was razed, I believe in 2010 or so. Now it's just a big vacant lot.
This is the aerial view of what used to be Northgate Center. https://www.google.com/maps/place/El+Paso,+TX/@31.8763129,-106.4217606,427m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x86e73f8bc5fe3b69:0xe39184e3ab9d0222!8m2!3d31.7618778!4d-106.4850217?hl=en
Regarding the question above about a restaurant in the K Mart parking lot at Dyer & Sanders, Bucks Bar-B-Que was there for years. It was also a pizza place for awhile -- I think Shakey's. The actual address was 9496 Dyer.
My first real job was at the J C Penney store at Northgate mall, c. 1972. I worked there part-time during my Junior and Senior years of High School, and during my 1st 2 years at UTEP.
What was name of the bar at this location? It might have been the Shakey's-cant remember but all the drug dealers and undercover narcs would hang out there around 1973
I remember Northgate Mall back in from 1962 to1978. Use to walk there from Crosby grade school and Irvin high school. My first part time then full time job worked for White's Auto store from 69 to 75. The mall was more a home to me cuz it had nearly everything, eating at Rexall, TG&Y, grocery at Safeway. I remember the mall had dances in the mall outside and in the shelters. It was my heyday of adventures being at the mall and working there at White's. So lighted up at nights in the parking lots when leaving from work at 9 pm. The mall really showed its beauty in those days and especially at nights during Christmas. Every year there would be a large carnival in the parking lot. Sure miss that place since its no longer there. I'm 73 now and still have wonderful memories and missed all my friends there.
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