After over 50 years, the Don Mills Centre recently closed its doors. Originally a plaza (but converted to a mall in the late 70s), in the middle of the planned Don Mills community had some firsts. Included were on of the first suburban Eaton's and the first Shoppers Drug Mart. The mall fell upon some hard times in the early 90s due to recession, the closing of Eaton's and of course the more popular and renovated Fairview Mall - which incidentally is also owned by Cadillac Fairview.
I was a regular visitor over the last couple years simply because it was close to work, and had Jack's - you could smoke in the bar which was a huge bonus. In fact the biggest draw to mall was likely that spot.
Now it is empty and will soon be torn down. In its place will go a plaza and some condos. From what I gather the plaza will model after a new trend that is kinda plaza and kinda big box store.
One thing that is sure is the shopping mall in general is dead. The craze to build and convert plazas into malls in the late 70's and early 80's has left facilities that are not viable. Many in these parts are becoming relics unless they are able to find a niche.
Dollar stores should not be considered a niche, by the way.
This is a good site to start surfing Dead Malls. It contains many links to histories and pictures from urban explorers.
Categories: Exploration, Buildings
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
We should watch Dawn of the Dead, man. Takes place in a mall that's been abandoned - albeit only a week or so prior to the events of the film.
Good post.
Blues Brothers(1980) was filmed at Dixie Square Mall shortly after it's closing. The mall still stands to this day. Some wild pics at this site:
http://www.barraclou.com/memorial/dixie/index.html
Post a Comment