I had the Hallmark store in pompano fashion square the name was la tienda I was there for five years 73 to 78 I sold it to reflections Hallmark I was also a Hallmark store the mall was young and so is Florida at that time was it only Mall until they built the galleria Town center Broward Mall social expressions in Coral springs was also my store I always loved pompano fashion square was my first store
And yeah, I love this fish. Apparently the Pompano Mall is still hanging on, but I would seriously doubt that this cool sculpture is still there. Can anyone coroborate that?
I remember this sculpture well. They also had water fountains which doubled as wishing wells too... My mom worked at Sears, and we lived in Deerfield Beach, about 10 minutes north of this mall. This was a really cool place.. Burdines, Jordan Marsh, Sears and JC Penny's were anchor stores. Lots of other cool stores too.. There was rooftop parking and it was a very busy place. It has since been remodeled.. I haven't been there since 1983, but I get regular updates from my parents. If you'd like more details and memories from the area during the 70's to the early 80's, please drop me a line at Judderman65@hotmail.com Thanks! Mike
I live a few minutes from the mall. It has gone through many renovations over the years. It is going through a major one now. That fish sculture has been long gone.
It's almost sad to happen upon this.. I remember holding my mom's hand as a child while staring at that thing. Things always look huge as a child. Anyone remember the Barefoot Mailman? That store was exactly like Spencer's Gifts! Amazing at the time. I also remember Buster Brown Shoes and The Purple Pickle restaurant WAY in the ceiling. Again, this wire fish jarred a lot of old pleasant memories. I would love to find some interior shots of the old Coral Ridge Mall in Oakland Park. Ahh... McCroy's and Britt's!
I loved pompano fashion square. i used to work at morrows nut house!remember that one, they are no longer around, the best nuts and chocolates you can find! the mall is being renovated now, i was there just today . it looks very modern and is coming along nicley. what happens when it rains? and we all know it will rain in our great city!
Yes, I remember Morrows Nut House! Was one of my favorite stores to go to in the mall. Does anyone remember that cool second floor parking lot where you could walk across a narrow walkway with glass on both sides? I think it led into Sears 2nd floor if I remember correctly.
Talk about bringing back memories...my brother and I grew up in Boca Raton and the Pompano Fashion Square was THE mall to go to. We spend many a weekend trolling around that place. Yes, we remember the Barefoot Mailman (my brother still owns a lighted sign that says Bullshit that he bought there) and we loved the Purple Pickle. I had forgotten all about that fish sculpture until I saw the photo...how cool was that thing? Wasn't life a lot simpler back in the days of the Fashion Square???
The Pompano Fashion Square was built in the early seventies, not the sixties. My sister Cindy is right, I do still have a momento from The Barefoot Mailman store. The Purple Pickle restaurant was quite the place back in the day. And let's not forget the Walgreen's diner. That was THE mall from Ft Lauderdale to West Palm when it was built.
Some of the other cool shops there were; Mr. Dunderbacks Deli (They had a huge rat problem, after hours.. munching on all the hanging meats**LOL**), Hoffritz Cutlery (remember the huge rotating swiss army knife display?), Foxmoor clothing store, and O.J.'s... sold strong orange slushy like drinks.. (tasted alot like tang...**LOL**), the Drivers Seat. I'm sure there were plenty more too.. I'm sure I'll think of more later. Mike
My family moved to Boca Raton in 1970 and the Pompano Mall was the only mall in the area. I-95 wasn't even built yet. We used to drive down to Pompano on Federal Highway. I remember the fish sculpture well and I still have a bar mirror (Dewers scotch) that I bought in the Barefoot Mailman when I was in high school. I still live in Boca but I haven't been to the Pompano mall in many years. I'm sure I wouldn't recognize the place now.
I'd also forgotten about the fish but I can pretty well remember many of the stores there. When I was in elem. school my folks bought a Minah bird at the Pet Center, too. It's kind of ironic that The Barefoot Mailman eventually went out of business...maybe it was considered "too 70's" by the time the 80's rolled around?...only to see the emergence of a'la Spencers Gifts and similar stores years later which is pretty much the same thing as TBM sans the "smoking items" for sale in the back.
I bought several Monty Python albums at "The Record Bar" (think that was the name of the record store) and it was where I first heard of Firesign Theater after seeing their albums for sale.
One year, circa 6th/7th grade, for some reason me and a friend walked from Boca clear down to the Fashion Square and THEN walked back via A1A! I have no idea what compelled us to do so but we did it...maybe just to see if we could: Such was the adventure in going to the PFS back in the day.
And who could forget the Magic Wagon? Or the Woolworths diner...forgot what it was called, the "something or another" House? When I was a wee tot it was there that I would buy most of my Christmas presents for relatives with my limited funds since I was able to buy the small-sizes of perfume, etc. I recall it always seemed like I'd be able to get a real load of stuff for like $5 or even less!
And then, of course, there was that place that sold cheese...Hickory Farms!...Hoffritz-for-Cutlery, Dunderbach's, and even a Barber shop!
One of the fun things to do was ride the "glass elevator" though I think it took you only to offices of one sort or another. But, still, it was a GLASS ELEVATOR!
In more recent years...I'll say by the mid-90's or earlier...the mall had lost all of its charm and totally slummed out. The day a mall gets a Dollar Store is the day you can kiss it goodbye. Not only did it get a Dollar Store but also a Walgreens. Lots of space was vacant and it was just totally "low rent". Definately a place to avoid.
It went from being called The Pompano Fashion Square to Pompano Square Mall to, in its latest incarnation, Pompano Citi Centre. I don't know why they spell the name in such a silly way, though. My guess is it won't make it unless real-estate prices makes the place a draw just because footage is available. Link to it at: http://www.pompanociticentre.com/
The record shop was called Record World. I remember the wishing wells / water fountains. I worked at Purple Pickle,Dutch Oven,JC Penny,Orange Bowl snack bar. All through the 70's
The "diner" was the Harvest House! Don't forget Florsheim Shoes (where I had to buy my church shoes all through middle school 'cause of my way-narrow foot)! The County Seat and Wild Oats (kind of like designer jean shops). The Orange Bowl! And I think the PFS Sears was one of the first to experiment with putting a McDonald's in the store (it was a short-lived experiment, as I recall).
Funny, but the Oaks Mall actually had a Dollar Tree (Gainesville's very first!) for a while--it was great--but you kind of knew that it wasn't gonna be able to stay long-term given the lease structure (same for the DRUG STORE the Oaks used to have).
All this and yet there was no movie theatre or multi-plex located inside! (Of course, where the Oaks used to have their multi-plex is now part of the expanded food court and the ABERCROMBIE & FITCH--see? We even have a place you Beasleys can shop when you come to visit). Didn't the PFS also have a Swiss Colony for a short while? Seemed to me that they did...
And I had totally forgotten about Morrow's Nut House (and of course, no visit to PFS was complete without joking about THAT name)...
Great to find this site.. I had totally forgotten the fish - that was so cool! The record store was called "Record Land". I worked there (with the plexiglass doors over the tape section - where you would drop your tape of choice onto the conveyor belt that would take it to the end of the wall so you could buy it). Ahh yes, the Barefoot Mailman, the Orange Bowl (remember the posters on the wall there - like 'Confessions of a Twistee Freak' and 'the evolution of pizza'??), Paper Tree, the Sony store next to Mr Dunderbak's where I saw the first Betamax machine (I recall it being in the four digits in '75), and who could forget Hickory Farms (America's leading cheese store)- that's truly an honor. OMG - the Purple Pickle upstairs (later the food court). This mall went through a long decline, and is now all gone except for the anchors which are now free-standing. One item uncovered during the demolition was the 'Burdine's' logo scar on the east side of what is now Macy's (it was the logo in the mall entrance). It's still there (for now) for the world to remember. This mall was the mall of my youth (along with Coral Ridge, Lauderhill and Lakes Malls) - I would love to chat with anyone about these malls - and would love to see any memrabilia related to them.
Keith asked : Apparently the Pompano Mall is still hanging on, but I would seriously doubt that this cool sculpture is still there. Can anyone coroborate that?
I was just at what I'll call the site of the old PFS this past weekend. It's been re-done and looks totally different....no longer an indoor mall but rather one of those "outdoor places". The fish is long gone as are any reminders of "the old PFS" other than that Sears and Pennys are still there. The placement of the stores, imho, is awkward. Let me copy here what I wrote to a friend about the old PFS location:
Lisa and I went to the former Pompano Fashion Square today. They are trying to make it into some sort of "pedestrian village", as near as I can tell, but to me it's a big mess. It's no longer an indoor mall....similar to Mizner Park http://www.miznerpark.com/html/index.asp , all the stores have exterior entrances. So if you want to go from Sears to JC Penny you've got to walk all over the friggin' place! The place was pretty well dead, too, with the exception of Lowe's. WTF?! A Lowe's at a "mall"?! The frontside of this new incarnation of the PFS (now called "City Centre"...why the bizarre spelling of "Center"?!), facing Federal Hwy., doesn't look too shabby but the backside is essentially a demolition zone. Very ugly. The Sears is pretty much the same ol' Sears from ages ago (sans the candy/popcorn counter...which was a nice touch back in the day). The neighborhoods along Copans Road (at least what we saw from the street) look to be declining and that area of Federal is just overall crappy looking. I can't see why they are trying to revitalize the place as a shopping destination. It's not like there are tons of high-end neighborhoods around there that I'm aware of. And even if there are, I doubt those folks are itching to shop at Sears or Pennys!
