Maryvale Mall

Maryvale Mall was a shopping center in the Maryvale area of Phoenix, Arizona. It began as Maryvale Shopping City, a neighborhood-oriented retail development created to serve residents of the planned Maryvale community. The project was developed by home builder and community planner John F. Long, who had also established Maryvale and named it after his wife. Architect Victor Gruen, one of the leading designers associated with modern American shopping centers, designed the development. The shopping center was conceived partly because Maryvale residents previously had to travel roughly 20 minutes to reach retail stores in downtown Phoenix. Plans were publicly announced on July 26, 1958. The original project contained 19 stores, approximately 111,000 square feet of retail space, and 1,100 parking spaces. Its tenant mix included two supermarkets, a bowling alley, S. S. Kresge—later associated with the Kmart name—and Piggly Wiggly. The grand opening attracted entertainment personalities including Jim Backus, Jill St. John, and George Raft, giving the local development a high-profile launch. The property changed substantially over time. In 1974, the bowling alley was converted into a department store in an expensive redevelopment project. During the late 1970s, the open-air shopping center was enclosed and expanded, and it adopted the Maryvale Mall name. The expansion included a new wing anchored by Mervyn's, reflecting the period's movement toward larger enclosed malls with department-store anchors. Maryvale Mall later faced increasing competition. Desert Sky Mall, initially called Westridge Mall, opened in 1981 and drew shoppers from the same broad area. Maryvale Mall's tenant profile weakened, and discount retailer Target eventually occupied space in a property that had once been associated with more upscale department-store retail. By the middle of the 1990s, the mall was almost vacant, although the physical structure was reportedly still in sound condition. The property's ultimate transition was from retail center to educational campus. In the 1990s, John F. Long offered the property to the Cartwright Elementary School District for $7.3 million, with a condition that the external structure be preserved. The district subsequently established an elementary school and a middle school on the site between 2000 and 2001. Reuse of the former mall included converting a skating rink into the district's first gymnasium and a former movie theater into an auditorium. Parking areas were repurposed as athletic fields. Maryvale Mall therefore ceased to function as a shopping mall, but parts of its built environment continued in institutional use.

Maryvale Mall originated as Maryvale Shopping City, a retail project created for the planned Maryvale community in the western Phoenix area. John F. Long, the home builder and developer responsible for planning Maryvale, developed the shopping center, while Victor Gruen designed it. The center was intended to reduce the need for local residents to travel into downtown Phoenix for everyday shopping, a trip that reportedly took about 20 minutes at the time. Development plans were announced on July 26, 1958. The original center contained 19 stores, approximately 111,000 square feet of retail space, and parking for 1,100 vehicles. Its initial commercial program included two supermarkets and a bowling alley. S. S. Kresge and Piggly Wiggly were among the early announced tenants. The opening was promoted as a major local event and included appearances by Jim Backus, Jill St. John, and George Raft. The center evolved as retail patterns changed. In 1974, the bowling alley was converted into a department store through a project described as costing several million dollars. In the late 1970s, the property was enclosed and expanded, transforming the earlier open-air shopping center into Maryvale Mall. A new wing was added and anchored by Mervyn's. This conversion reflected the broader growth of enclosed malls and the increasing importance of department stores to regional retail destinations. The mall's competitive position deteriorated after Desert Sky Mall opened in 1981. The new center, originally known as Westridge Mall, competed for shoppers in the same general part of metropolitan Phoenix. Maryvale Mall gradually lost commercial momentum. Target eventually occupied space in a property that had previously been anchored by more upscale department stores, and by the mid-1990s the mall was nearly vacant. Although the retail operation had substantially declined, the structure itself was still regarded as being in good condition. The property was then given a new institutional purpose. During the 1990s, John F. Long offered it to the Cartwright Elementary School District for $7.3 million, with preservation of the exterior required as part of the arrangement. Between 2000 and 2001, the district opened an elementary school and a middle school on the former mall site. Existing facilities were adapted rather than entirely discarded: a former skating rink became the district's first gymnasium, a former movie theater became an auditorium, and parking lots were converted into athletic fields. The site thus passed from neighborhood shopping center, to enclosed mall, to public-school campus.

• 2001

  Middle school and adapted facilities established

  [1]Maryvale Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A middle school was opened on the former mall property, while a former skating rink, movie theater, and parking areas were adapted for school use.

