Century Plaza: Difference between revisions
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'''Century Plaza''' was a 743,785 square-foot, two level, enclosed shopping mall which opened in August [[1975]] at the intersection of [[Crestwood Boulevard]] and [[Oporto Road]] in the [[Eastwood]] area of [[Birmingham]]. | '''Century Plaza''' was a 743,785 square-foot, two level, enclosed shopping mall which opened in August [[1975]] at the intersection of [[Crestwood Boulevard]] and [[Oporto Road]] in the [[Eastwood]] area of [[Birmingham]]. | ||
The mall was designed by [[Giattina | The mall was designed by [[Crawford, Giattina & Mitchell]] architects in a contemporary style with light brown brick on the exterior and brown tiled floors, open stairways, numerous angular fountains and bronze glass partitions on the interior. It was developed by [[Engel Realty Company]] with [[Marvin Engel]], [[Jerome Leader]] and [[James R. Bennett]] as executives in charge. | ||
and constructed for $25 million. More than 2.4 million cubic yards of earth were excavated for the development, with much of it being used in construction of nearby interstate highways. | |||
The [[Sears Century Plaza|Sears]] store was the first to be constructed, and opened on [[September 25]], [[1974]]. The mall's 1975 grand opening was marked by thousands of balloons filling the interior, many of them containing cash. | The [[Sears Century Plaza|Sears]] store was the first to be constructed, and opened on [[September 25]], [[1974]]. The mall's 1975 grand opening was marked by thousands of balloons filling the interior, many of them containing cash. | ||
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* American Deli | * American Deli | ||
* Applebee's Neighborhood Restaurant | * Applebee's Neighborhood Restaurant | ||
* [[Chick-Fil-A]] | * Baskin-Robbins (1975-) | ||
* [[Chick-Fil-A]] (1975-2009) | |||
* [[Dragon Restaurant]] | * [[Dragon Restaurant]] | ||
* El Chico's | * El Chico's | ||
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* [[San Francisco]] | * [[San Francisco]] | ||
* Sbarro Pizza | * Sbarro Pizza | ||
* Shoney's | * Shoney's (1975-) | ||
* Wendy's | * Wendy's | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| valign="top" | | | valign="top" | | ||
* 5-7-9 | * 5-7-9 Shop (1975-) | ||
* [[Alabama Outdoors]] | * [[Alabama Outdoors]] | ||
* [[Aladdin's Castle]] | * [[Aladdin's Castle]] | ||
* B. Dalton Booksellers | * Anderson-Little (1975-) | ||
* B. Dalton Booksellers (1975-) | |||
* Baker's Shoes | * Baker's Shoes | ||
* Bath & Body Works | * Bath & Body Works | ||
| Line 64: | Line 68: | ||
* [[Camelot Music]] | * [[Camelot Music]] | ||
* Champs Sports | * Champs Sports | ||
* Chess King | * Chess King (1975-) | ||
* City Gear | * City Gear | ||
* Circus World (later Kay-Bee Toys) | * Circus World (later Kay-Bee Toys) | ||
* County Seat (1975-) | |||
* Diana Shop (1975-) | |||
* Discount Jewelers | * Discount Jewelers | ||
* Docktor Pet Center | * Docktor Pet Center | ||
| Line 75: | Line 81: | ||
* Fields of Elegance | * Fields of Elegance | ||
* Finish Line | * Finish Line | ||
* Florsheim (1975-) | |||
* Footaction USA | * Footaction USA | ||
* Foot Locker | * Foot Locker | ||
* Foxmoor Casuals (1975-) | |||
* The Gap | * The Gap | ||
* [[Gee Wiz]] (Sanrio) | * [[Gee Wiz]] (Sanrio) | ||
* Hallmark Cards | * General Nutrition (GNC) (1975-) | ||
* Gingiss Formal Wear (1975-) | |||
* Hallmark Cards (1975-) | |||
* Hat World | * Hat World | ||
* [[Just for Feet|Hang Ten]] | * [[Just for Feet|Hang Ten]] | ||
* [[Hibbetts Sporting Goods|Hibbett Sports]] | * [[Hibbetts Sporting Goods|Hibbett Sports]] | ||
* Hickory Farms | * Hickory Farms (1975-) | ||
* [[India Shoppe]] | * [[India Shoppe]] | ||
* J. Blackburn & Co. | * J. Blackburn & Co. | ||
| valign="top" | | | valign="top" | | ||