(Oh, FYI...it seems that the porno bookstore/theater across the street is also gone. ed.)
(Oh, FYI...it seems that the porno bookstore/theater across the street is also gone. ed.) Kinda off-topic, but that place was called the "Fashion Cinema" and it used to be an Arthur Treachers Fish and Chips restaurant. I remember "Deep Throat" playing at 2 a.m., posted there for years ... **LOL** It fianlly faded away, but it would be interesting to see what went in it's place. There was also the Harbor Chrysler/Plymouth dealer on the opposite corner.
I grew up in Coral Springs in the early 70's and boy was it an adventure to go to the "Fashion Square"! Always begged mom to park on the roof! The Glass elevator to the Purple Pickle was a kids dream come true. Jordan Marsh was so elegant! Never could find the second floor! But for Movies you had to go to the Lakes Mall
Man talk about memeroies we moved to coconut creek in 1970 the pompano mall was where I got every pair of pants shirts and zips shoes I wore to school. I am glad I found this site all I was looking for was a slice of orange bowl pizza, dont bother I googled it and it came up 0 its funny how the brain holds on to taste because that was some of the crapist pizza anyone ever made but if I could find one Id order a large I rember the purple pickle and also the big rotating knife in the store also the restaurant right next to the knife store I can't rember the name but we useto goto it every sunday after church it was the only thing open in the mall on sunday that was a time you were lucky to find anything open on sunday.I still live in coconut creek with my own family now my wife thinks im crazy but she has only been in florida for 15 years so she dosn't rember the pompano mall in its glory as soon as the coral square mall opened pompano was DOOMED just to let you know pompano mall is coming back it still has sears now it has lowes and looks like the revamp may do it good in fact I think i'll drag my wife to it this week just to see how much it has changed she's always up for going to any mall if anyone has any pictures of the interior I'd love to see them.
I had the Hallmark card store in pompano fashion square opposite Sears I wish next to Park Lane on one side dunderbak's on the other then I opened Coral square Mall social expressions American greetings store and gifts next to champs in Coral square I have great memories a pompano square
OMG this is too funny! I grew up in the Ft Lauderdale/Pompano area and went to Pompano Fashion Square all the time! Orange Bowl! Wow, I hadn't thought of that in YEARS. Wasn't there a Britts at that mall originally, or am I mistaken (I was REALLY young when I first started going). I used to love The Barefoot Mailman :) And to whoever mentioned the porno theatre... hahahah... I remember the sign proclaiming Deep Throat playing there for ages too! Wow... total memories. I feel so old now.
Memorable stores at the PFS were the Barefoot Mailman and the Orange Bowl. When my mom took me to the mall as a child, she'd shop for clothes in Casual Corner while I'd putz around Barefoot Mailman. I didn't have much money to shop with, so my biggest purchase at the Mailman wound up being a pair of Mexican jumping beans.
I also remember passing Mr. Dunderbach's Deli on every visit, and being disappointed that my mom didn't want to eat there.
In my teenage years ('84-'89), the mall seemed to lose its charm, but still featured places I shopped at a lot (loading up on Bugle Boy and Pier Connection clothes at JC Penneys, shoes at Foot Locker, and sports stuff at Champs). Also read a lot at the Waldenbooks store.
The fish and the fountains were cool. Nice creative & local flavor.
We first visited the Fashion Square Mall in 1975 when we came over on vacation from the UK. The Mall was thriving then. We remember the pet shop in one corner of the Mall and especially remember the Purple Pickle restaurant as we went there just before we flew home and couldn't believe that the salad bar was included in the meal !!! We've been back quite a few times and seen it, sadly, deteriorate like some of the smaller malls around Clearwater/St. Pete. I guess that Sawgrass may have been partly responsible for the decline.
Amy Lunde said... OMG this is too funny! I grew up in the Ft Lauderdale/Pompano area and went to Pompano Fashion Square all the time! Orange Bowl! Wow, I hadn't thought of that in YEARS. Wasn't there a Britts at that mall originally, or am I mistaken (I was REALLY young when I first started going).
LOL! The only Britts I knew of was the one in the old Boca Mall on Federal. As a matter of fact, I worked there during high school for a spell. I'm sure there were other Britts here and there but I just wanted to remind folks of the other defunct mall in Boca, the old "Boca Mall".
ROGER HERE.. BRITS WAS AT THE LAKES MALL NORTH END.JEFFERSONS AT SOUTH END, THE ORANGE BOWL WAS GREAT !! LAUDERHILL MALL- WOOLCO NORTH END RICHARDS SOUTH END AND THEY HAD NUMRO UNOS PIZZA NEXT TO THE MOVIES. AND DON'T FORGET BLACK ANGAS STEAK HOUSE AND THE BIG SLIDE IN THE PARKING LOT !! THOSE WERE THE DAYS....
Ahh yes... I remember the old Boca Raton Mall. It lived for such a short time and the interior was dark (yet it had strips of floresent lights like Kmart's) and smelled like stale popcorn. The anchors were a Surise Multi-Plex (the popcorn smell :p), Jefferson Ward, and Britts.
What really destroyed the mall's heart was the opening of the upscale Town Center at Boca Raton just outside the city limits in 1979. It continues to operate with even more upscale shops like NM, Saks, Bloomingdales, Tommy Bahama, Chanel, etc. Mizner Park, the central core of downtown Boca Raton took the place of the Boca Mall. The movie theater is still there (as a different building...) but no other anchors exist.
I grew up in Pompano but migrated after graduating from UF in 83. Here's a blast from the past. I remember having our little league banquets at the "Purple Pickle". It was a big deal, but I was so small I don't know if that Restaurant sucked or not. It was majic when I was 12. I was on the "Nieman Construction" team of the Exchange Club Little League in the 1970-1972 timeframe that played at the field near the high school and then at the quad field park the city built over in that area by the minor league park where we also played city football in the outfield (I was on "Lake Side, but Recreation, So. Pompano and Hillboro were cool too!). Haven't been there in 25 years since I moved north. Good memories though.
If anyone reads this that was there send me an email at dgreene@neuropace.com.
I remember the PFS very well- we used to go to Pompano Beach every Easter when I was growing up. Morrow's Nut House was always a favorite (gummi bears!), Haagen Daz ice cream when it was just starting out, the Purple Pickle, Mr. Grump's, and god forbid- The Morrison's Cafeteria! I remember the Barefoot Mailman too. Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw Michigan was built by the same group that did Pompano Square Mall- no Mr. Pickle in the ceiling though. Does anyone remember Lionel Play World? My mom always took us there while on vacation and it was a big treat to go there with our "vacation money". The Easter Bunny always managed to "find" us in our hotel and leave us treats from Morrow's Nut House and Lionel Playworld. The Caves was a bit hit when we were a little older- we thought it was like eating with the Flintstones and would beg to go there.
YES.. Ive BEEN IN THAT PLAYWORLD LOTS OF TIMES, JUST SOUTH OF THE MALL. DID YOU EVER GO DOWN TO PIRATES WORLD? OR THE WATER SLIDES JUST NORTH OF THE MALL.. THOSE WERE THE DAYS !! ROGER..
Yeah the water slide was called the "Water Boggan".. been there many times. It was right next to the Pompano Cinema there and of course... Diversions.. the huge round mega-arcade. It was part of the "shoppers haven" center. Diversions became "the Doll House".. is the building still there? How about Skaggs and Albertsons and the Army Navy surplus store across sample road from the Fasion Square Mall? How about the old Zayres and the Dairy Queen a little bit further up the road on the east side of Federal Highway? PlayWorld... **LOL**... remember all the train sets they used to sell? Anyone remember the automatic shoe size checking machine in Sears at the Mall? You put your foot in a box shaped depression and the sides would come in and it would show your foot size?.. Way cool stuff back then.. How about the beach ball always "floating" up in the air (it was in an airstream from a vacuum cleaner in the vac dept.. right next to the popcorn stand .. remember? **LOL** I'm showing my age again..
