Here is a quick update from the University Mall in Nacogdoches Texas.
This post will feature a lot of the JCPenney which closed in the Summer of 2017 along with over 100 other JCP stores. The large flea market that was in the vacated Bealls anchor space was in the process of moving into empty mall space.
There are some awesome retail gems to be found in this mall and a very nice Belk store. Sadly this and two other small town malls were hit by anchor losses recently. JCPenney here and at Marshall Mall, and Sears at Lufkin Mall.
We start with the JCPenney store that is no more.
Men's department.
Kids clothing and shoes.
Shoes, Women's clothing, and jewelry.
Housewares
Vintage mirrored glass jewelry counter.
Housewares and shoes
Neon is still in full force inside of the mall.
Looking towards center court from JCPenney
One of the few chain stores still left in the mall. At one time this mall had vintage store fronts from Claires, Waldenbooks, Payless, Gordon's Jewelers, Foot Locker, and of course Bath and Body Works.
Abandoned Foot Locker open to look inside.
Belk side of the mall, looking towards center court. This is the only part of the mall without neon decorations on the ceiling.
The grand center court and vintage Peanut Shack.
Thanks for the photos. The JCPenney looked to be in decent condition even if it was a bit plain. Things like the mini-Kmart style HVAC vents and the jewelery case are retro touches. The store reminds me of a Palais Royal or Mervyn's for some reason.
ReplyDeleteI really like the retro touches at the mall like the neon and the wood-paneled snack bar. It's a shame that the mall isn't doing better than it is, but at least the mall is well-maintained. The Lufkin Mall seems to be doing better, but things aren't perfect there either with the Sears closure and the closure of the nearby Kmart.
This mall is a bit of a hidden gem. The area is getting more traffic since a Neighborhood Market Wal-Mart opened just down the street.
DeleteI was told that the Bealls was going to be redeveloped. The flea market that occupied that spot was in the process of moving out into mall space.
The JCP stores in Marshall and Nacogdoches weren't much bigger than the average Stage/Bealls store.
DeleteThe Neighborhood Market in Nacogdoches actually sits on the site of a former Brookshire Brothers that itself was formerly U-Save Foods, and that was a former Kmart.
Yeah, the JCP store in Huntsville is about the same size as well. I really wonder how much longer that store will last too.
DeleteI did not know about the former stores that were at the Neighborhood Market site except for Brookshire Brothers. The University Mall always seemed like it was built on a strange piece of land.
Lots of demolition work started on the Belk wing in late February. Just recently a new exterior store front went up between Belk and Cititrends where the demo work was going. A new gym went into the former Foot Locker and they set up an exterior entrance too. Also Decades moved out of the mall closer to the downtown area.
ReplyDeletehttps://photos.app.goo.gl/FVRmc5Z2LoqaVGrN9
Thanks for linking the photos Phudman. They are really cutting this mall down similarly to the Marshall Mall. Bath and Body Works is still hanging in there. I am glad they didn't cover up the entire store front of the old Peanut Shack. I am sad it closed though, I loved that store.
Delete