* Jarman Shoes (1975-) | |||
* Jeans West (1975-) | |||
* Journey's | * Journey's | ||
* Karmelkorn | * Karmelkorn | ||
* Kenney Shoes (1975-) | |||
* Kid Foot Locker | * Kid Foot Locker | ||
* King's Row Fireplace (1975-) | |||
* Lady Foot Locker | * Lady Foot Locker | ||
* Lane Bryant | * Lane Bryant | ||
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* Man of Fashion | * Man of Fashion | ||
* [[Marsh Piano & Organ]] | * [[Marsh Piano & Organ]] | ||
* Merry Go Round | * Merry Go Round (1975-) | ||
* Musicland | * Musicland | ||
* New York Jewelers | * New York Jewelers | ||
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* Pearle Vision Center | * Pearle Vision Center | ||
* Perfume Point | * Perfume Point | ||
* Petrie's (1975-) | |||
* Photo Creations | * Photo Creations | ||
* Radio Shack | * Radio Shack | ||
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* Shoe Time | * Shoe Time | ||
* [[Snow's Cards & Gifts]] | * [[Snow's Cards & Gifts]] | ||
* Spencer | * Spencer Gifts (1975-) | ||
* Stride Rite (1975-) | |||
* Stuart's | * Stuart's | ||
* Sunshades | * Sunshades | ||
* Thom McAn (1975-) | |||
* T-Mobile | * T-Mobile | ||
* Underground Station | * Underground Station | ||
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* Waldin Jewelers | * Waldin Jewelers | ||
* Watches Unlimited | * Watches Unlimited | ||
* Wide World of Music (1975-) | |||
* Wolf Camera & Video | * Wolf Camera & Video | ||
* Zale Jewelers (1975-) | |||
|} | |} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Nicholson, Gilbert (February 27, 2004) "Are Eastwood retailers targeting Century Plaza?" | * "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/CenturyPlaza%20%2809-74%29.jpg Century Plaza looks to Phase II]" (September 1974) {{BN}} - via [[Birmingham Rewound]] | ||
* Tomberlin, Michael (July 12, 2006) "Plans for Century Plaza pick up with stores' exit." | * Nicholson, Gilbert (February 27, 2004) "Are Eastwood retailers targeting Century Plaza?" {{BBJ}} | ||
* Kent, Dawn (January 15, 2009) "Already on the decline, Birmingham's Century Plaza mall faces tougher times in slumping economy." | * Tomberlin, Michael (July 12, 2006) "Plans for Century Plaza pick up with stores' exit." {{BN}} | ||
* Kent, Dawn (January 15, 2009) "Already on the decline, Birmingham's Century Plaza mall faces tougher times in slumping economy." {{BN}} | |||
* Kent, Dawn (June 14, 2009) "What's next for Century Plaza area?" {{BN}} | * Kent, Dawn (June 14, 2009) "What's next for Century Plaza area?" {{BN}} | ||
* Thornton, William (September 6, 2011) "Regional jail deal unlikely for 4 Jefferson County cities." {{BN}} | * Thornton, William (September 6, 2011) "Regional jail deal unlikely for 4 Jefferson County cities." {{BN}} | ||
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[[Category:2009 disestablishments]] | [[Category:2009 disestablishments]] | ||
[[Category:Vacant buildings]] | [[Category:Vacant buildings]] | ||
[[Category:Giattina | [[Category:Crawford, Giattina & Mitchell buildings]] | ||
Revision as of 13:45, 2 September 2014
Century Plaza was a 743,785 square-foot, two level, enclosed shopping mall which opened in August 1975 at the intersection of Crestwood Boulevard and Oporto Road in the Eastwood area of Birmingham.
The mall was designed by Crawford, Giattina & Mitchell architects in a contemporary style with light brown brick on the exterior and brown tiled floors, open stairways, numerous angular fountains and bronze glass partitions on the interior. It was developed by Engel Realty Company with Marvin Engel, Jerome Leader and James R. Bennett as executives in charge.
and constructed for $25 million. More than 2.4 million cubic yards of earth were excavated for the development, with much of it being used in construction of nearby interstate highways.