YES.. IT WAS CALLED THE WATER BOGGAN!! BOY THAT ALL SEEMS SO LONG AGO..LAST TIME I WAS THERE WAS 1976 I WAS 15 YEARS OLD. NOW IN PALM BEACH THANKS FOR THE TRIP BACK IN TIME !! ROGER
We used to skateboard in there while it was under construction. Sometime around 1970-71 if memory serves. The fish is gone. There was a Singer sewing machine shop that sold records as well and a record store that had groups like Mountain visit on occasion. Pirates World, an amusement park in Dania, was out or on the way out, so we became mall rats. This was also a righteous place to skip school as the high school was walking distance. The mall has been remodeled and a Lowes now takes up the majority of the front. But back in the days you could not go in there without seeing someone you knew. The bowling alley remains close by on Federal highway and we hung out there as well. The pier also was not far away. Pompano started going to s%#@ about 1975 but before that it was a really nice low key beach town like you still find further up the coast. Anyone wanting to chat about PB can contact me at pompanojoe2@aol.com.
I went to pompano square mall yesterday. it looks completely different from the original mall that was built. it looks like the main department stores stayed the same, but they removed the rest of the smaller stores, food court, parking garage and upper level and completely re built the middle of the mall. instead of it being an indoor mall like it origonally was, it is now outdoors except for the anchor stores.there is still a few of the origonal stores that remain, but most are new. ! i think they did a great job, because when i visited 3 yrs ago i thought that mall was going to be torn down due to the bad condition it was in , so i cant wait to see all the new stores! :O)
I worked at that Zayre's on Federal! It was a lot like a trip to Hell daily for me. I didn't see that anyone has mentioned Gallagher's at ol' Fashion Square. I had a boyfriend who would take me there for steaks and recall a fashion show with table models while we dined and looked out the large windows over the mall, from up on the 2nd floor. Very classy place, was my young impression (I was 16.) This was the mid-70s. Also recall that porno theatre. Once we opened the door to peep in and a rather large bouncer-type guy came out and asked us to go away. We laughed until we cried.
I'm not really from the 70's, more like the 90's but even when I was little my grandma and I used to go to Pompano Fashion Square all the time...I miss those days...it was still kind of alive back then, but slowly deteriorating...when I turned 11, it was almost dead...so many shops had closed down, and others getting ready to. It's so sad to not find anymore memories back there...everything's gone. I don't even live in Ft. Lauderdale anymore, but from what people tell me, it's like a completely different place now. I want the old days back!
Do any of you remember Uncle Sams from the 80's? Uncle Sams was located at shoppers haven on sample RD and fedral highway,if I was not hanging out at the Pompano Fashion Square I was there,a little record store that sold concert tickets through cellar door productions.The diversions building was tore down a long time ago for a Walgreens on the corner now.The Zayres has been gone forever(late 80's)but the building still stands,it has been a bunch of failed stores since then. Believe it or not the Dairy Queen is still there.I took a walk through the Pompano Fashion Square right before they started to remodel it and said my goodbyes to all the great memories. I once got stuck in the cargo elavator before they added the upstairs food court and there was nothing but offices up there.I was 11 years old,got in all kinds of trouble for that.lol. Do any of you remember the Pompano Outlet Mall with Fox Movie theatres and Diversions3 in it?
My sister and I used to walk or ride our bikes almost everyday to Uncle Sams Music Store, usually to buy used cassette tapes and t-shirts. Awesome store, we miss it. Remember Wordens World of Crafts next to Uncle Sams? Anyone remember Wags restaurant near Federal Highway and 24th street?
DOES ANYONE REMBER ORANGE BOWL PIZZA? IM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPEND TO THEM AND WHO OWNED THEM.. THEY WERE IN POMPANO,LAKES AND OTHER MALLS. THE BEST THIN CRUST !! THANKS ROGER ( NOW LIVING IN OCALA )
"I bought several Monty Python albums at "The Record Bar" (think that was the name of the record store)"
It was actually called "Record World". Before that I think it was called "Record Land". I remember thinking that it was going "big time" due to the name change - ha, ha! I can still see the manager standing behind the counter, kind of a Freddie Prinze looking guy (at least the hairstyle and moustache - way 70s)with the cords, brown boots, thick leather belt and collared, long sleeve shirt (probably paisley). Weird how memories and details can pour out once you are prompted (by the fish sculpture of course). I also remember the huge funky metal chandeliers hanging from the ceilings. I remember shopping for pants at JC Penny with my mom and being directed to the "husky" boy section. Humiliating! I remember wanting "Tough Skins" jeans from Sears and got my first pair of real sneakers, Adidas, there (no more Army/Navy Store cheap sneaks for me!). I remember my mom being shocked that the Adidas were $12.00but she bought them anyway. I remember wearing my old sneakers to baseball practice (Furman Insurance on Atlantic was our sponsor - purple shirts and a hat with the letter "F" on it). Back then JC Penneys, Burdines, Sears and even the Singer sewing machine place sold records... Anyone remember the huge, obese woman in the Paul Diamond's Magic Fun Wagon booth? She used to wear fake eyelashes and looked like a crazed drag queen. My brother's told me to ask her if this was "a sideshow" when I was about 12 and she actually chased me and made me call my mom. Naturally, my bros split but that was the only bad memory of the mall. Scary woman but served me right. Hey, was Mr. Dunderbachs the place near Sears? I thought it was called something else... I remember going by there when I was around 10 and snarfing the free samples out front and saying things like "That's really good, I'll have to let mom know about this cheese and salami" so the worker wouldn't think I was just there for free food. LOL! Slick, right? I remember the pet store too down there at the end by Jordan Marsh. It was always our last stop before waiting for mom to pick us up outside of Jordan Marsh. Later in life (like 4 years), I worked at Barefoot Mailman when I was 16 and the Piercing Pagoda (booth) when I was around 18. I thought working at the PP would be a good way to meet girls but the only ones who usually came by were mothers wanting to pierce their babie's ears. Needless to say I probably traumatized alot of 3 year olds... if you are reading this now, I'm sorry guys!
"How about the beach ball always "floating" up in the air (it was in an airstream from a vacuum cleaner in the vac dept.. right next to the popcorn stand .. remember? **LOL**"
OMG!!! That's the best! I can see it now! Anybody remember the Chess King store next to Barefoot Mailman? For all your hip clothing needs - ha, ha! Later on we called it the Cheese King because it was kind of a cheesy place.
RE: Anyone remember the huge, obese woman in the Paul Diamond's Magic Fun Wagon booth? She used to wear fake eyelashes and looked like a crazed drag queen. My brother's told me to ask her if this was "a sideshow" when I was about 12 and she actually chased me and made me call my mom. Naturally, my bros split but that was the only bad memory of the mall. Scary woman but served me right.
Yes I remember her, as I worked with her for about 8 months before moving to West Palm Beach and Managing "The Magic Fun Wagon" in the Palm Beach Mall. Paul had sold his interest out by then and the "Fun Wagons" were owned by two gentleman who were the brothers of the lady at the "Fun Wagon" in Pompano.
I grew up in Boca, and for the first half of the '70s this was a regular trip for us. Every visit with Santa Claus was at PFS. But more than anything else at the mall, we were usually most excited about the prospect of stopping at Lionel PlayWorld.
When the Boca Mall opened, we had less need to go to Pompano, and stopped altogether when Town Center opened.
By the way, Town Center hurt the Boca Mall, but it was the City's Downtown Redevelopment Authority that killed it to put up Mizner Park instead.
For a city that was traditionally so concerned about development density, downtown Boca is a nightmare now.
I remember the mall. The water bogan was awesome. What about starship odyssey? This was the darkest arcade ever. It was that saucer shaped building on the corner of Sample and Federal. They later changed it to the Dollhouse III.
I worked at the Magic Fun Wagon the last 2 years it existed in Pompano. It was a dream job for me as I was only 12 years old. Yes, I worked with the fat lady with the lashes. She was my friend, her name was Glenis and she loved chasing punks away. She eventually left the MFW and it got very boring after that. Towards the end we sold t-shirts, that was the begininng of the end. I had the whole Fashion Square experience -- malted milk balls from Sears, pickles from Dunderbaks, SteakUmm from Woolworths, smoking weed with the Florsheims guys...great times!
I have been looking for the old Cozzolis Pizzaria that was on the second deck. I remember eating that pizza like it was yesterday. anyone know where that owner went or the pizza that taste like that contact me at jnino88@bellsouth.net
I would come down to Lauderhill to visit my grandmother (Nana) every now then starting when I was 8 years old (1979-1988). My 3 favorite things were Mr. Gump's (or was it Mr. Grump's or was it both?), Swensen's Ice Cream in the Broward Mall and the waterslide on Commercial Blvd. near I-95 and the beach that you could go down head-first without a mat.
