North Star Mall before 1982

[djhirokun]

There was another mall in front of Northstar? Totally did not know that. Weird that Sears just stayed behind. Thanks for the infomation.

[ranchodrive]

Central Park Mall was west of North Star across from San Pedro St.
At the bottom center across this mall was a movie theater .


Central Park Mall - San Antonio, TX USA | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by djhirokun

There was another mall in front of Northstar? Totally did not know that. Weird that Sears just stayed behind. Thanks for the infomation.

Anchor stores at major malls, like the Sears that was part of the old Central Park Mall, are usually owned by the store that occupies that space, as opposed to being leased, like the spaces occupied by the smaller stores.

So when the owners of Central Park decided to demolosh the mall and re-develop the property, they would have had to buy the Sears store from Sears, if they wanted to include that store in the demolition and re-development. The Dillard's store that was at the other end of the mall had been vacant for several years, and the mall owners obviously were able to purchase the building from the owner, who was probably more motivated to sell, than the owner of a store that was still operating.

When the mall was demolished, it left an unfinished cinder block wall on the west side of the Sears store, which was given a coat of stucco, and painted. Put a couple of fire exit doors where the entrance to the old mall was, and they were good to go (or should I say, stay?).

[icebrg]

Originally Posted by Willsatx

I remember a place that sold Churros in the late 70's it was I think where the apple store is now, NSM used to be awesome not really impressed by it today.

The churros place was there in the early 80's and was called Whimsy Works. The store was notable for its anamatronic characters that mimicked the making of the churros. It was located at the entry to the original food court right about where Michael Kors is now. The food court moved to its current location when the Marshall Field's wing opened in 1986.

[Willsatx]

Originally Posted by icebrg

The churros place was there in the early 80's and was called Whimsy Works. The store was notable for its anamatronic characters that mimicked the making of the churros. It was located at the entry to the original food court right about where Michael Kors is now. The food court moved to its current location when the Marshall Field's wing opened in 1986.

Thanks Ice and I remember the characters as well, something like its a small world at the Disney parks. That place was great I think it was there into the late 80's.

[malcorub16]

Originally Posted by ddeel

So was it the theater at North Star where I saw Star Wars--my first PG movie!? I've been thinking it was Central Park Mall for years. I remember waiting in a long line, inside a building, and I sort of remember some sort of arches. I was pretty young so I could be wrong about the arches. Anyway, does that sound like North Star or Central Park??

I never understood why the two malls were so close to each other, you could walk across the street from one to the other. I remember as a 15 year old kid back in 1994 my friend and I made it a point to visit every mall one summer by "borrowing" my parents old truck while they were at work. We went to every mall in SA that summer except from Rolling Oaks Mall.

Here is a vid of Central Park Mall.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptg633SwhHg

[fritos56]

Boy i haven't heard those store names in years.

[outafocus]

There were Texas Liquor Stores all over town. I imagine they were Dons & Ben's biggest competitors. Texas Stores also sold fishing and hunting supplies and you could buy hunting and fishing licenses there. I bought my tackle box at the North Star Mall store in the early 70s.

Every Friday I would take my pay check from the North Star Cinema to deposit at the San Antonio Savings kiosk near Woolworths.

[ranchodrive]

I worked in the books and camera department at Joske’s North Star.
As employees, we got 25% discount on the clothes.
Somewhere in the middle of the mall, was a small store that sold baseball cards
and other sporting goods. I got my David Robinson rookie card there.
Later he autographed the card when he went to McFarlin. A very nice person.

I recall, after work, I would order a pizza over on San Pedro and a 12 ounce bottle of Dr. Pepper
from the ice house nearby.
By the time I got home, I had finished the entire pizza.
Today, I can barely finish 2 slices!