Original Crestwood Plaza food court (lease, home, theater)

[Texan Guy]

I was reading DeadMalls.com and was simply amazed at the description of the once-huge Crestwood Plaza food court.

The food court is a total disgrace. When it debuted, it was 100% leased and had a lot of unique eateries with really good food, as well as an old-world style market with fresh coffee and candy by the pound. As of May 2006, there is a McDonald's, Subway, Sbarro and an Athen's Cafe, a locally owned Greek restaurant. That is four spaces leased out of probably 20+ as originally configured.


Can anyone tell me more about the "original" food court, before its less-than-great status now? (I believe it is down to a Subway)

[DinsdalePirahna]

the Early malls were havens for unsupervised, unmotivated and generally vapid kids. Food courts tended to cater to that element, and the delicacies offered was just one step below uninspired.

The traditional mall was doomed when the first home game boxes started to appear.

[Texan Guy]

Originally Posted by DinsdalePirahna

the Early malls were havens for unsupervised, unmotivated and generally vapid kids. Food courts tended to cater to that element, and the delicacies offered was just one step below uninspired.

The traditional mall was doomed when the first home game boxes started to appear.

You know, if you can't answer the question or provide useful information, don't post at all.

[DinsdalePirahna]

it is useful information. It is ONE of the reasons why malls fail.

[ShadowCaver]

DP - the OP was asking specifics regarding this particular mall, what was it like before it crashed... not your dissertation point about uncouth crowds that inhabited malls in general. Keep the posts germane to the topic, w/o degradation towards the subject matter.

[sixtwobaldguy]

Ive been to that mall before. I have no idea what it used to be like but yuck. I would drive to Westfield South County or West County instead. It's not really a bad place just looks like it's past its prime

[SouthCityGal]

Do you know how far back the original food court dates? I can only say that to me, the mall seemed to experience a resurgence of sorts in the mid-to-late 1980's when the "bridge" area between Sears and Dillards was remodeled and made to look more like the two sides of the mall that it joined. I was a teen back then, so I was just starting to hang out at the mall. I had been there before the "resurgence" too (I think there was a Woolworth's, complete with restaurant, on the main level in the early 80's). I don't remember that food court back then.

The food court in the 80's was very popular and had every kind of food you could think of: pizza, Asian, burgers, Greek, & other sandwiches. I think there were dessert places too, and maybe a few stores thrown in. The movie theatre was also downstairs on the East (?) end of the food court (it later bacame a game area, if I remember correctly). The food court and theatre would be so busy on weeknights and weekends that you'd wait in long lines for food and movie tickets (especially if it were a new movie opening that day). It seems like the food court started going downhill when they moved the theatre upstairs by Dillards.

[MoNative34]

I think the last time I was there was in the early 90s and the food court was on a lower level if I remember right.

[Old Trafford]

The food court opened in 84 when the mall was rehabbed, it was big and busy.

Athens cafe was ther forever, a pizza place called first federal frank and crust was also there, as was the high end food store where I bought my mom a christmas present in 1985. AMC theater was on the east end. before they moved to the upper mall.

The bridge expansion was in the early 90's

[Texan Guy]

Originally Posted by SouthCityGal

Do you know how far back the original food court dates? I can only say that to me, the mall seemed to experience a resurgence of sorts in the mid-to-late 1980's when the "bridge" area between Sears and Dillards was remodeled and made to look more like the two sides of the mall that it joined. I was a teen back then, so I was just starting to hang out at the mall. I had been there before the "resurgence" too (I think there was a Woolworth's, complete with restaurant, on the main level in the early 80's). I don't remember that food court back then.

The food court in the 80's was very popular and had every kind of food you could think of: pizza, Asian, burgers, Greek, & other sandwiches. I think there were dessert places too, and maybe a few stores thrown in. The movie theatre was also downstairs on the East (?) end of the food court (it later bacame a game area, if I remember correctly). The food court and theatre would be so busy on weeknights and weekends that you'd wait in long lines for food and movie tickets (especially if it were a new movie opening that day). It seems like the food court started going downhill when they moved the theatre upstairs by Dillards.

Yes, the early-mid 1980s food court is what I'm thinking of. I know it is in the lower level, I just wanted to know what kind of food stores were there (if anyone has a directory, that'd be especially grand).