I didn't see anyone mention Chest King. Only reason I remember it is because my sister's boyfriend Paul B worked there. Born in 1960, I grew up the neighborhood a couple blocks north of the Mall. I spent alot money at the Barefoot Mailman, posters, blacklight bulbs, light bulbs that would fliker, pipes etc. I could never understand, looking back, why my parients didn't know I was a pothead by all the lights and posters in my bedroom, the Smoke the Best, Smoke Columbian blacklight poster sould of been a dead give away. LOL
I still have the Ghost Gallon and Led Zepplin's Oakland concert poster that I bought at the barefoot mailman.
I remeber going to the mall one day to just hangout and as I walking in the small mall entrance by Burdines I see this car pull up in front of the north entrance of Burdines and watched four guys get out of the car all wearing long blond hair wigs, sunglasses going inside, they robbed the place, all had shotguns. That was around late 1975 and crime was on the rise.
I was forceably relocated to central FL around 1976. They have a mall in Orlando that was built by the same people who built the Pompano Fashion Square, it looks almost the same but with no second floor parking.
I think my best memories of the PFS was watching the fireworks from the 2nd floor parking lot and racing my bike or roller skating down the upstair's parking lot ramps, now that was cool.
I grew up 7 blocks from the fashion Square in Lighthouse Point. The Mall opened up for Christmas of 1969.At that time it was the largest fully air conditioned mall.The name of the clothing store was "Chess King". Does anybody remember the "Cobbler shop" with all those leather visors and wrist bands ? The placed smelled awesome. "Record Land " became "Record World" a few years before closing. Don't 4-get " Hot Sams Pretzels "
You're correct is was called Chess King. Oh yeah, the air conditioning, that was nice. So was hanging out at the mall, I always liked the wishing pond, I guess you could call it. The way the wall was shaped around it allowed you the sit down and lean back and the back of your knee's stopped you from fallen in the water, was kind of comfortble really. The glass elevator, was neat for the time. The good old days, life was much simpler back then. The only skating rink I remember and skated at was on Smaple road around 12th Ave if I remember right. The Barefoot Mailman was my favorite store at PFS and the little pizza shop on the corner by Pennies.
I got my "pet rock" at the Barefoot Mailman! My church, Zion Lutheran, used to have the youth choir sing at the mall every Christmas time. We would stand on a "stage" set up with some risers. Is the old Arby's still across Fed hwy and down a little?
I remember it all as I was there day before opening since I'd just moved to Pompano beach from Hollywood Beach. Winter 1969. A lot has changed since. Used to smoke a lot o' pot with those people, I mean a LOT! I ALWAYS had pot! I'd get hassled by the janotors pushing those blue carts around...
hi, great memories for sure! Does anyone out there remember a department store there in the early 70"s that had a glass case with big decorated cookies? i absolutely remember that but my parents say in crazy?
I LIVED in that mall. And Diversions was NOT in Shopper's Haven but just to the North in a very small strip center with the Cinema. The Little Round Table Restaurant used to be next door until they enclosed it with mirrors and turned it into a noodie bar. I played on the hills of dirt used to build the Water Boggan. The wooden locker areas to change were really nice and well-built but the foam mats you had to use so you didn't burn your ass on the slide sucked. As did the walk up.
Shopper's Haven used to be just as cool as the Fashion Square. There were some interesting boutiques with those glass enclosed front displays with a hall with the door recessed down that hall. One was "Dianne's" and had its name in tiles on the sidewalk that remained after the store turned into a hobby shop. There used to a carnival in the parking lot of Shoppers Haven for years, once a year. Jackson Byrons was there.
I think it's not a very appropriate statue for a mall.You would think they would make a model or a shopping bag at least... But noooo....they thought a fish is a perfect representation of the business there.
In response to Heather... I think I know what you are talking about with the decorated cookies. I'm pretty sure it was Burdine's that had a bakery/cookie kiosk that was a glass display under the nook of the escalators. I hope that helps...
Before the mall was built this was in the field by federal highway. When they built the mall they moved it inside. I grew up on 24th street before the 7/11 was there. And 24th did not go thru to dixie.
I loved Pompano Beach!Lived in Pompano Area 1973-1979. Actually worked part-time @ Gray Drug Store & a center kiosk called Ole. Anyone remember that little store? I haven't seen it mentioned by anyone. It was right across from Gray Drug & Capezios. Barbara Streisand's Uncle was the manager @ Capezios. Was nice reading about old memories with all of you. Would like to see an old map of all the stores that were there when it opened. Was a really nice mall back then. Haven't been back for about 20 years. Will try to remember more. Made a lot of nice friends while working there. Often wonder where & how everyone is now. 70's were a great time.
I remember going to this mall all the time as a child. I lived in Boca but this is where we went. It was the mid 90's I think. It was already in its downward spiral and many stores were shuttered. I still have fond memories. Any one remember the name of the arcade on the second level, in the food court? I loved that place.
SURE I REMEMBER THE GOOD OLE DAYZ! I MISS THE POMPANO FASHION SQUARE.. MY STEP DAD AND I USED TO GET CARPET ASSIGNMENTS FROM SEARS I USED TO HELP HIM. I WAS 11 AT THE TIME..ITS JUST MEMORIES IN MY BRAIN NOW.. KARL, WAGS WAS THE BOMB SIR!! I USED TO WORK AT THE ONE IN CORAL SPRINGS OFF UNIVERSITY BY SAMPLE BACK IN THE DAY..THE FRIGGIN GRAVEYARD SHIFT TO PAY OF A DEBIT I HAD.. THE FOOD WAS SUPERB!!!! JUST SOO MANY MEMORIES FROM THIS MALL.. I GREW UP IN SOUTH FL ALSO..I AM NOW 53 TILL 19APR..(1966)...TIME HAS GONE BY... I WAS ALSO LEFT IN THE US NAVY AT AGE 19 IN 1985 FOR 7 YRS.. I MISS THE MALL FOR JUST PEOPLE WATCHING 2..I ALSO USED TO PAY I THINK THE PHONE BILL OR THE CABLE BILL UP IN SEARS UPTOP.. WE ALL ON THIS PAGE HAVE OUR OWN SPECIAL MEMORIES... LETS KEEP THEM ALIVE... WOW..SPECS...MUSIC STORES BACK IN THE DAY WAS AWESOME..MEET ALONG OF LADIES BACK THEN..LOL...THATS THE MALL.. OR CORAL SQUARE I WATCHED THAT ONE BEING BUILT 2..AND THE BROWARD MALL... U REALLY START TO CRY WHEN TIME GOES BY ALL WE C ALL THE CHANGES...BUT I GUESS NEW SH_T HAS TO GO UP.. I MISS THE 70'S AND 80;S...SPRING BREAK.. THE NUT HOUSE WAS ANOTHER KUL PLACE.. NOW IM RETIRED FROM THE USPS OUT OF DEERFIELD..IM A MAIL CARRIER..WE SHUD GET A GROUP UP JUST TO TALK OLD TIMES.. TIME GOES BY.. SO MUCH CRAP HAS CHANGED IN SOUTH FL...BUT WE HAVE TO GROW..."BE LIKE WATER MY FRIENDS".... MY NAME IS WRONG.. IM UNDER SXYMAILMN@AOL.COM... B GOOD PEOPLE.. AND B SAFE AND DONT GET SICK... DARREN CASCHERA
Wow, this fish is really out there, isn't it? I love it! Keep 'em coming, Keith!
ReplyDeleteI had the Hallmark store in pompano fashion square the name was la tienda I was there for five years 73 to 78
DeleteI sold it to reflections Hallmark I was also a Hallmark store the mall was young and so is Florida at that time was it only Mall until they built the galleria Town center Broward Mall social expressions in Coral springs was also my store I always loved pompano fashion square was my first store
I'll do that, Katrina, thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, I love this fish. Apparently the Pompano Mall is still hanging on, but I would seriously doubt that this cool sculpture is still there. Can anyone coroborate that?
I remember this sculpture well. They also had water fountains which doubled as wishing wells too... My mom worked at Sears, and we lived in Deerfield Beach, about 10 minutes north of this mall. This was a really cool place.. Burdines, Jordan Marsh, Sears and JC Penny's were anchor stores. Lots of other cool stores too.. There was rooftop parking and it was a very busy place. It has since been remodeled.. I haven't been there since 1983, but I get regular updates from my parents. If you'd like more details and memories from the area during the 70's to the early 80's, please drop me a line at Judderman65@hotmail.com Thanks! Mike
ReplyDeleteI live a few minutes from the mall. It has gone through many renovations over the years. It is going through a major one now. That fish sculture has been long gone.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost sad to happen upon this.. I remember holding my mom's hand as a child while staring at that thing. Things always look huge as a child. Anyone remember the Barefoot Mailman? That store was exactly like Spencer's Gifts! Amazing at the time. I also remember Buster Brown Shoes and The Purple Pickle restaurant WAY in the ceiling. Again, this wire fish jarred a lot of old pleasant memories. I would love to find some interior shots of the old Coral Ridge Mall in Oakland Park. Ahh... McCroy's and Britt's!
