Here is a quick in person update on the Lufkin Mall in September of 2021. I will also include some more recent developments in the comments as we go.
The former Sears was used as a Spirit Halloween in 2021 and 2022.
Here is a look inside of the former Sears.
Behind one of the curtains of the backrooms, we see the former housewares department and the auto department in the dark corner.
The store did not open up into the mall, but you can see right into the mall corridor.
The front part of the store near the mall entrance that was the clothing departments in the former Sears.
Former electronics department.
Part of the former appliance department.
Another look through a different set of curtains reveals the tool and appliance departments of the past.
Now we will enter the mall corridor.
The former Sears mall entrance.
The mall looks very different with the carpeted floors. The tile that was replaced a couple of years back was in poor condition with lots of uneven spots.
The mall directory. The anchors in 2023 are still the same.
Chik Fil A was closed on this Sunday. The mall location did permanently close about a year ago. AMC still runs the movie theater on the right side of this photo.
Bealls which was converted into a Stage store in the last few years of business is closed along with the rest of the chain. The Bealls name is back in Lufkin with the rebranding of Burkes Outlet into Bealls nationwide. That store is located across the street at the old Kmart center.
JCPenney nearly closed in 2020 with the bankruptcy of the company. This was one of the stores that was saved by negotiations with the landlords. Lufkin Mall would have really been in trouble if this store would have closed. The mall lost Bealls in 2020 and Sears in 2018. In addition to losing these department stores a couple of nearby big box stores closed, Kmart in 2017 and Best Buy in 2021.
For some odd reason, this entrance to the store is no longer used which makes the store seem closed even though the other two exterior entrances are used. This is the mostly visible entrance from the business corridor.
A quick trip across the street to the former Kmart center. The old Kmart is undergoing renovations in mid 2023 to become an Atwoods location.
I actually walked to the back of the shopping center through the entire road back there and around. I didn't take any photos because there wasn't anything of interest back there.
The former Kmart location was a spot for people to nap on the bench in front of the store. Every time I have visited this site since then someone or multiple people have been sleeping there.
Now back to the mall, the walk to the former Kmart in the 90+ degree afternoon was tiring.
The JCPenney mall entrance.
More of the mall as we walk back to the former Sears.
Even though the mall has some vacancies, there are a lot of chain stores still left to shop at.
The closed Footaction store on the right, all Footaction stores were closed in 2022, but this one closed long before. Hibbett Sports and Shoe Department are the only athletic shoe stores left. Foot Locker closed a few years back and the other large shoe chains haven't stepped in yet.
The tall road sign of the mall has two notable absences. Sears and Stage, who knows when these vacant anchors will be replaced.
As the sun sets, we head back to Houston.
More to come, stay tuned.
