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Location DB > United States > Texas > Mesquite > Big Town Mall
 Name
Big Town Mall
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by the ruralexploration kids on 11/19/2004 2:47 AM
last modified by Explorer Zero on 7/21/2017 2:48 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
A large masonry and concrete indoor / outdoor shopping mall. There were several anchor stores, J.C. Penny, Montgomery Ward, Woolworths and even a Sanger Harris. Several remote buildings too a tire store, an exposition hall and a bowling alley.
 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: not very exciting; depressing if you've shopped there.
 Physical Information
Address
Big Town Boulevard
Mesquite, Texas
United States
Owner:
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • asbestos
  • unsafe flooring
  • water
  • air quality
  • collapsed areas, broken plate glass, and debris
  •  Interesting Features
    Lots of doors, some of which may open. The only two shops that still exist are a discount off-price women's shoe store (pretty good selection, if you're into cheap shoes) and a furniture store. The shoe store is located where a portion of Woolworth's was - There are still signs inside the shoestore that show where particular sections of Woolworth's had been.

    UPDATE APRIL 29: this has changed no active business in the mall proper only the bowling alley remains open its in a separate building
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • 24 hour guard
  • wooden boarding
  • UPDATE: extra patrols by Mesquite PD, Bigtown security (small white pickup truck and late model silver Chevy pickup
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1958
    Closed: 1989
     Required Equipment
  • flashlight
  •  Recommended Equipment

     History
    Big Town was the first enclosed, air conditioned mall west of the Mississippi. It was the place to be. Big Town had your typical mall stores - Woolworth's, JC Penny, Dillards, Montgomery Ward, Sears, Radio Shack, a Hallmark store, and according to one local historian, a "kicka$$ plus-size clothes store."

    As a shopper in this time period, you had two options - The much busier, more crowded Town East Mall, or the more personable Big Town. As more shoppers preferred Town East, and as this region of Mesquite declined, slowly but surely, stores started pulling out of Big Town.

    The interior of the mall was pretty swanky - The walls contained murals of people that were very dated, yet very cool. There were your typical lamposts and benches, typical of just about any mall.

    The movie theater was a pretty swingin' place, too. Weekends were packed, and judging from the decor of the front entranceway, it was designed in the same funky-modern (which is now, of course, retro) way as the mall. At one point, after a remodeling, there were jungle animals hanging from the walls.. A lion, a King Kong.. Things of that nature.

    As of November of 2004, the mall was technically still alive, thanks to an offprice shoe store and a furniture shop. The shoe store stood where Woolworth's once was. Woolworth's sign for checkout line 1 was still visible, as were a few other remnants. These stores were only accessible from outside - The interior corridors were closed.

    UPDATE APRIL 28 2006 by 2X: interior demolition has begun, drove by today Mesquite FD was on site putting out a fire. See new gallery and story coming soon.

    UPDATE AUGUST 1 2006 by 2X: two giant Komatsu tracked excavators have begin hacking away at the old corpse of a mall now. I saw 50% of the Sanger Harris structure knocked down and scraped into the flooded basement in less than 30min

    UPDATE 9/10/06 by the ruralexploration kids: There isn't much left. A portion of Montgomery Wards remains.. Some rubble stands where the movie theater once was... And the Monkey Wards Auto Center is just starting to die.
     Media Coverage

     Future Plans
    demolition by order of the City of Mesquite


     Stories
    My littlest UE buddy.
    Sat, Sep 9th, 2006
    posted by the ruralexploration kids
    Night Recon
    Sat, Apr 29th, 2006
    posted by Explorer Zero


    Add your own story
     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Exterior
    Fri, Nov 19th, 2004
    posted by the ruralexploration kids
    46 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Night of the Recon
    Sat, Apr 29th, 2006
    posted by Explorer Zero
    13 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Daytime Followup
    Sun, Apr 30th, 2006
    posted by Explorer Zero
    33 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Dust to dust
    Wed, Aug 2nd, 2006
    posted by Explorer Zero
    20 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Big Town through the eyes of an eight year old.
    Sun, Sep 10th, 2006
    posted by the ruralexploration kids
    9 pictures
     


    Add your own photos

    Mark all galleries as Seen
     Web Links
    http://www.deadmal...big_town_mall.html
     Contribute

    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    Category Rating
    Photography 7 / 10
    Coolness 8 / 10
    Content Quality 8 / 10
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Explorer Zero on 7/21/2017 3:53 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Jul 21 17 at 15:53, Explorer Zero validated this location
  • on Jul 21 17 at 15:44, Explorer Zero made this location available
  • on Jul 21 17 at 15:38, Explorer Zero updated a story
  • on Jul 21 17 at 15:38, Explorer Zero updated a story
  • on Jul 21 17 at 14:54, Explorer Zero made this location unavailable
  • on Jul 21 17 at 14:50, Explorer Zero updated gallery picture Freeway view
  • on Jul 21 17 at 14:48, Explorer Zero updated gallery Night of the Recon
  • on Jul 21 17 at 14:48, Explorer Zero changed the following: Description
  • on Jul 21 17 at 14:47, Explorer Zero made this location available
  • on Jul 21 17 at 14:46, Explorer Zero made this location unavailable
  •  Forum Threads about this Location
    New Thread
     SubjectStarted ByRepliesViewsLast Post
    You must log in for this feature to work.Update on this LocationThe_Notorious_JRC424138/15/2013 7:46 PM by AD Kodak
    You must log in for this feature to work.sad to see it goshutter75118379/27/2006 1:14 AM by shutter75
    You must log in for this feature to work.Coolramona015209/5/2006 5:09 PM by ramona
    You must log in for this feature to work.Crew contains fire at Big Town Mallscotteeyo019765/1/2006 10:42 PM by scotteeyo
    You must log in for this feature to work.Vacant mall used as processing station for Katrina evacuees.the ruralexploration kids020559/4/2005 7:01 PM by the ruralexploration kids
    You must log in for this feature to work.End is near for remnants of the area's first mallthe ruralexploration kids423494/30/2006 9:04 PM by Explorer Zero
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