Southlake Mall
Merrillville, Indiana - circa 1970s
Here's a beautiful postcard image of the Southlake Mall (Westfield thinks it's called, Westfield Southlake, now) interior court area, complete with a really cool looking terraced fountain arrangement, encircling a central golden sculpture piece. I have no idea how the place actually looks today, as it's been heavily renovated in recent years, like most malls. Back of postcard reads:
"Southlake Mall - Located at Merrillville, Indiana, this most modern shopping center offers the finest in outstanding shops and services amid ultra-modern decor and convenience."Thanks very much to David, for this great submission!
Mall history: 1970s - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Info from Wikipedia
Resource articles: 1, 2
Previous entries: none
posted by Keith @ 9/15/2006
33 Comments:
I went here once and thought it was really nice. I also had never been to an LS Ayres store, so that was half of my motivation for coming to this mall. LS Ayres was a really nice store...I'd hate to see how Federated is messing it up, now that it's under the Macy's name.
This looks like a set from the movie "Logan's Run," a lot of which was filmed in malls, if I remember correctly. Who knows, maybe this 'look' will come back into fashion as all the mall 'redecorations' done in the late '80's and early '90's start to look dated...?
Modern is indeed the word. This shot surely does not look like it is from the 70s! It's so fantastic!
BTW, Old Orchard in Chicago is also now called Westfield Old Orchard when these companies change and/or alter a mall name to something long and goofy do they really believe that people will care to make that disticntion from what it was orginally?
Blue is never good color for carpet.
Say, is that ANOTHER Jarman store? What happened to them, anyway?
I definitely love the modern sculpture; it'd even look good today. The expansive center court is a nice feature, too.
Scott
Jarman is still around abeit it not in a very large presence. I know there is one at Harlem and Irving Plaza in Chicago, but I haven't seen any others around town.
Did some research. The parent company is phasing out the Jarman name and replacing it with "Underground Stations."
Scott
people will stay with a malls original name here in Sarasota Florida there are only two malls both owned by Westfield the one farther south was changed to Westfield Sarasota square mall from the original name of Sarasota square
after much protest and the fact that local people and the northern tourists continued to and insisted on calling it Sarasota square the parent company changed the name BACK to Sarasota square
strike a win in the little guys column
http://westfield.com/sarasota/ourstores/index.html
That sculpture is very Gehry-esque.
Southlake Mall is now Westfield Shopping Town, the Blue carpet is long gone and a carosel and marble floor replaced it! This Mall is one of the best places in Norhtwest Indiana to shop! The malls fountains are long gone, but you still get a sense of retro here due to the geometric celing/skylight pattern, the mall which never had a food court added a pretty nice one in the 90's as well as a glass elevator in center court.
Too bad fountains and blue carpet are gone. Now it just looks like any other mall.
Macy's continues to learn the customer base in Northwest Indiana and is doing a nice job of updating its merchandise. It continues to carry designer lines and is adding to them. Take a look again at Macy's Southlake and enjoy the attention you will receive from really dedicated employees.
I was the first General Manager and opened Southlake Mall in 1973 or 74. Our slogan was "A Wonderful Way to Spend to Day" It was the first two story mall for our company (JVJ) and was it's Flagship. To this day it's one of my favorite malls.
Wayne Poe
I was a child when this mall opened. I remember looking thru the glass a JCPenney's and thinking that it looked like "Willy Wonka". The interior was unique with fountains, tropical plants, and even birds. The shops were more unique as well. Today, it has been re-done and is of a lower quality in my opinion (food court, Payless Shoes, junk qiosks, etc.). I loved this place. The change has not been an improvement!
Well then Jarman's still exists in this mall, because there is an Underground Station located on the top floor near the food court! :)
For those who are wondering what it looks like now:
Physically, it looks okay.
They have added some nice stores but also some not so nice stores.
As the town of Merrillville continues to become more like Gary, the mall has been adjusting to a growing customer base. The mall will resemble River Oaks soon.
He meant more black....
The mall was Westfield for a time however it has not been under Westfield name for at least 2 or more years (2015 or before). It is simply Southlake again. Also the carousel has been gone since then too. Now numerous kiosks in that area. I remember throwing pennies in that fountain as a child��
Carousel long gone. You must not have been at mall for a while.
Also not Westfield for at least a couple years. Is again just Southlake again.
I think that THEY think they can, but I always called it Southlake and I belive the name came back. It's like the Sears Tower. They can call it anything they like, but it's always the Sears Tower to me. Always will be.
Question....was there a Chick-fil-A in the mall back in the 80’s?
What was the name of the pipe store upper level near Carson's
Do u have any pics of the garden restaurant
Between 88 and 93 when fountains got ripped out
The Tinder Box - always smelled great!
No such thing. There was a Burgur King, a Hot Sam's Pretzle, and The York Steakhouse
Did you used to come into Walgreens Restaurant?
@Anonymous Huh? Your last comment didn't make any sense. The top comment was a bit rude.
Man, I could remember the smell of chocolate chip cookies coming from that cookie place that used to be in the mall. And those fountains that used to be there. I totally remember throwing change in one of those fountains for good luck.
Seeing this in 2024
It’s July 13th 2024, I grew up at this mall in the early 2000s I still 20 mins away, it’s not a place I would take my kids to at night. It’s has changed a lot. It’s Nostalgic for me. Carson’s has been closed for a couple years, Dicks sporting goods is gone. Only big box stores left is Macys and JCPenney. Idk how much longer Coopers Hawk restaurant will last there since they are building a stand alone one in Scehererville 20-25 mins away.
Yes, Burger King was there and Taco Bell I believe is there now or was. July 2024
Also, there used to be a Ruby Tuesday in the mall before Coppers Hawk.
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