ReplyDeleteI loved pompano fashion square. i used to work at morrows nut house!remember that one, they are no longer around, the best nuts and chocolates you can find! the mall is being renovated now, i was there just today . it looks very modern and is coming along nicley. what happens when it rains?
ReplyDeleteand we all know it will rain in our great city!
Yes, I remember Morrows Nut House! Was one of my favorite stores to go to in the mall. Does anyone remember that cool second floor parking lot where you could walk across a narrow walkway with glass on both sides? I think it led into Sears 2nd floor if I remember correctly.
DeleteTalk about bringing back memories...my brother and I grew up in Boca Raton and the Pompano Fashion Square was THE mall to go to. We spend many a weekend trolling around that place. Yes, we remember the Barefoot Mailman (my brother still owns a lighted sign that says Bullshit that he bought there) and we loved the Purple Pickle. I had forgotten all about that fish sculpture until I saw the photo...how cool was that thing? Wasn't life a lot simpler back in the days of the Fashion Square???
ReplyDeleteThe Pompano Fashion Square was built in the early seventies, not the sixties. My sister Cindy is right, I do still have a momento from The Barefoot Mailman store. The Purple Pickle restaurant was quite the place back in the day. And let's not forget the Walgreen's diner. That was THE mall from Ft Lauderdale to West Palm when it was built.
ReplyDeletei also remember morrisons restaurant, and LaTENDA HALLMARK CARD AND GIFT STORE next to parklane on one side and dunderbaks deli on the other side
DeleteSome of the other cool shops there were; Mr. Dunderbacks Deli (They had a huge rat problem, after hours.. munching on all the hanging meats**LOL**), Hoffritz Cutlery (remember the huge rotating swiss army knife display?), Foxmoor clothing store, and O.J.'s... sold strong orange slushy like drinks.. (tasted alot like tang...**LOL**), the Drivers Seat. I'm sure there were plenty more too.. I'm sure I'll think of more later. Mike
ReplyDeleteMy family moved to Boca Raton in 1970 and the Pompano Mall was the only mall in the area. I-95 wasn't even built yet. We used to drive down to Pompano on Federal Highway. I remember the fish sculpture well and I still have a bar mirror (Dewers scotch) that I bought in the Barefoot Mailman when I was in high school. I still live in Boca but I haven't been to the Pompano mall in many years. I'm sure I wouldn't recognize the place now.
ReplyDeleteI'd also forgotten about the fish but I can pretty well remember many of the stores there. When I was in elem. school my folks bought a Minah bird at the Pet Center, too. It's kind of ironic that The Barefoot Mailman eventually went out of business...maybe it was considered "too 70's" by the time the 80's rolled around?...only to see the emergence of a'la Spencers Gifts and similar stores years later which is pretty much the same thing as TBM sans the "smoking items" for sale in the back.
ReplyDeleteI bought several Monty Python albums at "The Record Bar" (think that was the name of the record store) and it was where I first heard of Firesign Theater after seeing their albums for sale.
One year, circa 6th/7th grade, for some reason me and a friend walked from Boca clear down to the Fashion Square and THEN walked back via A1A! I have no idea what compelled us to do so but we did it...maybe just to see if we could: Such was the adventure in going to the PFS back in the day.
And who could forget the Magic Wagon? Or the Woolworths diner...forgot what it was called, the "something or another" House? When I was a wee tot it was there that I would buy most of my Christmas presents for relatives with my limited funds since I was able to buy the small-sizes of perfume, etc. I recall it always seemed like I'd be able to get a real load of stuff for like $5 or even less!
And then, of course, there was that place that sold cheese...Hickory Farms!...Hoffritz-for-Cutlery, Dunderbach's, and even a Barber shop!
One of the fun things to do was ride the "glass elevator" though I think it took you only to offices of one sort or another. But, still, it was a GLASS ELEVATOR!
In more recent years...I'll say by the mid-90's or earlier...the mall had lost all of its charm and totally slummed out. The day a mall gets a Dollar Store is the day you can kiss it goodbye. Not only did it get a Dollar Store but also a Walgreens. Lots of space was vacant and it was just totally "low rent". Definately a place to avoid.
It went from being called The Pompano Fashion Square to Pompano Square Mall to, in its latest incarnation, Pompano Citi Centre. I don't know why they spell the name in such a silly way, though. My guess is it won't make it unless real-estate prices makes the place a draw just because footage is available. Link to it at: http://www.pompanociticentre.com/
The record shop was called Record World. I remember the wishing wells / water fountains. I worked at Purple Pickle,Dutch Oven,JC Penny,Orange Bowl snack bar. All through the 70's
DeleteThe "diner" was the Harvest House! Don't forget Florsheim Shoes (where I had to buy my church shoes all through middle school 'cause of my way-narrow foot)! The County Seat and Wild Oats (kind of like designer jean shops). The Orange Bowl! And I think the PFS Sears was one of the first to experiment with putting a McDonald's in the store (it was a short-lived experiment, as I recall).
ReplyDeleteFunny, but the Oaks Mall actually had a Dollar Tree (Gainesville's very first!) for a while--it was great--but you kind of knew that it wasn't gonna be able to stay long-term given the lease structure (same for the DRUG STORE the Oaks used to have).
All this and yet there was no movie theatre or multi-plex located inside! (Of course, where the Oaks used to have their multi-plex is now part of the expanded food court and the ABERCROMBIE & FITCH--see? We even have a place you Beasleys can shop when you come to visit). Didn't the PFS also have a Swiss Colony for a short while? Seemed to me that they did...
And I had totally forgotten about Morrow's Nut House (and of course, no visit to PFS was complete without joking about THAT name)...
Great to find this site.. I had totally forgotten the fish - that was so cool!
ReplyDeleteThe record store was called "Record Land". I worked there (with the
plexiglass doors over the tape section - where you would drop your tape of choice onto the conveyor belt that would take it to the end of the wall so you could buy it). Ahh yes, the Barefoot Mailman, the Orange Bowl (remember the posters on the wall there - like 'Confessions of a Twistee Freak' and 'the evolution of pizza'??), Paper Tree, the Sony store next to Mr Dunderbak's where I saw the first Betamax machine (I recall it being in the four digits in '75), and who could forget Hickory Farms (America's leading cheese store)- that's truly an honor. OMG - the Purple Pickle upstairs (later the food court). This mall went through a long decline, and is now all gone except for the anchors which are now free-standing. One item uncovered during the demolition was the 'Burdine's' logo scar on the east side of what is now Macy's (it was the logo in the mall entrance). It's still there (for now) for the world to remember. This mall was the mall of my youth (along with Coral Ridge, Lauderhill and Lakes Malls) - I would love to chat with anyone about these malls - and would love to see any memrabilia related to them.
Keith asked :
ReplyDeleteApparently the Pompano Mall is still hanging on, but I would seriously doubt that this cool sculpture is still there. Can anyone coroborate that?
I was just at what I'll call the site of the old PFS this past weekend. It's been re-done and looks totally different....no longer an indoor mall but rather one of those "outdoor places". The fish is long gone as are any reminders of "the old PFS" other than that Sears and Pennys are still there. The placement of the stores, imho, is awkward. Let me copy here what I wrote to a friend about the old PFS location:
Lisa and I went to the former Pompano Fashion Square today. They are trying to make it into some sort of "pedestrian village", as near as I can tell, but to me it's a big mess. It's no longer an indoor mall....similar to Mizner Park http://www.miznerpark.com/html/index.asp , all the stores have exterior entrances. So if you want to go from Sears to JC Penny you've got to walk all over the friggin' place! The place was pretty well dead, too, with the exception of Lowe's. WTF?! A Lowe's at a "mall"?! The frontside of this new incarnation of the PFS (now called "City Centre"...why the bizarre spelling of "Center"?!), facing Federal Hwy., doesn't look too shabby but the backside is essentially a demolition zone. Very ugly. The Sears is pretty much the same ol' Sears from ages ago (sans the candy/popcorn counter...which was a nice touch back in the day). The neighborhoods along Copans Road (at least what we saw from the street) look to be declining and that area of Federal is just overall crappy looking. I can't see why they are trying to revitalize the place as a shopping destination. It's not like there are tons of high-end neighborhoods around there that I'm aware of. And even if there are, I doubt those folks are itching to shop at Sears or Pennys!
(Oh, FYI...it seems that the porno bookstore/theater across the street is also gone. ed.)
(Oh, FYI...it seems that the porno bookstore/theater across the street is also gone. ed.)
ReplyDeleteKinda off-topic, but that place was called the "Fashion Cinema" and it used to be an Arthur Treachers Fish and Chips restaurant. I remember "Deep Throat" playing at 2 a.m., posted there for years ... **LOL** It fianlly faded away, but it would be interesting to see what went in it's place. There was also the Harbor Chrysler/Plymouth dealer on the opposite corner.
