Update: It should be noted this is the only shopping mall I’ve photographed in the region that is not a dead mall, thus there is no tag to describe such a phenomenon. I’ve never photographed South County Mall, Mid Rivers Mall or West County Center.I’d never been over to St. Clair Square Mall, and I wanted to view this important component of sprawl out of East St. Louis in the 1960’s. The old Famous Barr dome brings back memories of the now lost West County Mall counterpart, though I found the latter more elegant.
Brutalism abounds, as can be seen in the JC Penny, which in its shear size and massive bulkiness almost pulls off a certain level of beauty.
I like the clean shadows and lines cast by the corner of the department store as well.
The Sears continues the trend, as well. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this mall was how it had seemed to completely weather the economic storm that has closed so many other malls built at the same time on the Missouri side. Renovated recently, the mall, much like West County and South County Malls, seems to have been judged by the shopping center gods as healthy, and will not be a victim of triage as other malls have seem to fallen victim.
Actually, the opening of this mall was bad for Downtown Belleville more than it was for East St. Louis. I am not sure if you noticed the different colors of brick for JCPenny. That was due to an electrical explosion 10 years or so ago and that section was rebuilt, if my memory serves me correctly.
I live need the mall and I go there all the time it is amazing and it’s like my second home??I don’t care it’s the greatest mall To me and also this mall is way bigger then the one is St.Louis.
Interesting, I can see it now; there's a huge section of new brick. I thought it was just a shadow before.
The Famous Barr dome is the post-tornado rebuild, and is amazingly ugly. It was originally similar to the others.http://mall-hall-of-fame.blogspot.com/2008/10/southwestern-illinois-st.html
Mid-Rivers Mall in St. Peters is still going strong – to which I can attest, having been a chauffeur so many times for a (now) 14-year old granddaughter (of course, once we get inside, she walks 50 feet in front of me and disclaims any relationship…'ceptin' when financing is needed…).
Aha! I wondered what was going on at the Hall of Fame site, which I enjoy greatly. I thought they had accidentally posted a picture of West County'd Famous Barr. When did this happen?
The tornado was an F2 and hit in April of 2006. It also knocked down a department store across the street (now a Party City and JoAnns), killing one person. I think the reason for the mall going so strong during rough economic times is simply lack of competition. There is no other mall in the metro east, aside from the one in Alton and it in no way measures up to St. Clair Square. Other than that one, I have no clue where another mall is in Illinois until you get close to Springfield or Carbondale.
The tornado was an F2 and hit in April of 2006. I was leaving weekends only at this time. The sky was clear when i walked out of the store. We were under a Tornado Watch that day. I saw one dark cloud, jokingly saying to myself, “If that dark cloud drops, that would be one hell of a Tornado”! I kept going on about my business of going back to Alton. While going on without thinking i was on my way up to turn to go back to 64 for the Ramp. When all of a sudden, the winds picked up and people were passing me honking their horns for me to go! Everyone was in a panic and still not knowing why, The huge sign at the entrance to turn off the main road, fell over right as soon as I moved the car. I felt like i was in a moving at this time. I went ahead and turned, I got up to the overpass when i realized that i couldnt outrun the Tornado! I was always told, not to stay in your car during a Tornado! I put the car in park and was trying to get out of the car, trying with all of my might. I had both of my feet pushing on the door trying to kick the driver side door open. This was working. The Tornado was going by at this time!. I kissed my a$$ goodbye at that time! All the cars around me had smashed windows from all the debris that the tornado kicked up and my car just had a big gouge in the windshield. I felt that someone was really watching over me. Later that night, i found out that the Tornado hit the building on the way over towards St. Clair Square and i heard that one man was killed that day. That was so sad to hear, prayers going out to the family, to me this was so devastating. I still do not want to get caught in another Tornado. When a Tornado hits, you really do not have time to think, you just have to do what saves your life!
Wow, that is quite the story! Thanks for sharing.