University Mall appears to be a mall straight out of the 1980's. This mall is very close to Stephen F. Austin University and serves a population of around 30,000. This mall is located east of town with no nearby freeway access. The mall is very small with space for around 30 total inline stores and three anchors. Lufkin Mall 20 miles to the south competes with this mall, but Lufkin Mall is larger with four anchors and a nine screen cinema. I have visited University Mall a few times over the past two decades. In the mid 1990's the mall was dying and the anchor where Belk currently operates was vacant. In the early to mid 2000's the mall added Belk and Burke's Outlet, and the mall was nearly full. Now the mall appears to be declining with the loss of Bealls, Foot Locker, Radio Shack, and several other in-line stores. There is no information about this small mall online; if anyone has any info drop me a comment.
The center entrance with the Bealls labelscar; they should put a mall logo over this entrance.
The JCPenney wing of the mall
Burke's Outlet junior anchor
Radio Shack not here anymore
Foot Locker gone
Center court from the front of the closed Bealls anchor.
Former entrance to Bealls
This is the Belk wing of the mall.
Waldenbooks closed
this mall sucks, i wish we could have a new one built on the north side of town and blow this one up...
ReplyDeleteTO let everyone know that cititrend is coming to the university mall.It will be open next month in september...
ReplyDeleteCheck back in a few days for my update taken earlier this month at the mall.
ReplyDeleteI was there a couple of weeks ago for the first time in many many years. I shopped at Payless. The mall is dreary and nearly empty. On the way to the store didn't see any other shoppers down the halls not even fitness mall walkers.
ReplyDeleteThe site of the mall is probably what keeps it from being successful like the nearby Lufkin Mall. If they had put this mall near the Walmart and Lowe's, it would probably be in better shape. Landing Belk a few years ago probably saved the mall from completely closing.
DeleteWalmart is building a new Neighborhood Market store at the former Kmart site adjacent to the mall. Maybe this would lead to an uptick in mall traffic.
DeleteA new Walmart will bring more traffic to the area, hopefully it will help the mall out. If some of the businesses in front of the mall relocate and they clear the land out, maybe people will see the mall and want to stop by.
DeleteLike many other dying malls, this is now home to a giant antiques market called "Decades," which is situated where Beall's used to be. Aside from that, the most noteworthy aspect of this place is the Vietnamese food spot, T Sandwiches, which is a hidden jewel of great splendor in these parts.
ReplyDeleteI like Decades, I have been there a couple or times since it opened. I have some more recent images of the mall, but I have not posted them yet. I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of that mall as opposed to the bustle of the Lufkin Mall especially on weekends.
DeleteJC Penney is now closed, I think Citi Trends, Belk and T-Sandwiches are what keeps this mall open.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update Brian. Next time I am in the area, I will check the mall out.
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