Mall del Norte
Laredo, Texas - circa late '70s
The parking lot and exterior of Mall del Norte on display in this pretty postcard, somewhere around the late '70s--not long after it first opened. Don't really know a whole lot about this shopping center center yet and there doesn't appear to much good info about it online either, so more details and history will have to wait for another time--assuming there's even enough of a story to tell eventually, seeing as how the mall only opened in 1977.
Note: the bird's eye view option at the aerial link below is quite nice and well worth checking out on this one.
History: 1977 - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Previous entries: 1, 2
posted by Keith @ 1/22/2007
9 Comments:
Best I can tell you is that there's a Circuit City as an anchor. It and a theater share a former Wards slot. And of course, Macy's and Macy's Home Store used to be Foley's and Foley's Home Store respectively. Does anyone have any more info?
I don't have any pictures, but this is really a nice shopping mall. You can spend most of the day there and not see it all. Here is link to their website: /www.malldelnorte.com/shop/malldelnorte.nsf
That link was already included in the post. And I agree, this is a nice mall!
I grew up in Laredo. I remember once hearing that it was "the largest mall in Texas," but I think that was in terms of total land area (the Dillard's parking lot is HUGE). As hushpuppy said, it is a very LONG mall (only one story!)
Believe it or not, there used to be a Catholic Church in this mall (St. John Neumann), but that parish moved out of the mall in the early 1990s.
My father did all the civil engineering work on this mall, and even picked out the fixtures. I remember he liked them so much he bought some for himself and put them up at our house. There used to be a club there also...The Whistle Stop...I used to go there all the time. I just went to Laredo for the Washington's Birthday Parade this past weekend and was told The Whistle Stop has been closed for many years and the space has been used for different restaurants over the years.
Oh, I was trying to remember the name of the popcorn place at this mall. I used to work there when I was in high school in the early 80's...for some reason I just can't think of it. Pretty sad, huh...lol...
whatever happened to that wonderful statue by the foley's homestore? the one by helen richter watson with the doves??
Chris, I think the name of the popcorn place there was Karmelcorn. I remember the sculpture of the doves but don't know what happened to it.
I am from Laredo, TX and I remember the "original" mall look. The mall opened in 1977. It had the "earthy" 70s look: mosaic floors and benches; green plants all over; wood paneling, low-light fixtures; a clock in the main courtyard, etc. Outside there were a lot palm trees that looked beautiful at sunset. There were a few big retailers like Montgomery Wards, Sears, and Dillars; and several local department stores that moved in from the downtown area like Hachar's and Richter's. There were also local stores like Polly Adams, Violeta Sample Hut, and Wyatt's Cafeteria (loved their plastic flowers in hanging baskets and wallpaper!). As for the Helen Richter Watson sculpture, it was removed in one of the many renovations the mall has undergone in the last 10 years. I inquired about it last summer and apparently the sculpture was damaged and was stored away. I think I have a picture of it. i will look for it and post it. Do you all remember the "talking tree" and the kiddie rides that were there for a while?
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