Comments on: Scottsdale Mall (Erskine Village); South Bend, Indiana

By: JP

JP — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:32:13 +0000

The UP Mall did to the Scottsdale Mall what the Scottsdale Mall did to downtown South Bend and adjacent nieghborhoods. When I was still living in the Southside, our family still did the majority of our shopping in downtown South Bend (Sears, JC Pennys, Robertsons, Gilberts, etc…). The State Theatre, Colfax and Avon Theatres were still open; almost every neighborhood had a Five and Dime and local restaurant, not to mention small nieghborhood grociers. South Michigan St alone boasted of an A&P, Southside Grociers, Cira’s Market, shoe stores, several banks, barbers, and barbers. All were within walking distance, or a 15 cent bus ride. The Scottsdale Mall destroyed this entire zone of nieborhood commerce -most were family owned enterprises.

Of course, not all the blame resides with the Mall. White Flight from the Southside, Near Northeastside, and Near Westside contributed, as well as the decision by South Bend to make the downtown area pedestrian. Parking became a hassle, and for out of towners. The demise of small tool & die and other job shops, as well as the clsoing of Bendix didn’t help. But as far as commerce went, the Scottsdale Mal was a death knell for urban commerce.

Sorry for not having too many fond memories of the Scottsdale Mall. The Grape Rd/Main St Correigdor did the Scottsdale Mall in. I never could understand why someone living in Lapaz or North Liberty preferred going to the UP Mall, which is much farther away than the Scottsdale Mall. However, the post-Scottsdale Mall Erskine Village area has been a boom for the Southside. I prefer going there than fight traffic in Mishawaka.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:19:41 +0000

I had just turned 13 when Scottsdale closed down. I still miss going every weekend with friends to watch $1 movies. Also I missed the cute guy, Sam, who was working at the pizza place. The memories…

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:16:57 +0000

I truly enjoyed going to the mall before, and after Jackson and RHS football and basketball games. Aladdin’s Castle, Farrel’s, Coney Island, and Rathskellers were the spot. It was easy access for everyone, in the city, to get to. Car or bus, and you’re there. I have great memories of the place.

By: Steve Zellers

Steve Zellers — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:14:01 +0000

I really miss Scottsdale….. Going to Farrells as kid was awesome…. Plus the mall had a really cool scent that no other mall has…… I worked at Chess King during the summer of 1990…. They could have done alot with that mall with just tearing down the anchor stores and rebuilding with new larger ones… Nordstrom, Macys and a JC Penney would have been perfect…. But Oh well…. Its gone and replaced with another strip mall in the Michiana area and will be vacant after the “newness” wears off……

By: Kim Paffenroth

Kim Paffenroth — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:36:11 +0000

A sad day I didn’t even know about until now, as we moved from South bend in 1997. You inspired me to blog about it – http://gotld.blogspot.com/2009/11/scottsdale-mall.html

By: L

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:28:08 +0000

@Angie, Bressler’s. How ’bout that grape sherbet?

By: Jason Morgan

Jason Morgan — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:49:05 +0000

Brown’s Sporting Goods used to be upstairs next to Waldenbooks in the 80s, when they were both on the West side of the mall, where the food court ended up.

By: STEVE

STEVE — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:41:41 +0000

@Rich, Ayr-Way did have a store near Cincinnati in Middletown, Ohio that became a Target. That store was replaced by a brand new one in a much better location around 1995. I have also read that Ayr-Way had stores in Louisville, Ky.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:32:16 +0000

i was i beleive 8 years old when they took it down and it was so fun to have, it was closed do to the lack of people, they needed better stores imo

By: Angie

Angie — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:26:34 +0000

Scottsdale Mall was the greatest mall ever,just because South Bend had a nice mall to go too,they had to ruin it, jealous issue of a 2 story mall in South Bend,something Mishawaka didn’t have,the mayor couldn’t wait to tear it down,couldn’t even got anyones opinions and talked about other options for the mall.I believe that if a mall,casino,waterpark ect. would be built in South Bend it would make South Bend a happy place all over again,South Bend People need new places to go to and new things to see in town,and it brings more jobs also!!!!! Does anyone know what the icecream place was called across from fannie may on left hand side it had few booths across the back and on side and bins of icecream flavors?