The Sears store was the first to be constructed, and opened on September 25, 1974. The mall's 1975 grand opening was marked by thousands of balloons filling the interior, many of them containing cash.
The mall's popularity peaked in the 1980s when it outshone the older Eastwood Mall nearby with Sears, JC Penney, Pizitz and Rich's as department store anchors. A late 1980's interior remodeling brought brighter finishes and more skylights.
In the 1990s General Growth Properties purchased the mall for $32 million. In 2006 two of the mall's anchors, JC Penney and Belk, relocated to newer shopping centers in Trussville, precipitating the mall's decline as a shopping destination. The mall itself closed on May 31, 2009. The last anchor store was Sears, which owned its section of the mall building and closed on June 14.
Redevelopment proposals
Since 2006 General Growth has discussed moving forward with plans for a major redevelopment of the property.
The "Crestwood-Oporto District Redevelopment Plan", commissioned from KPS Group by the City of Birmingham, envisions a transformation of Century Plaza into a mixed use open-air retail and residential center. General Growth has indicated that they support the general ideas of the master plan, but have made no specific announcements regarding their plans.
In October 2008 Birmingham mayor Larry Langford proposed having the city and Jefferson County jointly purchase the mall and convert it into a senior citizens' recreation center. In December 2008, artist Rachel Higgins organized a revolving art exhibition of approximately 20 artists' work at a space in the nearly vacant mall entitled "Everything Must Go".
An Aldi food market opened in June 2009 on an outparcel facing Crestwood Boulevard.
In 2010 General Growth entered into talks with the City of Birmingham, with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, and with Irondale, Homewood, Mountain Brook, and Vestavia Hills, the prospective members of a Regional Jail Authority about the possibility of converting the former mall into a county jail or a regional municipal justice center. Those talks stalled due to lack of public interest and funding.
In 2011, following the bankruptcy of General Growth Properties, the Howard Hughes Corporation of Dallas, Texas took possession of the mall property. They renewed the discussion of creating a municipal justice center. Mayor William Bell showed some interest in pursuing the project on the basis of furthering regional cooperation, but the other partners demurred.
No further proposals have been announced, though the Hughes Corporation lists the property as a "viable retail location for big box retailers" on their website. By 2014 the building was visibly deteriorating with portions of the brick veneer coming loose. The owner erected a safety barricade around the area most affected.
Stores
Anchors
- North: JC Penney (1975–2006)
- East: Loveman's (1975–1980?), Pizitz (March 1980), later renamed McRae's (1987), then Belk (2006, closed 2006)
- South: Rich's (1975–2004)
- West: Sears (1974–2009)
Restaurants
- American Deli
- Applebee's Neighborhood Restaurant
- Baskin-Robbins (1975-)
- Chick-Fil-A (1975-2009)
- Dragon Restaurant
- El Chico's
- McDonald's
- Morrison's Cafeteria (1975–)
- Orange Julius
- Piccadilly Cafeteria (-October 2003)
- Ranelli's Deli
- San Francisco
- Sbarro Pizza
- Shoney's (1975-)
- Wendy's
Other stores
|
|
References
- "Century Plaza looks to Phase II" (September 1974) The Birmingham News - via Birmingham Rewound
- Nicholson, Gilbert (February 27, 2004) "Are Eastwood retailers targeting Century Plaza?" Birmingham Business Journal
- Tomberlin, Michael (July 12, 2006) "Plans for Century Plaza pick up with stores' exit." The Birmingham News
- Kent, Dawn (January 15, 2009) "Already on the decline, Birmingham's Century Plaza mall faces tougher times in slumping economy." The Birmingham News
- Kent, Dawn (June 14, 2009) "What's next for Century Plaza area?" The Birmingham News
- Thornton, William (September 6, 2011) "Regional jail deal unlikely for 4 Jefferson County cities." The Birmingham News
- Thornton, William (January 3, 2012) "Birmingham's surrounding cities show less interest in using former Century Plaza as jail." The Birmingham News
- Gathings, Honora (June 17, 2014) "Once thriving mall unoccupied, falling apart." abc3340.com
External links
- Century Plaza at HowardHughes.com
- Century Plaza Mall at Sky City: Southern Retail Then and Now
- Century Plaza's entry at Deadmalls.com