375:, said 40 percent of the mall was vacant. In 2004 the William L. Patton Jr. Family Limited Partnership of Arkansas and southern Real Estate and Financial Co. sued Simon Property Group Inc seeking an injunction forcing Simon to "undertake any and all actions necessary" to restore the mall to good conditions. The land owners said the entire mall was in a state of disrepair and neglect. They claimed that Simon's neglect to maintain the building had been driving away tenants for decades. A team of inspectors hired by the landowners to document the condition of the mall testified in 2005 that the vacant Montgomery Ward space was full of puddles, moldy ceiling tiles, and dead pigeons.
408:. The Simon management issued a deadline to the remaining tenants to vacate the mall by midnight on October 27. Strode reportedly planned to demolish the mall and build an open-air shopping center called "Park Avenue," similar to the Midtowne Shopping Center just to the northeast of the property. Strode said that after knocking down the old mall he planned to build a "lifestyle center" with a Main Street feel. The only parts of the old University Mall that would be integrated into Park Avenue were the parking deck, with a possible third level added, and the Montgomery Ward basement.
254:
38:
392:
358:. Renaissance Properties Ltd. of Little Rock, which had created the Main Street Mall in downtown Little Rock, announced its 22 initial tenants. For the next decade, University Mall still had plenty of business, but when the Main Street Mall succumbed to the effects of Little Rock's dying downtown, Park Plaza Mall across the street and McCain Mall in North Little Rock established themselves as Little Rock's preferred destinations to shop.
332:-coated tent-like structure towered over the new concourse, referred to as "the skylight" because it let so much light in. The concourse was expanded to two levels, connected by escalators and an elevator and a carousel as its centerpiece. The new upper level had a cantilevered walkway overlooking the bottom level and a 9,000-square-foot (840 m) food court. A multi-level parking garage was also built on the north side of the mall.
379:
would potentially include half a dozen individual structures, including a big-box retailer on the west, two high-rise multifamily residential buildings on the north and a multistory medical office complex on
University Avenue. Paschall Strategic Communications, who was assisting with Simon's public relations campaign on the project, said that the negotiations were "going very well"; however these plans did not come to pass.
345:. An oversized electrical switch turned on the lights, signifying the reopening of the renovated mall. The mall had about 55 stores and was expecting eventually to house 70. It had 697,000 square feet (64,800 m) of leasable space; however, there was other retail activity in the city that would eventually affect University Mall: Herring Marathon Group Inc. of Dallas unveiled plans to convert the then-open-air
315:. The mall's reopening was held in March of that year. News accounts state that special emphasis was placed on the mall's security program. University Mall drew thousands of shoppers yearly and was known for its holiday displays and programs. It became a favorite place for many walkers, including retirees and heart patients from St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center, located just across University Avenue.
232:
as retailers and customers left. Due to the waning popularity and litigation involving the deterioration of the building, the mall was sold in 2007 to Strode
Property Company, and the remaining few tenants were told to vacate. Demolition began for the primary structure in early 2018. Prior to this, associated buildings were razed beginning in December 2017, starting with the former
367:
leaving a two-story 140,900-square-foot (13,090 m) vacant building on the
University Mall site. Shopping traffic dropped dramatically afterward and a steady stream of tenants began leaving the property. In the beginning of 2001, Simon Property said the occupancy of University Mall was at 95 percent. In April 2001, after the departure of Montgomery Ward, a report by the
278:. Developers Inc. dissolved a few months before the announcement of the mall. According to newspapers from the time stockholders of the former corporation became the owners of the mall property. George Cella and Bill Patton, children of the original corporation owners, were mentioned in the later litigation regarding the property that led to its closure and sale in 2007.
412:
The entire
University Mall property was then surrounded by barricades following the exit of all tenants. Demolition of buildings in outer parcels began in December 2007, with demolition of the primary structure starting January 2008 and finishing up in March. Strode projected that its mixed-use Park Avenue development would open on the site in 2010.
