What better way to begin our look at Florissant than to take one last examination at the abandoned Jamestown Mall, where demolition will begin soon. Located east of the city limits of Florissant, in what is still semi-rural surroundings, the mall has failed while contemporary and historic shopping trends have continued or revived.
I am intrigued how some letters have fallen off, or removed. I supposed Sears corporate office felt simply taking off the brand name was good enough, and saved some money by calling off the work crew before “Center” was removed.
It’s amazing to look back almost fifty years later, when the mall was still occupied, and Stix, Baer and Fuller still existed.
Who could have imagined that this will all be gone soon?
Meanwhile, to the west on Lindbergh Boulevard, State US-67, commercial trends that were pioneered in the mid Twentieth Century continue, if done by a shrewd owner.
Toby Weiss chronicles many of the ones that didn’t make it here.
I saw dozens of underperforming strip malls around Florissant, but the Flo-Lin Corners seems to be bucking the trend.
I grew up in Florissant and recall many a time shopping at Jamestown. We would pick up my grandma in Bellefontaine Neighbors and treat her to lunch at the Dillard’s restaurant – I was a kid and it felt really fancy. Objectively, the mall needs to come down at this point, but emotionally it feels sad that it had to come to this.
Thanks for documenting all the places.
It’s sad to see all of the malls go, one by one. I remember hanging out at the mall (Crestwood Mall was my spot) for hours growing up. Restaurants, Cinemas, and a variety of stores all under one roof! I wish there was a way they could have reinvented themselves before it was too late. Doesn’t seem like they’ll ever come back either, judging by social trends of today.
Those are nice memories. Instead of dining at a department store restaurant; I guess the next generation will have to reminisce about going to Walmart in their comfy pajama pants! 😬