Bye Bye Northgate (El Paso, Kirby, Center: apartments, to buy, tenants)

[simbared]

Throughout the 60's and beyond, Northgate Shopping Center was such a huge presence that much of the surrounding area was also referred to as "Northgate." There was a Northgate National Bank, the Northgate Apartments, and countless small businesses like the Northgate Barber Shop that weren't in the actual shopping center. Most are gone or their names were changed long ago.

Many of the original chain-store tenants at Northgate have passed on as well: Gunning-Casteel, Aaronson Brothers, American Furniture Stores, Singer Sewing Centers, Whites Auto Center, and Thom McAn Shoes. The Popular was added later but never did very well at that location. A few, like J.C. Penny and Safeway, are still in business.

KVIA videotaped a final walk-through recently. Demolition was long overdue, but still sad when you think of what it used to be and what it meant to the often-neglected residents of Northeast El Paso when it first opened with much fanfare many years ago.

Demolition Of Northpark Mall In Northeast El Paso Begins - News Story - KVIA El Paso

[HookTheBrotherUp]

I recall the mall as Northgate Shopping Center as it was called when I left in the 80's. Going back further, all I rembember was seeing that cool looking neon light they had, I think it was blue with a star on top. ? It was a long time ago, but for sure there blue lights rising to a pinacle. 'Never stood ground there. Of course, I think it was too far for many, perhaps that was one of the first proverbial nails in the coffin.

[smguy101]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

I recall the mall as Northgate Shopping Center as it was called when I left in the 80's. Going back further, all I rembember was seeing that cool looking neon light they had, I think it was blue with a star on top. ? It was a long time ago, but for sure there blue lights rising to a pinacle. 'Never stood ground there. Of course, I think it was too far for many, perhaps that was one of the first proverbial nails in the coffin.

that neon light you are thinking about was actually at the Sunrise Shopping Center by the freeway. It was a giant blue skinny pyramid thing. I remember it until they tore is down sometime in the late 90s

[HookTheBrotherUp]

I think you are right, Sunrise Shopping Center sounds familiar too. I remember driving along the Dyer/Railroad area and it was not too far from there. In either case, I never went to either of them, but I never worked when I lived in El Paso, so did not have money to buy anything, that could be why.

[elparmybrat]

Actually, I think he was partially right. As I remember, Sunrise had the
blue lighted object in the front and Northgate had one that was green.

[AmberLynn]

There was a Joann's Craft Store there also in the mid 90's. It' so sad to see that go.

[atrabilius]

I noticed the El Paso Museum of Natural History seems to have sort of quietly up and died. It wasn't in Northgate anymore when the demolition began, anyway.

[david w. kirby]

KIRBY --------- I grew up on Marie Tobin Drive. Sunrise shopping center had the blue obelisk and is where Peckinpah shot the drive-in restaurant scene (with waitresses on skates) at Oasis restaurant for his masterpiece Texas film, THE GETAWAY circa 1971. Northgate had more stores and futuristic light towers in the parking lot and an unusual open air set-up in the actual mall. Drainage ditches and El Paso natural gas properties surrounded the mall area. Was there a flood that made the mall an inhospitable area? I was no longer there and have not heard about that.