299:
catalog store downtown for 11 years. The addition and a 37,000-square-foot (3,400 m) warehouse took up about 40 percent of the mall's square footage. The JCPenney store, at the west end of the mall, contained 160,000 square feet (15,000 m) and a free-standing auto center, making it the largest department store in the state.
411:
Saturday, October 27, 2007, was the last shopping day at the mall, although only two locally owned retailers remained open — Paul's Shoes and Nouri Dress Shop. (Both businesses relocated to
Shackleford Crossings, on the property which had been slated as the long-disputed potential Summit Mall site.)
399:
In
October 2007, the William L. Patton, Jr. Family Limited Partnership and the Southern Real Estate & Financial Co. sold the 27 acres (110,000 m) beneath the mall and another acre with a convenience store on the corner of Markham and McKinley. Dallas-based Strode Property Company, led by Jim
265:
Inc. This was the company's first venture in
Arkansas; however, they had already built around 40 other shopping centers in the United States. The landowners were stockholders in a corporation that was listed as Developers Inc. Developers Inc. included "Judge" William J. Smith, a prominent Little Rock
231:
The Mall was initially a success, but its popularity declined as new retail outlets in Little Rock drew customers away. The departure of its anchor stores, beginning with the bankruptcy of
Montgomery Ward in 2001, left more than half of the mall empty. Throughout the 1990s, the mall steadily declined
366:
The first indications of decline at
University Mall started appearing in the 1980s when tenants voiced concerns about remodeling and marketing efforts. Osco Drug began closing its stores nationwide, three in Little Rock alone in 1997. In 2001, Montgomery Ward went bankrupt and closed all its stores,
322:
in expansion and renovations of the mall, handled by
Vratsinas Construction Co. of Tulsa, Oklahoma; construction started in 1988, ending about a year later. The expansion added 70,000 square feet (6,500 m) to the existing 565,000 square feet (52,500 m) structure. Several existing tenants
349:
into an enclosed mall directly across Markham Street, just north of University Mall. The Park Plaza shopping center was almost 30 years old at the time, and a landmark of the rapidly expanding West Little Rock area. Herring Marathon said that it would completely rebuild and enclose the total area,
281:
Smith told a reporter that he got the idea for the mall when he was driving down University Avenue in the 1950s, when it was known as Hayes Street. He felt that it was a good buy and called John Cella and told him it would be a good investment for them. During the next 15 years, the two managed to
378:
In December 2006, Simon presented a proposal to raze the mall and build a 625,000 to 675,000-square-foot (62,700 m) mixed use facility with retail, office, medical, and residential space at a news conference at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce building in Little Rock. The project
285:
Plans for the mall were announced in 1965. Simon is quoted as saying that the site offered "the best potential he had ever seen" for a city the size of Little Rock. The mall complex comprised 565,000-square-foot (52,500 m) leasable square feet, the rest for parking of 2,500 cars, and was a
298:
announced that they too would build their own stores on the property. Montgomery Ward built a 136,000-square-foot (12,600 m) square foot store at the southeast corner of the mall; it marked a return of the national store to full-scale operation in Little Rock, where it had operated only a
327:
on remodeling and expansion. MM Cohn updated its store and added a mall entrance to its second floor. JCPenney store also enlarged its store at the mall. This expansion gave the mall its most distinctive feature, an unusual nine-story
382:
In June 2007, US District Judge Bill Wilson, Jr. ruled that Simon must make more than $ 7 million in repairs to get the mall into "good and tenable condition". Pending the sale of the property, the lawsuit was dropped.
282:
acquire the surrounding 28 acres (110,000 m) for the mall site. This included a cemetery that was moved during construction. The acreage was leased to the Simon Property Group until 2026.
