Indian Springs Mall; Kansas City, Kansas
Indian Springs Mall opened at the corner of State Road (U.S. 40) and I-635 on the west side of Kansas City, Kansas in 1971. The 700,000 square-foot mall looks pretty much exactly the same today as it did when it opened over 35 years ago, save for many stores which have come and gone and very minor decorating updates. Unfortunately, more stores have gone than have come, and today Indian Springs Mall’s days are numbered as redevelopment plans have picked up steam.
For dated retail architecture lovers, Indian Springs Mall is an amazing dream come true. The two-level enclosed mall stretched from Montgomery Ward in the north to Dillard’s on the south end, with a JCPenney in the middle. Impressive high ceilings with windows flank the JCPenney anchor in the middle of the mall which has a long frontage. The lower level of the mall only exists from JCPenney to Dillard’s and not from JCPenney to Montgomery Ward, and feels like a strangely dark subterranean world because it is only open to the upper level intermittently. Several retail fans like us have created a film documentary of the mall and the circumstances surrounding its condition, which is to be released in Spring 2007. You can even view a trailer at their website.
Today, with zero anchors and a hybridized focus, Indian Springs is most definitely a dead mall. It actually died as a traditional retail mall about a decade ago, but like many others it has carried on with other purposes. In 1997, Dillard’s closed, and JCPenney also closed. The last anchor to close was Montgomery Ward, which closed when the entire chain folded in 2001. As the anchors left, so too did many of the typical national retailers. The mall was then repurposed to focus on attracting a mostly Hispanic retail market, and remains with this focus today as about a dozen Hispanic stores and restaurants have opened, many featuring spanish-only signage. In addition to the Hispanic focus, several spaces in the mall have been converted to office use. The large former JCPenney space was retenanted to the Kansas City School District in recent years, which runs their entire operation from within the mall. The former Dillard’s space has been used by the U.S. Postal Service as a customer service center. In addition, several programs featuring humanities and the arts operate at Indian Springs as rent is low and space is plentiful. Also, the mall’s name was tweaked at some point during repositioning from Indian Springs Mall to Indian Springs Marketplace.
In 2006, the Kansas City government got tired of Indian Springs and decided it was time to assign it a blighted status, much to the chagrin of the mall’s owners and remaining tenants. As the city sought a developer to tear down the property and replace it with The Next Big Thing, mall owners have sued the city to challenge the blighted status. Also, as of January 2007 the Kansas City Schools are mulling over where they will move once the mall is torn down.
So why did Indian Springs fail? I suspect a combination of over-malling in the Kansas City area in general, the erosion of the local economy of KCKS, and competition from dominant super-regionals such as Oak Park Mall several miles south in Overland Park killed the chances for Indian Springs’ success. As redevelopment and razing of the structure seems inevitable, we are reminded of how fast many enclosed centers like this one are disappearing. Better catch it while you can. The pictures here were taken in April 2006, but also check out the mall’s aerial photos on Microsoft Virtual Earth.
XISMZERO
February 21st, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Is it safe to say 1971 was “the year of the indoor mall”?
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Matt from CLT
February 21st, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Let’s see……nicely labelscarred…..plain flourescent lighting….plywood over some of the windows…..retrofitted skylights….
I think I’ll give this one a 9 out of 10. I like it a lot. Thanks for sharing!
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Rich
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:58 am
1971 was the year of the mall. By then even small strips were being developed with mall elements (e.g., enclosed sidewalks connecting anchors, with the smaller stores facing them). The mall really does look like time piece and a reminder that 1971 also was the nadir of mall architecture–hulking anchors and effort to make the service entrances to interior stores look like something else. It’s a period piece but malls like this will never catch-on like “Googie” architecture of the 50s.
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Steven Swain
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:04 am
This place has some nice old -school touches, like the fully intact JCPenney storefront with the showcase borders like Blue Ridge Mall had.
I can’t believe they painted over those Wards signs. That’s a crime against mall nature.
