Comments on: Woodmar Mall; Hammond, Indiana

By: Prange Way

Prange Way — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:43:43 +0000

@Samantha, They still haven’t gotten anything together on the Woodmar site? I visited the mall numerous times between 2000-2005 and was amazed at its condition and continued usage; however, I do think this site should remain a retail center. It’s crummy that they promised a redevelopment and so far just tore everything down and replaced the Carson’s.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:24:18 +0000

The idea of Woodmar Mall coming back together would be really uplifting. I cannot speak of the whole new generation of the youth in Hammond, but I do know all them are not trash. I feel like the young adults in that area are truly suffering becuase of the gang activity.
Though I feel like it would be incredibly benefical that some type of building is to come back where Woodmar Mall had used to be. Bringing back jobs into the community would be beneficial. I truly feel like it would be a good thing, almost like giving back to the community. I know I didn’t like driving out all the way to Westfield Mall to find snouter people who think their better just becuase of the area someone had grown up there.
I also truly hope that the owner of the property, since there was an article that he is going to do something with the property, that he can at least build something this early spring. I feel like things will prosper. Our community just has to come together and keep an open mind. I know it will be benefical.
To further note, Carson’s being there has been really amazing as well. I al so glad that they still have nice, professional clothing are reasonable non Chicago prices. I do not know where I would be without that store. Carson’s gives me an outlet when I am bored, you find something new everyday there and opens up my mind to so many things.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:24:50 +0000

It deteriorated because Hammond is full of hoodrats. Gang members hung out there, stealing and just being a general nuisance.
I was born in 1980 and lived in Hammond until 1991, when my parents moved to Schererville (because of Hammond getting awful). I remember getting shirts with unicorns heated onto them at Boston Shirt Yard, getting Simple Minds “Don’t you forget about me” from woodmar records. Riding the little carousel with 3 horses in the primary colors in the center mall area. Seeing Santa and the Easter Bunny there. Carson’s (or any reputable store) could not survive in Hammond now. I never see anyone in Hammond wearing nice quality clothing. Not that Carson’s is even all that great. I wouldn’t wear it. Hammond is full of junkies and losers (old folks aside). I refer to Hammond as the land of pregnant 14 year olds, because that is what it is.
Also, people keep calling it Lerner, but before that it was Rothchilds. They had a really static-y carpet. My sister and I used to rub our feet on the floor and keep shocking each other.
It would be dumb to put Carsons in Schererville, because one could just drive to Southlake (now Westfield, I see) mall in Hobart/Merrillville.
The whole region really is just a crap-hole. I’m glad I moved to NYC. When I go back to visit…I am astounded by the lack of culture out there. I didn’t realize this when I was a part of it. On the outside looking in…and…..YUCK!

By: Mike E.

Mike E. — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:27:08 +0000

In early 1976, I worked as a bagger/stocker at the Sterk’s Super Foods where Burger’s used to be. I think a father and two sons owned this Sterk’s. I remember one time an ice cream plant in Illinois (?) had a fire and the store owners worked out a deal for the ice cream. We had ice cream cartons crammed in every inch of freezer space. That week, there was a huge sale on ice cream and business was booming!
Glad I left The Region before watching the mall deteriorate and close; I’ll just remember the mall as it was and not what it became.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Sun, 10 May 2009 04:42:44 +0000

I recall that when I was a kid, in the early 80’s, there were sometimes real turtles in the fountain of the Court of Turtles? does anyone else remember. Later on this was not the case, just stone turtles.

By: Margi

Margi — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:45:48 +0000

When Walgreens moved out of Woodmar altogether, the mall really took a down turn. Woodmar thrived when I was a child in the early 70’s with the Burger’s Grocery store at the south end of the mall coming into Walgreens Restaurant, Walgreens Drugstore, Boston T-shirt house, Hallmark, Lerners, Carsons, Bresslers Ice Cream, so many more to name. Walgreens packed up and moved to a stand alone business, the empty store was converted into a bargain discount book store. Many of us had our first job at Woodmar, many of us enjoyed shopping there. It is a shame when good things come to an end, but as progress continues to push forward, stores like Walmart,.Target, Meijer’s ,etc, you can shop all in one place. The lot still sets empty will Carsons still hanging in, (which that I don’t understand, Carsons is expensive) I am waiting to see what will come of the lot. Rumors are that it will be a strip mall like in Schererville on Rt 41, but, for now, it’s an empty lot.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:28:06 +0000

I worked at K-B Toys at Woodmar Mall when I was 16. I also grew up in the 80’s. My brother still lives in the area and I am really surprised to find out that the mall is gone. He hasn’t mentioned it to me at all. I am sorry to hear that it is gone, I had a lot of good memories from hat place. It was a place that we could go to hang out with friends and have a good time.

By: tina

tina — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:55:35 +0000

I grew up a few blocks from the mall. Woodmar mall is named after a section of Hammond that was considered a nicer area. I remember spending hours in the mall when I was a kid. It was always safe, clean and a fun place to be. I remember when they put in an arcade, as a pre teen it didn’t get better. It’s sad to see the mall go, I drove by when I was in town once and really wished I hadn’t. I want to preserve my memories and not what it became. Everything changes, includeing our memories, they get better has we get older.

By: Greg Spradlin Jr

Greg Spradlin Jr — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:42:48 +0000

I grew up in Schererville most of my younger years. My Grandma lived in Hammand and I would vist her alot with my family. We would go to WoodMar mall and walk aroun for a few hours shop and have a great time. This was from around 1986 – 89. When we moved away to Nebraska for a few years, I’d not come back to the mall till around 1994. When we moved back to Schererville. I’d spend hours at the Arcade, or looking around a the ToyStore. When my family moved to Hammond in 1998 for a few months, do do another move and selling of the house in Schererville, I was only about 1 1/2 f miles from WoodMar. I lived on the Munster/Hammond border. My buddies and I would go to WoodMar all the time. That place holds so many memories for myself and my family. I was sad to hear about it being tore down in 2006. So when I was about 23, I took a 2 hour trip up to Hammond and took some pics of the place before it was gone. Now 25, with kids of my own. Times are not like they used to be. And will never be. My partner and I now run a website and a myspace site to try and help out the town I live in. Peru, Indiana. By keeping jobs in the town, bringing better shopping, and letting people in the town know whats really going on. My partner Asa and I have been running the myspace site for over a year now and its been a huge hit with the town. The videos are the big hit. I’d love to see someday Hammond rebound to its former self. But I really don’t see that happening for a very long time. First off People have to really want to do something to fix there town, and not just talk about it. People have to care about there town and the people who live in it. Some people care, but most don’t. They feel its just a place were they live. Hammond has so much History and year by year it seems History fades away. If people want Hammond to Change, Then People have to change.

By: brandy

brandy — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:56:47 +0000

I remember “woodmar records” and that nice little resturant you saw as you turned in at the “court of Lions”… I grew up in 80’s… Our day consisted of shopping for hours there, take pictures at the photobooth with friends, watch many performances on the center stage and then later that night after they closed go across the street to the “arcade” and watch the local bands play… great memories!

The Carsons project is still in the works, Im hearing they will not go in schereville and that Hammond is fighting to keep them… then im hearing they gave up…. The area has gone downhill even with the new stores around. What sad is nobody is nice anymore… you cant simply send a nice hello to anyone as u walk by without a rude comment or look. Even the PAID greeters get rudeness. Back in the days people were respectfull, and if you werent… you were escorted out. Wish more people had manners these days. There is very few of them left.

RIP woodmar …