290:
was the first major department store to sign a lease at the new mall. At the time, it was one of the three big locally owned department stores in downtown Little Rock. A few weeks later,
974:
350:
increasing it to 676,569 square feet (62,855.3 m) — including 25,000 square feet (2,300 m) of new retail area, plus a new 86,000-square-foot (8,000 m)
737:
1009:
969:
17:
77:
979:
853:
815:
208:, which operated for approximately 50 years, from 1967 until 2007. When it closed, University Mall was the oldest enclosed shopping center in the
994:
730:
1004:
989:
307:
In 1975, the mall underwent cosmetic renovations and was renamed from simply The Mall to University Mall to diversify it from the new
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999:
846:
723:
261:
The developer was Melvin Simon & Associates, an Indianapolis-based real estate developer and management company, now known as
907:
810:
657:
213:
452:
419:
and other business occupy areas that were previously used for University Mall parking along the perimeter of the property.
415:
Much of the mall's onetime footprint is now a parking area for the retailers within Park Avenue, while that development's
964:
923:
839:
862:
558:
532:
270:. Smith's wife, daughter, and Son in Law Mr. and Mrs. William L. Patton, Jr. and John Cella of St. Louis who owned
240:
auto center, which had been used several years as an automotive maintenance facility for the City of Little Rock.
689:
212:. Located in the central part of Little Rock, the site is situated along South University Avenue, north of the
715:
608:
209:
70:
478:"University Mall empties as retailers wait for Summit.(Little Rock, Arkansas; shopping mall vacancy)"
943:
933:
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938:
902:
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with a brief overview of the mall's decline, and potential redevelopment plans for the mall site
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354:
store anchoring the west end of Park Plaza. Builders estimated that the work would cost about
874:
793:
746:
275:
221:
205:
55:
897:
819:
789:
477:
368:
262:
225:
8:
170:
699:
416:
709:
505:
312:
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372:
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Strode, under the name of SPC Park Avenue Limited Partnership took out a loan for
892:
773:
346:
291:
267:
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336:
217:
745:
633:
253:
37:
958:
831:
750:
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mortgage from Texas State Bank of Dallas and purchased the mall property for
92:
79:
63:
391:
351:
271:
160:
928:
882:
768:
335:
A grand four-day reopening was held in November 1988, with special guest
308:
866:
341:
295:
237:
59:
287:
506:"UPDATED: Simon Hopes to Start From Scratch on University Mall"
329:
703:
130:
Melvin Simon & Associates (Simon Property Group)
658:"Final Shopping Day Before Closing University Mall"
584:"Firm Bought University Mall Land for $ 21 Million"
450:
975:Buildings and structures in Little Rock, Arkansas
956:
706:on Simon's proposed site plans for the mall site
453:"University Mall Was First of Its Kind in State"
395:The elevator that was standing after demolition.
1010:Demolished buildings and structures in Arkansas
970:Demolished shopping malls in the United States
861:
847:
731:
451:Leroy, Donald; Stevens, Laura (2007-09-16).
302:
980:Buildings and structures demolished in 2008
854:
840:
738:
724:
559:"Land sold, developer to replace LR mall"
499:
497:
390:
257:North entrance shortly before demolition
252:
175:697,000 sq ft (64,800 m).
42:South entrance shortly before demolition
27:Shopping mall in Arkansas, United States
631:
606:
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286:single level structure when it opened.
18:University Mall (Little Rock, Arkansas)
14:
957:
600:
581:
503:
494:
475:
995:Shopping malls disestablished in 2007
835:
719:
634:"Park Avenue developer goes for edgy"
214:University of Arkansas at Little Rock
522:
429:
625:
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550:
323:also said they would spend another
236:auto center, as well as the former
24:
1005:2007 disestablishments in Arkansas
990:Shopping malls established in 1967
204:, is a defunct shopping center in
25:
1021:
683:
318:In October 1987, Simon announced
985:History of Little Rock, Arkansas
274:, the thoroughbred racetrack in
36:
1000:1967 establishments in Arkansas
650:
469:
248:
13:
1:
632:Stevens, Laura (2008-01-03).
613:The Arkansas Democrat Gazette
607:Stevens, Larua (2007-10-11).
588:The Arkansas Democrat Gazette
563:The Arkansas Democrat Gazette
557:Stevens, Laura (2007-09-29).
537:The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
476:Waldon, George (2002-01-02).
422:
386:
266:Attorney and adviser to Gov.