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XISMZERO
February 22nd, 2007 at 9:50 pm
I also believe the 1970s were the outer limits of eccentric and most experimental design we’ve seen yet in retail architecture. Could argue the 1960s did more of that, but the 70’s were just something special – making particular light of darker colors.
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Degu
March 12th, 2007 at 5:31 am
Never been in here, but have gone past it about a million times…The former Ward’s area (facing the highway) looks in seroius disrepair; remnants of the signage still there. It even still features the old ‘Electric Avenue’ logo along the front.
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Bighead
March 26th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Maybe off topic but my father has opened a business in the old Firestone, located on the outside of this mall..
Apparently, this weekend (Sat, March 31, 2007) there is a “Save The Mall” concert at his business…. KC Car bay
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boomshakla
April 10th, 2007 at 12:51 am
I have never seen that sort of GNC signage before. How old is that, or is that a prototype?
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Randall
April 19th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Here’s a new article for you about Indian Springs:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/kmbc/20070419/lo_kmbc/12446148
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Sean
April 25th, 2007 at 1:55 am
Considering that Indian Springs Mall has been in decline for nearly two decades, it’s amazing the place has managed to survive this long. What’s more, it managed to outlive other KC malls (that seemed much healthier a few years back) such as Blue Ridge (razed and now a Wal-Mart), Mission (razed) and Bannister (set to close in May.)
A few notes from 30 years of patronage:
The mall croaked largely (big surprise!) due to a reputation of crime, which in most cases was probably an unfair accusation. For example, sometime in the early 90s there was a shooting in the movie theater, which was initially reported as if it were a random act of violence– it was actually a domestic dispute. In 1996, during one of my last visits to the mall until 2003, the KCK police kept a squad car parked at each entrance, in an attempt to project an image of security.
The Dillard’s ceased to function as a department store and morphed into an “outlet” which eventually moved to the Mall of the Great Plains in Olathe, sometime in the mid-90s.
Somehow, the Italian Delight restaurant is still open for business. It was one of the malls original tenants.
The mall only recently molested the Wards signage. Back in 2003, I photographed the 67-era blue and white outdoor signs, which were still in excellent condition. Also, the inside sign (which was the 82-vintage logo) was actually still lit! I’ll upload the photos if anyone is interested.
The lower level is called “Aztec Plaza” and contains many hispanic businesses. They even resurrected the old AMC theater (where I had seen many movies over the years) for hispanic films.
Indian Springs served as the only mall for Kansas City, Kansas for 1971 until the “Legends” opened near the NASCAR speedway. When I visited in 2003, I got the distinct impression that it still served as the only shopping center for the people in the area who don’t own a car and are forced to use the bus. I imagine the closing of Wards was probably a big blow to these people.
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chewy
May 31st, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I lived in KCK form birth until age 16 and yes it was the ONLY shopping area for KCK period. Before they MADE all the farmers sell their land and property to build The Legends, we had no else to go. But it seems that KS was not interested in making Wyandotte County a better place to live, so they focused on Johnson County. When I was little I remember the trips to the mall for the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and for Halloween- those were such fun trips!
However, I think my most memorable moments of the mall is when I went out with my best friend to the movies and we had a blast!!!! It was my real first outing as a teenager-I loved it. About 2 year later she died from cancer but I will always remember how much fun it was.
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prshack
June 26th, 2007 at 11:33 am
The county government has bought this mall now for $7.5 million. It looks like they’re going to tear it down.
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Jonah N.
June 30th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Such a shame. If someone could only buy the mall, kick all non-retail/restaurant out, and give the mall a cool and varied look, it could be revived. For example, Aztec Plaza could become nice looking with live music, delicious food, and nicer stores. Then, we add an Asian, French, Caribbean, and good ol’ USA (complete with faux brick facades and colorful awnings) sections and give each section a unique architectural look, then they could rename the mall something snazzy like “International Marketplace Mall”.