I grew up in Coral Springs in the early 70's and boy was it an adventure to go to the "Fashion Square"! Always begged mom to park on the roof! The Glass elevator to the Purple Pickle was a kids dream come true. Jordan Marsh was so elegant! Never could find the second floor! But for Movies you had to go to the Lakes Mall
ReplyDeleteMan talk about memeroies we moved to coconut creek in 1970 the pompano mall was where I got every pair of pants shirts and zips shoes I wore to school. I am glad I found this site all I was looking for was a slice of orange bowl pizza, dont bother I googled it and it came up 0 its funny how the brain holds on to taste because that was some of the crapist pizza anyone ever made but if I could find one Id order a large I rember the purple pickle and also the big rotating knife in the store also the restaurant right next to the knife store I can't rember the name but we useto goto it every sunday after church it was the only thing open in the mall on sunday that was a time you were lucky to find anything open on sunday.I still live in coconut creek with my own family now my wife thinks im crazy but she has only been in florida for 15 years so she dosn't rember the pompano mall in its glory as soon as the coral square mall opened pompano was DOOMED just to let you know pompano mall is coming back it still has sears now it has lowes and looks like the revamp may do it good in fact I think i'll drag my wife to it this week just to see how much it has changed she's always up for going to any mall if anyone has any pictures of the interior I'd love to see them.
ReplyDeleteI had the Hallmark card store in pompano fashion square opposite Sears I wish next to Park Lane on one side dunderbak's on the other then I opened Coral square Mall social expressions American greetings store and gifts next to champs in Coral square I have great memories a pompano square
DeleteOMG this is too funny! I grew up in the Ft Lauderdale/Pompano area and went to Pompano Fashion Square all the time! Orange Bowl! Wow, I hadn't thought of that in YEARS. Wasn't there a Britts at that mall originally, or am I mistaken (I was REALLY young when I first started going). I used to love The Barefoot Mailman :) And to whoever mentioned the porno theatre... hahahah... I remember the sign proclaiming Deep Throat playing there for ages too! Wow... total memories. I feel so old now.
ReplyDeleteBritts was actually in the Coral Ridge Mall.
DeleteThis brings back a lot of memories...
ReplyDeleteMemorable stores at the PFS were the Barefoot Mailman and the Orange Bowl. When my mom took me to the mall as a child, she'd shop for clothes in Casual Corner while I'd putz around Barefoot Mailman. I didn't have much money to shop with, so my biggest purchase at the Mailman wound up being a pair of Mexican jumping beans.
I also remember passing Mr. Dunderbach's Deli on every visit, and being disappointed that my mom didn't want to eat there.
In my teenage years ('84-'89), the mall seemed to lose its charm, but still featured places I shopped at a lot (loading up on Bugle Boy and Pier Connection clothes at JC Penneys, shoes at Foot Locker, and sports stuff at Champs). Also read a lot at the Waldenbooks store.
The fish and the fountains were cool. Nice creative & local flavor.
We first visited the Fashion Square Mall in 1975 when we came over on vacation from the UK. The Mall was thriving then. We remember the pet shop in one corner of the Mall and especially remember the Purple Pickle restaurant as we went there just before we flew home and couldn't believe that the salad bar was included in the meal !!! We've been back quite a few times and seen it, sadly, deteriorate like some of the smaller malls around Clearwater/St. Pete. I guess that Sawgrass may have been partly responsible for the decline.
ReplyDeleteAmy Lunde said...
ReplyDeleteOMG this is too funny! I grew up in the Ft Lauderdale/Pompano area and went to Pompano Fashion Square all the time! Orange Bowl! Wow, I hadn't thought of that in YEARS. Wasn't there a Britts at that mall originally, or am I mistaken (I was REALLY young when I first started going).
LOL! The only Britts I knew of was the one in the old Boca Mall on Federal. As a matter of fact, I worked there during high school for a spell. I'm sure there were other Britts here and there but I just wanted to remind folks of the other defunct mall in Boca, the old "Boca Mall".
ROGER HERE.. BRITS WAS AT THE LAKES MALL NORTH END.JEFFERSONS AT SOUTH END, THE ORANGE BOWL WAS GREAT !!
ReplyDeleteLAUDERHILL MALL- WOOLCO NORTH END
RICHARDS SOUTH END AND THEY HAD NUMRO UNOS PIZZA NEXT TO THE MOVIES. AND DON'T FORGET BLACK ANGAS STEAK HOUSE AND THE BIG SLIDE IN THE PARKING LOT !!
THOSE WERE THE DAYS....
Ahh yes... I remember the old Boca Raton Mall. It lived for such a short time and the interior was dark (yet it had strips of floresent lights like Kmart's) and smelled like stale popcorn. The anchors were a Surise Multi-Plex (the popcorn smell :p), Jefferson Ward, and Britts.
ReplyDeleteWhat really destroyed the mall's heart was the opening of the upscale Town Center at Boca Raton just outside the city limits in 1979. It continues to operate with even more upscale shops like NM, Saks, Bloomingdales, Tommy Bahama, Chanel, etc. Mizner Park, the central core of downtown Boca Raton took the place of the Boca Mall. The movie theater is still there (as a different building...) but no other anchors exist.
I grew up in Pompano but migrated after graduating from UF in 83. Here's a blast from the past. I remember having our little league banquets at the "Purple Pickle". It was a big deal, but I was so small I don't know if that Restaurant sucked or not. It was majic when I was 12. I was on the "Nieman Construction" team of the Exchange Club Little League in the 1970-1972 timeframe that played at the field near the high school and then at the quad field park the city built over in that area by the minor league park where we also played city football in the outfield (I was on "Lake Side, but Recreation, So. Pompano and Hillboro were cool too!). Haven't been there in 25 years since I moved north. Good memories though.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone reads this that was there send me an email at dgreene@neuropace.com.
David Greene
I remember the PFS very well- we used to go to Pompano Beach every Easter when I was growing up. Morrow's Nut House was always a favorite (gummi bears!), Haagen Daz ice cream when it was just starting out, the Purple Pickle, Mr. Grump's, and god forbid- The Morrison's Cafeteria! I remember the Barefoot Mailman too. Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw Michigan was built by the same group that did Pompano Square Mall- no Mr. Pickle in the ceiling though. Does anyone remember Lionel Play World? My mom always took us there while on vacation and it was a big treat to go there with our "vacation money". The Easter Bunny always managed to "find" us in our hotel and leave us treats from Morrow's Nut House and Lionel Playworld. The Caves was a bit hit when we were a little older- we thought it was like eating with the Flintstones and would beg to go there.
ReplyDeleteYES.. Ive BEEN IN THAT PLAYWORLD LOTS OF TIMES, JUST SOUTH OF THE MALL. DID YOU EVER GO DOWN TO PIRATES WORLD? OR THE WATER SLIDES JUST NORTH OF THE MALL.. THOSE WERE THE DAYS !! ROGER..
ReplyDeleteYeah the water slide was called the "Water Boggan".. been there many times. It was right next to the Pompano Cinema there and of course... Diversions.. the huge round mega-arcade. It was part of the "shoppers haven" center. Diversions became "the Doll House".. is the building still there? How about Skaggs and Albertsons and the Army Navy surplus store across sample road from the Fasion Square Mall? How about the old Zayres and the Dairy Queen a little bit further up the road on the east side of Federal Highway? PlayWorld... **LOL**... remember all the train sets they used to sell? Anyone remember the automatic shoe size checking machine in Sears at the Mall? You put your foot in a box shaped depression and the sides would come in and it would show your foot size?.. Way cool stuff back then.. How about the beach ball always "floating" up in the air (it was in an airstream from a vacuum cleaner in the vac dept.. right next to the popcorn stand .. remember? **LOL** I'm showing my age again..
ReplyDeleteYES.. IT WAS CALLED THE WATER BOGGAN!! BOY THAT ALL SEEMS SO LONG AGO..LAST TIME I WAS THERE WAS 1976 I WAS 15 YEARS OLD. NOW IN PALM BEACH THANKS FOR THE TRIP BACK IN TIME !! ROGER
ReplyDeleteWe used to skateboard in there while it was under construction. Sometime around 1970-71 if memory serves. The fish is gone. There was a Singer sewing machine shop that sold records as well and a record store that had groups like Mountain visit on occasion. Pirates World, an amusement park in Dania, was out or on the way out, so we became mall rats. This was also a righteous place to skip school as the high school was walking distance. The mall has been remodeled and a Lowes now takes up the majority of the front. But back in the days you could not go in there without seeing someone you knew.
ReplyDeleteThe bowling alley remains close by on Federal highway and we hung out there as well. The pier also was not far away. Pompano started going to s%#@ about 1975 but before that it was a really nice low key beach town like you still find further up the coast.
