Wichita, Kansas - 1975
Interior view of Towne East Square Mall when it first opened (blogged about this funky mall before). The source for this photo says that this view is looking north from upper level near JCPenney's. The store visible on the right is a Helzberg Diamonds (which is still there).
Mall history: 1975 - present
Current website: here
Current aerial view
Previous entries: 1
(Study image courtesy of Wichita State University Libraries' Department of Special Collections)
It's like boarding a spacecraft.
ReplyDeleteIs this a Taubman mall? Looks like it a little bit.
ReplyDeleteWOW!! Isn't this from Star Wars? One of the Imperial ships or something? lol
ReplyDeleteAdd in a 30-degree bend, and it reminds me of my old stomping grounds, Cumberland Mall, in Atlanta.
ReplyDeleteNow THAT'S a cool looking mall. Definitely Taubmanish. I love the large scaffolding-like sculpture on the left side.
ReplyDeleteScott
I worked there. Henry's Towne East, as a gift-wrapper! There were only a few stores open at that time.
ReplyDeleteOn the first floor there was a Taco Tico, and a pet shop. Upstairs was the McDonalds and Athletic Attic. Wow, that was a long time ago...back when you could still smoke inside.
ReplyDeleteWow, I was actually just at this mall earlier this afternoon and I'm glad to say it looks NOTHING like this. I vaguely remember the big remodel in the late 80's / early 90's when they turned the middle into a food court. It's still by far the largest and most successful mall in Wichita.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember there being a "Jamaican paradICE" shop around like 1991-1992? I think it was in like a kiosk type Shop? I think they'd moved between both floors. Anyway, they sold this shaved ice with some kind of ice cream in it.
ReplyDeleteOh yes I loved Jamaican Ice....looooved that vanilla ice cream in the bottom of the cone! It was in the 90s for sure! They were located upstairs by sears for awhile in one of the tucked away corner shops along the top level railing!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, the Jamaican Ice. I've never had a snow-cone like that since. You just reminded me of something I haven't thought of in 20 years.
ReplyDeleteWhen the mall first opened there was a large wooden sculpture in center court. Does anyone know what happened to it?
ReplyDeleteWho remembers the electric go karts in the arcade? That and the toy/hobby shop?
ReplyDelete