• 2000

  Elementary school opens on former mall site

  [1]Maryvale Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The school district began opening educational facilities on the former mall property between 2000 and 2001, including an elementary school.

• 1981

  Desert Sky Mall opens

  [1]Maryvale Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Desert Sky Mall, originally called Westridge Mall, opened and intensified competitive pressure on Maryvale Mall.

• 1974

  Bowling alley converted into a department store

  [1]Maryvale Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The center's bowling alley was converted into a department store in a project described as involving several million dollars of investment.

• 1958

  Development plans announced

  [1]Maryvale Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Plans were announced for Maryvale Shopping City, a 19-store community shopping center with approximately 111,000 square feet of retail space and 1,100 parking spaces.

• Open-air center enclosed and renamed

  [1]Maryvale Mallen.wikipedia.org

  During the late 1970s, Maryvale Shopping City was enclosed and expanded, received the Maryvale Mall name, and gained a new wing anchored by Mervyn's.

• Property transferred to Cartwright Elementary School District

  [1]Maryvale Mallen.wikipedia.org

  In the 1990s, the property was offered to the Cartwright Elementary School District for $7.3 million, with preservation of the external structure stipulated.

Originally positioned as a convenient community shopping center for residents of Maryvale, the property later became an enclosed, department-store-anchored mall before declining amid regional competition and ultimately being redeveloped for public education.

• Open-air community shopping center · 1958

  Maryvale Shopping City

  The original Maryvale retail development was designed as a convenient neighborhood shopping destination. It contained 19 stores, two supermarkets, a bowling alley, approximately 111,000 square feet of retail space, and 1,100 parking spaces. Early announced tenants included S. S. Kresge and Piggly Wiggly.

• Enclosed shopping mall

  Maryvale Mall

  The late-1970s enclosed and expanded version of Maryvale Shopping City added a new wing anchored by Mervyn's. The mall offered department-store retail, discount merchandise, grocery shopping, and services intended for residents of western Phoenix. It later declined as nearby Desert Sky Mall attracted shoppers.

• 1974

  Convert bowling alley into department-store spaceStrategy

  Background

  The original shopping center adjusted its tenant and space mix as department stores became more important to shopping-center economics.

  Action taken

  The bowling alley was converted into a department store through a project described as costing several million dollars.

  Aftermath

  The change expanded the center's department-store capacity, although the property later underwent a broader enclosure and expansion.

  Project cost. (1974)

  Source

• Enclose and expand the shopping centerGeneration change

  Background

  The open-air shopping-center format was modernized during the late 1970s as enclosed malls and department-store anchors became prominent in American retail.

  Action taken

  Maryvale Shopping City was enclosed, expanded with a new wing, renamed Maryvale Mall, and anchored by Mervyn's.

  Aftermath

  The enclosed mall operated for a period but later lost traffic and tenants after Desert Sky Mall opened in 1981.

  Source

• Redevelop the former mall as a school campusStrategy

  Background

  By the mid-1990s, the mall was almost vacant, while its structure remained suitable for continued use.

  Action taken

  The property was offered to the Cartwright Elementary School District for $7.3 million, with preservation of the exterior structure. The district adapted the site for an elementary school, a middle school, a gymnasium, an auditorium, and athletic fields.

  Aftermath

  The property ceased operating as a shopping mall and became part of the public-school system between 2000 and 2001.

  Property sale price. $7.3 million (1990s)

  Source

• 1958

  Maryvale Shopping City plans announced[1]Maryvale Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Plans were announced for a 19-store neighborhood shopping center serving the growing Maryvale community. The initial tenant announcements included S. S. Kresge and Piggly Wiggly.

• Maryvale Shopping City enclosed and expanded as Maryvale Mall[1]Maryvale Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  During the late 1970s, the original open-air shopping center was enclosed, expanded with a new wing, and renamed Maryvale Mall. Mervyn's became an anchor in the expanded property.

• Cartwright Elementary School District acquires former mall property[1]Maryvale Mallen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  In the 1990s, the property was sold or offered to the Cartwright Elementary School District for $7.3 million, subject to preservation of the exterior structure. The site was subsequently adapted for schools and athletic use.

1. 1Maryvale Mallen.wikipedia.org