Anyone wanting to chat about PB can contact me at pompanojoe2@aol.com.
I went to pompano square mall yesterday. it looks completely different from the original mall that was built. it looks like the main department stores stayed the same, but they removed the rest of the smaller stores, food court, parking garage and upper level and completely re built the middle of the mall. instead of it being an indoor mall like it origonally was, it is now outdoors except for the anchor stores.there is still a few of the origonal stores that remain, but most are new. ! i think they did a great job, because when i visited 3 yrs ago i thought that mall was going to be torn down due to the bad condition it was in , so i cant wait to see all the new stores! :O)
ReplyDeleteI worked at that Zayre's on Federal! It was a lot like a trip to Hell daily for me. I didn't see that anyone has mentioned Gallagher's at ol' Fashion Square. I had a boyfriend who would take me there for steaks and recall a fashion show with table models while we dined and looked out the large windows over the mall, from up on the 2nd floor. Very classy place, was my young impression (I was 16.) This was the mid-70s. Also recall that porno theatre. Once we opened the door to peep in and a rather large bouncer-type guy came out and asked us to go away. We laughed until we cried.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really from the 70's, more like the 90's but even when I was little my grandma and I used to go to Pompano Fashion Square all the time...I miss those days...it was still kind of alive back then, but slowly deteriorating...when I turned 11, it was almost dead...so many shops had closed down, and others getting ready to. It's so sad to not find anymore memories back there...everything's gone. I don't even live in Ft. Lauderdale anymore, but from what people tell me, it's like a completely different place now. I want the old days back!
ReplyDeleteYOU CAN SEE LAUDERHILL MALL HERE
ReplyDeletehttp://www.labelscar.com/category/florida/
ROGER..
Do any of you remember Uncle Sams from the 80's? Uncle Sams was located at shoppers haven on sample RD and fedral highway,if I was not hanging out at the Pompano Fashion Square I was there,a little record store that sold concert tickets through cellar door productions.The diversions building was tore down a long time ago for a Walgreens on the corner now.The Zayres has been gone forever(late 80's)but the building still stands,it has been a bunch of failed stores since then. Believe it or not the Dairy Queen is still there.I took a walk through the Pompano Fashion Square right before they started to remodel it and said my goodbyes to all the great memories. I once got stuck in the cargo elavator before they added the upstairs food court and there was nothing but offices up there.I was 11 years old,got in all kinds of trouble for that.lol. Do any of you remember the Pompano Outlet Mall with Fox Movie theatres and Diversions3 in it?
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I used to walk or ride our bikes almost everyday to Uncle Sams Music Store, usually to buy used cassette tapes and t-shirts. Awesome store, we miss it. Remember Wordens World of Crafts next to Uncle Sams? Anyone remember Wags restaurant near Federal Highway and 24th street?
DeleteDOES ANYONE REMBER ORANGE BOWL PIZZA? IM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPEND TO THEM AND WHO OWNED THEM.. THEY WERE IN POMPANO,LAKES AND OTHER MALLS. THE BEST THIN CRUST !! THANKS ROGER ( NOW LIVING IN OCALA )
ReplyDeleteI used to work at the Sears there.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember The Basket Case? This was one of those kiosk type stores outside of Woolworth's.
I still have a pretty tin my mother bought me at one of the boutique type stores. Wish I could remember the name.
"I bought several Monty Python albums at "The Record Bar" (think that was the name of the record store)"
ReplyDeleteIt was actually called "Record World". Before that I think it was called "Record Land". I remember thinking that it was going "big time" due to the name change - ha, ha! I can still see the manager standing behind the counter, kind of a Freddie Prinze looking guy (at least the hairstyle and moustache - way 70s)with the cords, brown boots, thick leather belt and collared, long sleeve shirt (probably paisley). Weird how memories and details can pour out once you are prompted (by the fish sculpture of course). I also remember the huge funky metal chandeliers hanging from the ceilings. I remember shopping for pants at JC Penny with my mom and being directed to the "husky" boy section. Humiliating! I remember wanting "Tough Skins" jeans from Sears and got my first pair of real sneakers, Adidas, there (no more Army/Navy Store cheap sneaks for me!). I remember my mom being shocked that the Adidas were $12.00but she bought them anyway. I remember wearing my old sneakers to baseball practice (Furman Insurance on Atlantic was our sponsor - purple shirts and a hat with the letter "F" on it). Back then JC Penneys, Burdines, Sears and even the Singer sewing machine place sold records... Anyone remember the huge, obese woman in the Paul Diamond's Magic Fun Wagon booth? She used to wear fake eyelashes and looked like a crazed drag queen. My brother's told me to ask her if this was "a sideshow" when I was about 12 and she actually chased me and made me call my mom. Naturally, my bros split but that was the only bad memory of the mall. Scary woman but served me right. Hey, was Mr. Dunderbachs the place near Sears? I thought it was called something else... I remember going by there when I was around 10 and snarfing the free samples out front and saying things like "That's really good, I'll have to let mom know about this cheese and salami" so the worker wouldn't think I was just there for free food. LOL! Slick, right? I remember the pet store too down there at the end by Jordan Marsh. It was always our last stop before waiting for mom to pick us up outside of Jordan Marsh. Later in life (like 4 years), I worked at Barefoot Mailman when I was 16 and the Piercing Pagoda (booth) when I was around 18. I thought working at the PP would be a good way to meet girls but the only ones who usually came by were mothers wanting to pierce their babie's ears. Needless to say I probably traumatized alot of 3 year olds... if you are reading this now, I'm sorry guys!
"How about the beach ball always "floating" up in the air (it was in an airstream from a vacuum cleaner in the vac dept.. right next to the popcorn stand .. remember? **LOL**"
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! That's the best! I can see it now! Anybody remember the Chess King store next to Barefoot Mailman? For all your hip clothing needs - ha, ha! Later on we called it the Cheese King because it was kind of a cheesy place.
RE: Anyone remember the huge, obese woman in the Paul Diamond's Magic Fun Wagon booth? She used to wear fake eyelashes and looked like a crazed drag queen. My brother's told me to ask her if this was "a sideshow" when I was about 12 and she actually chased me and made me call my mom. Naturally, my bros split but that was the only bad memory of the mall. Scary woman but served me right.
ReplyDeleteYes I remember her, as I worked with her for about 8 months before moving to West Palm Beach and Managing "The Magic Fun Wagon" in the Palm Beach Mall. Paul had sold his interest out by then and the "Fun Wagons" were owned by two gentleman who were the brothers of the lady at the "Fun Wagon" in Pompano.
I grew up in Boca, and for the first half of the '70s this was a regular trip for us. Every visit with Santa Claus was at PFS. But more than anything else at the mall, we were usually most excited about the prospect of stopping at Lionel PlayWorld.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Boca Mall opened, we had less need to go to Pompano, and stopped altogether when Town Center opened.
By the way, Town Center hurt the Boca Mall, but it was the City's Downtown Redevelopment Authority that killed it to put up Mizner Park instead.
For a city that was traditionally so concerned about development density, downtown Boca is a nightmare now.
sadfaeg
ReplyDeleteI remember the mall. The water bogan was awesome. What about starship odyssey? This was the darkest arcade ever. It was that saucer shaped building on the corner of Sample and Federal. They later changed it to the Dollhouse III.
ReplyDeleteI worked at the Magic Fun Wagon the last 2 years it existed in Pompano. It was a dream job for me as I was only 12 years old. Yes, I worked with the fat lady with the lashes. She was my friend, her name was Glenis and she loved chasing punks away. She eventually left the MFW and it got very boring after that. Towards the end we sold t-shirts, that was the begininng of the end. I had the whole Fashion Square experience -- malted milk balls from Sears, pickles from Dunderbaks, SteakUmm from Woolworths, smoking weed with the Florsheims guys...great times!
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for the old Cozzolis Pizzaria that was on the second deck. I remember eating that pizza like it was yesterday. anyone know where that owner went or the pizza that taste like that contact me at jnino88@bellsouth.net
ReplyDeleteI would come down to Lauderhill to visit my grandmother (Nana) every now then starting when I was 8 years old (1979-1988). My 3 favorite things were Mr. Gump's (or was it Mr. Grump's or was it both?), Swensen's Ice Cream in the Broward Mall and the waterslide on Commercial Blvd. near I-95 and the beach that you could go down head-first without a mat.
ReplyDeletetest
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ReplyDeleteI didn't see anyone mention Chest King. Only reason I remember it is because my sister's boyfriend Paul B worked there. Born in 1960, I grew up the neighborhood a couple blocks north of the Mall. I spent alot money at the Barefoot Mailman, posters, blacklight bulbs, light bulbs that would fliker, pipes etc. I could never understand, looking back, why my parients didn't know I was a pothead by all the lights and posters in my bedroom, the Smoke the Best, Smoke Columbian blacklight poster sould of been a dead give away. LOL
ReplyDeleteI still have the Ghost Gallon and Led Zepplin's Oakland concert poster that I bought at the barefoot mailman.