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Jeff
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Personally as a dead mall fan, I would leave the mall untouched. If I were wealthy, I would buy the mall from it’s current owners and leave it in a state of suspended detoritation. I would not update it or try to bring in new tenants. I believe it is better to hold onto these dying malls rather than letting them meet the recking ball, even if that means leaving it the way it is. I find it facinating to see these malls in such a state of despare, I think it is wonderful. I still wish Blue Ridge and Mission mall were still around.
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Scott
July 7th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I am a lifelong Wyandotte County resident. The reason the mall closed is simple, the customers with money selected “safer” malls than Indian Springs. For far too many years security had little control over the mall. While outright crime may have been exaggerated, the feeling of intimidation existed and went unchecked. High shoplifting rates by “customers” in this entire area caused many businesses to close doors. Venture and K-Mart closed at 4301 State Avenue for similar reasons. There simply exist no base of support willing to shop in this area. When it opened many of us looked forward to going to the mall, but by the late 1970’s Indian Springs already possessed a reputation. It’s a beautiful place to see, but it’s understandable that patrons chose to shop elsewhere.
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Nina
September 18th, 2007 at 8:47 am
I have a vision for this place, but don’t know how to get it started.
I see it a place for learning and family fun place.
Where kids can go after school and learn about the Jungle, Astronants, Daycare, sakte board area, Cd library.
And so much more. It can be a place for job fairs, and education for the future.
A place for kids to go and learn while parents are still at work.
I need help it getting the right people to help get this going and prayers.
I just have a vision and God’s faith.
Help me to upgrade this place,
nbice66103@yahoo.com
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Nina
September 27th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Remodel Indian Spring! Put what the city needs there like a place for kids to go afterschool for fun and tutoring and learning of their future! If they tear it down it is still possible to rebuild for make east side of Kansas City Kansas a better area too!
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John
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:06 pm
This was the place to be in the 80’s as a teenager, Taco Via and the Fun Factory were staples of the Mall. But like what most people stated in this thread, shoplifting and gangs are the real reason the mall went into a rapid decline. Why fear getting mugged or shot when you can go to Oak Park or Legends for a safer, family shopping experience, Sad but true!
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Kellis
December 12th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Let’s face it. Malls are slowly dying. Unless you’re Independence Center, Oak Park Mall, or even Ward Parkway Shopping Center, it’s a losing proposition. I would think it would do the business owners a big favor to find cheap deals out in the open, in downtown KCK or nearby. I read somewhere that a business park would be built on the site if Indian Springs gets the wrecking ball. Why not? Lets make this place vibrant again. I would love to see business prosper again in KCK instead of Johnson County. Don’t build it in Village West. Bring it further in. KCK is a great city with a great heritage. I don’t see that mall as part of its heritage. Knock it down. Look to the future.
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Jonah Norason
December 25th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
The unfortunate thing is the documentary meant to save the mall “I Saw You At the Mall” won’t launch until spring ‘08, meaning Indian Springs Mall might meet the wrecking ball. A skate park, a public library division, or something would go great here. Redo the parking lot and the exterior (maybe destroying the parking lot for a field or something, make it a section of a park)
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jay
December 29th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
anyone interested in a joint venture for Indian Springs Mall. I have some inestors who wiuld like to turn the mall into a series of lofts/villas. Any takers?
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jay
December 29th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
anyone interested in a joint venture for Indian Springs Mall. I have some investors who wiuld like to turn the mall into a series of lofts/villas. Any takers?
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robert
January 18th, 2008 at 12:15 am
was the crime ,plain and simple
“DONT SHOOT ME BRO”
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Jack Lane
February 19th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
. I was at the grand opening of the mall in 1971 and lived in the area for 35 years. I-635 had not even been completed south to I-35 when it opened. It was quite busy during the 70’s into the early 80’s, it declined very rapidity during the 1980’s. The shoppers were all white, rarely saw a black shopper during the 70’s. That changed in 80’s along with crime. White’s quit shopping at the mall, and stores starting moving out left and right. That is the true story of what happened to Indian Springs. I watched it happen from beginning to end. The area around the mall also began changing for the worse.
