Big Town Mall
Encyclopedia
Big Town Mall was a shopping mall
located in the Dallas
suburb of Mesquite, Texas
. Constructed in 1959, it was the first enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall
in the Southwest. The last anchor tenant closed in 2001, and the mall was demolished in 2006.
, was constructed in 1959 and was the first enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall
in the Southwest. Some of the surrounding facilities included Bowlanes, A&R Course, Horse and Rider, an Exhibition hall, and a half price shoe store. At one time up to three major chain stores such as JC Penney (which J.C. Penney himself opened), Sanger-Harris
, and Montgomery Ward
were part of the complex. The attached Woolworths
was also quite popular due to its sizable inventory and food court.
This once-popular spot in Mesquite
housed department stores, retail shops, an early form of arcade, and even a movie theater (which has since been demolished). Even after Town East Mall
had long since become the new "hotspot" for local and national retailers, the mall stayed active for several years with privately owned shops targeting urban young. Montgomery Ward
, the last remaining anchor store, was closed after going bankrupt in 2001, thus sealing the mall's eventual demise.
The exterior of the mall can be seen in the 1985 film True Stories
as the site of the fashion show. The interior of the mall shown is actually NorthPark Center
in Dallas.
In September 2005, Big Town Mall was designated a staging point for the victims of Hurricane Katrina
coming to Dallas for shelter and relief. From there, they traveled along I-635 to I-35 to settle in Reunion Arena
and the Dallas Convention Center
where they were housed until able to return to their homes in Louisiana
. The mall's parking space was utilized as a first stop for evacuees – where authorities searched for weapons, screened them for medical conditions, gave them a light snack and passed them along to any number of shelters in Dallas, Fort Worth and even Oklahoma
.
In early 2006 the decision was made to tear down the mall and neighboring farmer's market. The demolition project started on the week of May 22, 2006, and was completed in September of that year. The Exhibition Hall is still in use with exhibitions such as gun and boat shows each weekend. As of February 2008, the City of Mesquite is working with a developer to build a sports and entertainment complex at the former mall site. The new complex will incorporate the mall's surviving structures.
It was announced in 2009 that the Big Town Bowl Lanes would close, leaving the Exhibition Hall the last operating structure on the property.
As of September 13, 2011, the Big Town Bowling Lanes were demolished.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
located in the Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
suburb of Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite is a city located within the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of Texas. As of the 2010 US Census, the population was 139,824.-History:The city was founded May 22, 1873, by a Texas & Pacific Railway engineer who purchased land along the Texas & Pacific line outside of Dallas...
. Constructed in 1959, it was the first enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in the Southwest. The last anchor tenant closed in 2001, and the mall was demolished in 2006.
History
Big Town Mall, located at 800 Big Town Shopping Ctr., just off of U.S. 80 E. and Loop 12 in Mesquite, TexasMesquite, Texas
Mesquite is a city located within the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of Texas. As of the 2010 US Census, the population was 139,824.-History:The city was founded May 22, 1873, by a Texas & Pacific Railway engineer who purchased land along the Texas & Pacific line outside of Dallas...
, was constructed in 1959 and was the first enclosed, air-conditioned shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in the Southwest. Some of the surrounding facilities included Bowlanes, A&R Course, Horse and Rider, an Exhibition hall, and a half price shoe store. At one time up to three major chain stores such as JC Penney (which J.C. Penney himself opened), Sanger-Harris
Sanger-Harris
Sanger-Harris was a department store chain from 1961 to 1987. It was formed by Federated Department Stores in 1961 from two Dallas, Texas chains, Sanger Brothers and A. Harris and Co., that dated from the 19th century...
, and Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
were part of the complex. The attached Woolworths
F. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
was also quite popular due to its sizable inventory and food court.
This once-popular spot in Mesquite
Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite is a city located within the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of Texas. As of the 2010 US Census, the population was 139,824.-History:The city was founded May 22, 1873, by a Texas & Pacific Railway engineer who purchased land along the Texas & Pacific line outside of Dallas...
housed department stores, retail shops, an early form of arcade, and even a movie theater (which has since been demolished). Even after Town East Mall
Town East Mall
Town East Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Mesquite, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. It opened in 1971. The mall was used by director Ron Howard to film portions of the movie "Cotton Candy" in 1978.-External links:...
had long since become the new "hotspot" for local and national retailers, the mall stayed active for several years with privately owned shops targeting urban young. Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward
Montgomery Ward is an online retailer that carries the same name as the former American department store chain, founded as the world's #1 mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, and which went out of business in 2001...
, the last remaining anchor store, was closed after going bankrupt in 2001, thus sealing the mall's eventual demise.
The exterior of the mall can be seen in the 1985 film True Stories
True Stories (film)
True Stories is an American film that spans the genres of musical, art, and comedy, directed by and starring David Byrne of the band Talking Heads. It co-stars John Goodman, Swoosie Kurtz, and Spalding Gray. Byrne has described the film as, "A project with songs based on true stories from tabloid...
as the site of the fashion show. The interior of the mall shown is actually NorthPark Center
NorthPark Center
NorthPark Center is an upscale shopping mall located in Dallas, Texas . The mall is located at the intersection of Loop 12 and US 75 . The center has over 235 stores and restaurants. NorthPark is the first shopping center featured on Vogue Magazine...
in Dallas.
In September 2005, Big Town Mall was designated a staging point for the victims of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
coming to Dallas for shelter and relief. From there, they traveled along I-635 to I-35 to settle in Reunion Arena
Reunion Arena
Reunion Arena was an indoor arena, in the Reunion district of downtown Dallas, Texas . It held 18,293 for basketball and 17,001 for ice hockey.It was demolished in November 2009 and the site was cleared by the end of the year.-History:...
and the Dallas Convention Center
Dallas Convention Center
The Dallas Convention Center, originally the Dallas Memorial Auditorium, is a meeting hall, event/convention center and civic center in the Convention Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas...
where they were housed until able to return to their homes in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The mall's parking space was utilized as a first stop for evacuees – where authorities searched for weapons, screened them for medical conditions, gave them a light snack and passed them along to any number of shelters in Dallas, Fort Worth and even Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
In early 2006 the decision was made to tear down the mall and neighboring farmer's market. The demolition project started on the week of May 22, 2006, and was completed in September of that year. The Exhibition Hall is still in use with exhibitions such as gun and boat shows each weekend. As of February 2008, the City of Mesquite is working with a developer to build a sports and entertainment complex at the former mall site. The new complex will incorporate the mall's surviving structures.
It was announced in 2009 that the Big Town Bowl Lanes would close, leaving the Exhibition Hall the last operating structure on the property.
As of September 13, 2011, the Big Town Bowling Lanes were demolished.