I remeber going to the mall one day to just hangout and as I walking in the small mall entrance by Burdines I see this car pull up in front of the north entrance of Burdines and watched four guys get out of the car all wearing long blond hair wigs, sunglasses going inside, they robbed the place, all had shotguns. That was around late 1975 and crime was on the rise.
I was forceably relocated to central FL around 1976. They have a mall in Orlando that was built by the same people who built the Pompano Fashion Square, it looks almost the same but with no second floor parking.
I think my best memories of the PFS was watching the fireworks from the 2nd floor parking lot and racing my bike or roller skating down the upstair's parking lot ramps, now that was cool.
Bruce
Does anywone remember Q Records and Tapes on north Federal Hihway right next door to the Super Skating Center?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteI grew up 7 blocks from the fashion Square in Lighthouse Point. The Mall opened up for Christmas of 1969.At that time it was the largest fully air conditioned mall.The name of the clothing store was "Chess King". Does anybody remember the "Cobbler shop" with all those leather visors and wrist bands ? The placed smelled awesome. "Record Land " became "Record World" a few years before closing. Don't 4-get " Hot Sams Pretzels "
ReplyDeleteYou're correct is was called Chess King. Oh yeah, the air conditioning, that was nice. So was hanging out at the mall, I always liked the wishing pond, I guess you could call it. The way the wall was shaped around it allowed you the sit down and lean back and the back of your knee's stopped you from fallen in the water, was kind of comfortble really. The glass elevator, was neat for the time. The good old days, life was much simpler back then. The only skating rink I remember and skated at was on Smaple road around 12th Ave if I remember right. The Barefoot Mailman was my favorite store at PFS and the little pizza shop on the corner by Pennies.
ReplyDeleteTake it easy
Bruce
Bruce
It was in Pompano. A Pompano is a type of fish so... yeah.
DeleteOops! Above reply was meant for a different post. But yeah, I totally remember sitting in those slanted walls!
DeleteI got my "pet rock" at the Barefoot Mailman! My church, Zion Lutheran, used to have the youth choir sing at the mall every Christmas time. We would stand on a "stage" set up with some risers. Is the old Arby's still across Fed hwy and down a little?
ReplyDeleteI remember it all as I was there day before opening since I'd just moved to Pompano beach from Hollywood Beach. Winter 1969. A lot has changed since. Used to smoke a lot o' pot with those people, I mean a LOT! I ALWAYS had pot! I'd get hassled by the janotors pushing those blue carts around...
ReplyDeletehi, great memories for sure! Does anyone out there remember a department store there in the early 70"s that had a glass case with big decorated cookies? i absolutely remember that but my parents say in crazy?
ReplyDeletepretty nice store
ReplyDeleteInteresting fish.The artist must have thought about this one a lot.Who is the author?
ReplyDeleteI LIVED in that mall. And Diversions was NOT in Shopper's Haven but just to the North in a very small strip center with the Cinema. The Little Round Table Restaurant used to be next door until they enclosed it with mirrors and turned it into a noodie bar. I played on the hills of dirt used to build the Water Boggan. The wooden locker areas to change were really nice and well-built but the foam mats you had to use so you didn't burn your ass on the slide sucked. As did the walk up.
ReplyDeleteShopper's Haven used to be just as cool as the Fashion Square. There were some interesting boutiques with those glass enclosed front displays with a hall with the door recessed down that hall. One was "Dianne's" and had its name in tiles on the sidewalk that remained after the store turned into a hobby shop. There used to a carnival in the parking lot of Shoppers Haven for years, once a year. Jackson Byrons was there.
I think it's not a very appropriate statue for a mall.You would think they would make a model or a shopping bag at least...
ReplyDeleteBut noooo....they thought a fish is a perfect representation of the business there.
In response to Heather... I think I know what you are talking about with the decorated cookies. I'm pretty sure it was Burdine's that had a bakery/cookie kiosk that was a glass display under the nook of the escalators. I hope that helps...
ReplyDeleteIn response to Jessica... I think the large fish statue was quite appropriate since the city (and therefore the mall) was named after a fish! :)
ReplyDeleteBefore the mall was built this was in the field by federal highway. When they built the mall they moved it inside. I grew up on 24th street before the 7/11 was there. And 24th did not go thru to dixie.
ReplyDeleteNike Free 5.0 mens leather grey black
ReplyDeleteNike Free 5.0 mens leather red black
Nike Free 5.0 mens leather grey blue
Nike Free 5.0 Womens Red Black
Nike Free 5.0 mens Black Grey
Nike Free 5.0 mens leather black
Nike Free 5.0 mens red black
Nike Free 5.0 mens White Red Grey
What year is this last posting in ???
ReplyDeletelove the mall, used to go on the roof to watch the fireworks from the park on July 4.what about diversions and the water boggin?
ReplyDeleteI loved Pompano Beach!Lived in Pompano Area 1973-1979. Actually worked part-time @ Gray Drug Store & a center kiosk called Ole. Anyone remember that little store? I haven't seen it mentioned by anyone.
ReplyDeleteIt was right across from Gray Drug & Capezios. Barbara Streisand's Uncle was the manager @ Capezios. Was nice reading about old memories with all of you. Would like to see an old map of all the stores that were there when it opened. Was a really nice mall back then. Haven't been back for about 20 years. Will try to remember more. Made a lot of nice friends while working there. Often wonder where & how everyone is now. 70's were a great time.
Little Round Table Restaurants were my favorite. Went often with my family cause my Aunt Helen loved the happy hour 2 for 1. Big drinks too.
ReplyDeleteWow. Such memories from that mall.
ReplyDeleteWow. Such memories from that mall.
ReplyDeleteI remember going to this mall all the time as a child. I lived in Boca but this is where we went. It was the mid 90's I think. It was already in its downward spiral and many stores were shuttered. I still have fond memories. Any one remember the name of the arcade on the second level, in the food court? I loved that place.
ReplyDeleteChess king
ReplyDeleteSURE I REMEMBER THE GOOD OLE DAYZ! I MISS THE POMPANO FASHION SQUARE.. MY STEP DAD AND I USED TO GET CARPET ASSIGNMENTS FROM SEARS I USED TO HELP HIM. I WAS 11 AT THE TIME..ITS JUST MEMORIES IN MY BRAIN NOW.. KARL, WAGS WAS THE BOMB SIR!! I USED TO WORK AT THE ONE IN CORAL SPRINGS OFF UNIVERSITY BY SAMPLE BACK IN THE DAY..THE FRIGGIN GRAVEYARD SHIFT TO PAY OF A DEBIT I HAD.. THE FOOD WAS SUPERB!!!! JUST SOO MANY MEMORIES FROM THIS MALL.. I GREW UP IN SOUTH FL ALSO..I AM NOW 53 TILL 19APR..(1966)...TIME HAS GONE BY... I WAS ALSO LEFT IN THE US NAVY AT AGE 19 IN 1985 FOR 7 YRS.. I MISS THE MALL FOR JUST PEOPLE WATCHING 2..I ALSO USED TO PAY I THINK THE PHONE BILL OR THE CABLE BILL UP IN SEARS UPTOP.. WE ALL ON THIS PAGE HAVE OUR OWN SPECIAL MEMORIES... LETS KEEP THEM ALIVE... WOW..SPECS...MUSIC STORES BACK IN THE DAY WAS AWESOME..MEET ALONG OF LADIES BACK THEN..LOL...THATS THE MALL.. OR CORAL SQUARE I WATCHED THAT ONE BEING BUILT 2..AND THE BROWARD MALL... U REALLY START TO CRY WHEN TIME GOES BY ALL WE C ALL THE CHANGES...BUT I GUESS NEW SH_T HAS TO GO UP.. I MISS THE 70'S AND 80;S...SPRING BREAK.. THE NUT HOUSE WAS ANOTHER KUL PLACE.. NOW IM RETIRED FROM THE USPS OUT OF DEERFIELD..IM A MAIL CARRIER..WE SHUD GET A GROUP UP JUST TO TALK OLD TIMES.. TIME GOES BY.. SO MUCH CRAP HAS CHANGED IN SOUTH FL...BUT WE HAVE TO GROW..."BE LIKE WATER MY FRIENDS"....
ReplyDeleteMY NAME IS WRONG.. IM UNDER SXYMAILMN@AOL.COM...
B GOOD PEOPLE.. AND B SAFE AND DONT GET SICK...
DARREN CASCHERA
IM NOT UNKNOWN.. IM SXYMAILMN@AOL.COM...DARREN CASCHERA DFLD FL
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