210:Little Rock metropolitan area
664:. 2007-10-27. Archived from
582:Turner, Lance (2007-10-03).
504:Gordon, James (2006-12-08).
7:
609:"Park Avenue plans Brewing"
10:
1026:
965:Shopping malls in Arkansas
361:
347:Park Plaza shopping center
243:
220:. The mall was managed by
151:No. of stores and services
916:
873:
803:
782:
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638:North West Arkansas Times
457:Arkansas Democrat Gazette
303:1975 and 1987 renovations
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108:
69:
51:
47:
35:
944:Pinnacle Hills Promenade
934:The Mall at Turtle Creek
939:Northwest Arkansas Mall
903:The Promenade at Chenal
762:Regional enclosed malls
339:of the television show
311:Simon was planning for
171:Total retail floor area
138:Strode Property Company
122:(demolished early 2008)
93:34.750477°N 92.345604°W
888:Outlets of Little Rock
533:"University Mall sold"
396:
258:
394:
276:Hot Springs, Arkansas
256:
206:Little Rock, Arkansas
98:34.750477; -92.345604
898:Pavilion in the Park
790:Pavilion in the Park
783:Other enclosed malls
369:Urban Land Institute
263:Simon Property Group
226:Simon Property Group
668:on October 30, 2007
272:Oaklawn Jockey Club
89: /
32:
397:
259:
154:0 (70 at its peak)
30:
952:
951:
829:
828:
694:Arkansas Business
510:Arkansas Business
482:Arkansas Business
313:North Little Rock
195:
194:
165:0 (3 at its peak)
16:(Redirected from
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832:
755:shopping centers
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712:at deadmalls.com
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373:Washington, D.C.
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120:October 27, 2007
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40:
33:
29:
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908:University Mall
893:Park Plaza Mall
869:
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811:University Mall
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774:Park Plaza Mall
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710:University Mall
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402:$ 27.65 million
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292:Montgomery Ward
268:Orval E. Faubus
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234:Montgomery Ward
198:University Mall
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31:University Mall
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863:Shopping malls
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816:The Pines Mall
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749:area enclosed
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218:Interstate 630
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180:No. of floors
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64:United States
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39:
34:
19:
924:Central Mall
693:
670:. Retrieved
666:the original
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652:
641:. Retrieved
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616:. Retrieved
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602:
591:. Retrieved
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566:. Retrieved
562:
552:
541:. Retrieved
539:. 2007-09-28
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513:. Retrieved
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485:. Retrieved
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460:. Retrieved
456:
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406:$ 21 million
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381:
377:
365:
356:$ 20 million
340:
334:
320:$ 15 million
317:
306:
284:
280:
260:
230:
222:Indianapolis
201:
197:
196:
117:Closing date
109:Opening date
929:Indian Mall
883:McCain Mall
875:Little Rock
794:Little Rock
769:McCain Mall
747:Little Rock
325:$ 3 million
309:McCain Mall
249:Development
96: /
71:Coordinates
56:Little Rock
959:Categories
820:Pine Bluff
753:and major
690:An article
672:2008-04-27
643:2008-04-27
618:2008-04-27
593:2008-04-27
568:2008-04-27
543:2008-04-27
515:2008-04-25
487:2008-04-25
462:2008-04-25
423:References
387:Demolition
146:Jim Strode
135:Management
84:92°20′44″W
81:34°45′02″N
917:Elsewhere
352:Dillard's
127:Developer
867:Arkansas
342:L.A. Law
296:JCPenney
238:JCPenney
202:The Mall
60:Arkansas
52:Location
804:Defunct
700:A story
362:Decline
288:MM Cohn
244:History
224:-based
188:Parking
159:No. of
417:Target
330:Teflon
751:malls
702:from
692:from
191:2,500
143:Owner
704:KTHV
662:KATV
294:and
216:and
112:1967
865:in
371:of
961::
660:.
636:.
611:.
586:.
561:.
535:.
524:^
508:.
496:^
480:.
455:.
431:^
228:.
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792:(
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621:.
596:.
571:.
546:.
518:.
490:.
465:.
183:2
20:)
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