Western Hills Mall: Difference between revisions

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'''Western Hills Mall''' is a 527,000 square-foot shopping mall located one the border of [[Midfield]] and [[Fairfield]]. It opened in the late 1960s with two anchor department stores, [[Loveman's]] and [[J.C. Penney]], a Woolworth's discount store, a [[Britling Cafeteria]] and about three dozen specialty stores. It was the second mall, after [[Eastwood Mall]] to be built in the [[Birmingham area]].
'''Western Hills Mall''' is a 527,000 square-foot shopping mall located one the border of [[Midfield]] and [[Fairfield]]. It opened in the late 1960s with two anchor department stores, [[Loveman's]] and [[J.C. Penney]], a Woolworth's discount store, a [[Britling Cafeteria]] and about three dozen specialty stores. It was the second mall, after [[Eastwood Mall]] to be built in the [[Birmingham area]].


As is the case with many malls from that era, Western Hills Mall fell into a gradual decline. The Fairfield-Midfield area saw its fortunes fall with the decline and/or closing of numerous steel-related industries, particularly the nearby U.S. Steel factories. Britling's closed, along with the rest of the chain, in the 1970s. The Woolworth location closed with the rest of the chain in the 1990s. After Loveman's ceased operation, the location became [[Pizitz]] and later [[Parisian]], before finally closing in [[2004]]. J.C. Penney finally closed its store in [[2005]]. Most specialty stores went through numerous changes; those that were part of national chains had largely pulled out by the turn of the century. The stores that remain are mostly independent stores, and largely cater to the African-American community that now predominates in the surrounding area.
As is the case with many malls from that era, Western Hills Mall fell into a gradual decline. The Fairfield-Midfield area saw its fortunes fall with the decline and/or closing of numerous steel-related industries, particularly the nearby U.S. Steel factories. Britling closed, along with the rest of the chain, in the 1970s. The Woolworth location closed with the rest of the chain in the 1990s. After Loveman's ceased operation, the location became [[Pizitz]] and later [[Parisian]], before finally closing in [[2004]]. J.C. Penney finally closed its store in [[2005]]. Most specialty stores went through numerous changes; those that were part of national chains had largely pulled out by the turn of the century. The stores that remain are mostly independent stores, and largely cater to the African-American community that now predominates in the surrounding area.


In [[2006]], Western Hills Mall underwent a major transformation. The Penney's location was completely demolished, with the mall building being truncated at the former Penney's entrance. In its place, a new Wal-Mart Supercenter was built, opening in [[2006]]. The Supercenter replaced an existing standard Wal-Mart (itself a former Woolco location) across the street. The new store has been sought by Fairfield officials for many years; former [[List of Mayors of Fairfield|Fairfield Mayor]] (now [[Jefferson County Commission]] president) [[Larry Langford]] had conducted negotiations for a Supercenter during most of his time in office, and originally had made a deal for Wal-Mart to build on a former U.S. Steel office site about a half mile away, but that deal fell through after he was elected to the county commission.
In [[2006]], Western Hills Mall underwent a major transformation. The Penney's location was completely demolished, with the mall building being truncated at the former Penney's entrance. In its place, a new Wal-Mart Supercenter was built, opening in [[2006]]. The Supercenter replaced an existing standard Wal-Mart (itself a former Woolco location) across the street. The new store has been sought by Fairfield officials for many years; former [[List of Mayors of Fairfield|Fairfield Mayor]] (now [[Jefferson County Commission]] president) [[Larry Langford]] had conducted negotiations for a Supercenter during most of his time in office, and originally had made a deal for Wal-Mart to build on a former U.S. Steel office site about a half mile away, but that deal fell through after he was elected to the county commission.

Revision as of 17:23, 6 November 2006

Western Hills Mall is a 527,000 square-foot shopping mall located one the border of Midfield and Fairfield. It opened in the late 1960s with two anchor department stores, Loveman's and J.C. Penney, a Woolworth's discount store, a Britling Cafeteria and about three dozen specialty stores. It was the second mall, after Eastwood Mall to be built in the Birmingham area.

As is the case with many malls from that era, Western Hills Mall fell into a gradual decline. The Fairfield-Midfield area saw its fortunes fall with the decline and/or closing of numerous steel-related industries, particularly the nearby U.S. Steel factories. Britling closed, along with the rest of the chain, in the 1970s. The Woolworth location closed with the rest of the chain in the 1990s. After Loveman's ceased operation, the location became Pizitz and later Parisian, before finally closing in 2004. J.C. Penney finally closed its store in 2005. Most specialty stores went through numerous changes; those that were part of national chains had largely pulled out by the turn of the century. The stores that remain are mostly independent stores, and largely cater to the African-American community that now predominates in the surrounding area.

In 2006, Western Hills Mall underwent a major transformation. The Penney's location was completely demolished, with the mall building being truncated at the former Penney's entrance. In its place, a new Wal-Mart Supercenter was built, opening in 2006. The Supercenter replaced an existing standard Wal-Mart (itself a former Woolco location) across the street. The new store has been sought by Fairfield officials for many years; former Fairfield Mayor (now Jefferson County Commission president) Larry Langford had conducted negotiations for a Supercenter during most of his time in office, and originally had made a deal for Wal-Mart to build on a former U.S. Steel office site about a half mile away, but that deal fell through after he was elected to the county commission.

The mall is owned and operated by Aranov Realty of Montgomery, one of Alabama's largest commercial developers. The Fairfield City Council renamed the former Weibel Drive, which runs in front of the mall, to Aaron Aranov Drive in honor of the developer.

References

  • "Western Hills Mall." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 6 Nov 2006, 18:40 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 6 Nov 2006 [1].

External links

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