The crime was not that bad, was more like a few events over the years, a kid got killed in front of the video arcade, a brinks guard was killed in the mall during an attempted robbery, etc.
The best thing to do now, is tear it down and build probably a mix of office buildings and maybe some retail. It’s location at I-635 and I-70 is a very desirable location for something new. It will help in a renewal mid-town of KCK.
KCK need’s rebuilding badly, it quit growing in the 1960’s and began a long decline, Indian Springs being an exception against that trend for a few years. The new growth in the western part of the county, show’s thing’s can change, trying to save useless structure’s will not be a positive step for the future of the county.
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Jonah Norason
February 24th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I hope they don’t tear it down. It’s a great showpiece of what happens when a mall reaches an “Undead” status.
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Tyleen
April 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I also grew up in Wyandotte Co. and can remember going to Indian Springs mall from as far back as I can remember. I remember riding a tricycle during a bike safety campaign through a bike course in the lower level of the mall. I remember my coloring page won first place and hung in the mall during fire safety week. I remember going to the movies and the arcade as a pre-teen, you know back in the days when you could leave your kids at the mall and felt safe.
I would agree with Nina from above that I would like to see the mall turned into something for the kids. I vision a large teen center that would incorporate volunteer work with community service utilizing the area university and colleges. I vision tutoring, computer cafe, and continue showing movies at the theater. Turn the old JC Penny, Wards and Dillards into a skating rink, bowling alley and dance club. Bring local bands to perform.
With the West KC area growing and revitalization of the downtown, let’s bring the middle together full of something that REAL kids in kc can afford and benefit from.
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Jonah Norason
May 30th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Shockingly, the mall is still around:
http://www.kmbc.com/news/12446148/detail.html
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Prange Way
May 30th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Wow, that’s incredible. I would have thought this mall would be closed by now, since it has been in terrible shape for over a decade now. I’m guessing the hispanic-oriented retailers are keeping the thing afloat because it’s one of the only places in the metro where such a thing exists. Maybe they could just use one of the dead anchor spots for Wal-Mart and leave the thing open.
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cari
October 18th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
wow, I can’t believe that just 12 yrs ago I lived in kc area. I would agree with all of you from above that I would like to see the mall turned into something for the kids expecually the teenagers. They need somewhere to go in the evening not just after school. I enjoyed going to the mall for a good movie. Even though the movie theater is gone both the outdoor and indoor. Mabee they should put up another one for them.
I don’t want to see it turned into a apt area, but a nice park would be nice too. I can’t believe I’m reading this, but I do think we need to do something in that area to bring in more family-oriented things.
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rick
January 21st, 2009 at 7:13 am
I grew up working in this mall in highschool. my first job was at national shirt shop there. It at one time had 8 movie screens and dozens of resterants.What killed this mall was crime.
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nikki
February 13th, 2009 at 2:41 am
I was born in kansas city and as the days went by the mall slowly dwendled down to hardly anything and anymore all you hear on the news is who shot who and this person was beat by this person or this person raped this person it got really old. so eventually you just didn’t even watch the news cause you were tired of hearing the same old thing just a different day… well i hated to see that mall to go but it was the violence that killed the mall cause noone would go there after dark cause of robbers and shootings…. well i thought i would put in my opinion…. well i hope the do good to it i hate to see it go.
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Josh
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:14 am
I grew up in KCK as well, and worked at Indian Springs during high school in the mid to late 90’s. During this time there were several stores still there. I worked at One Hour Photo, and also GNC for a short time (about boomshakla’s comment above, The GNC was a corporate store, not a franchise — this may be why the sign looked different).
At One Hour Photo, we had a photo booth in the store, but not the normal kind where you only get 3 photos. You could pay for 12, 24, or 36 and YOU chose the zoom, vertical or horizontal, and when the photo was actually taken by pressing a button on a remote control, and a video screen showed what your photo would look like before it was taken. It was the coolest thing. When I needed a smoke break, all I had to do was step out into the mall where smoking was allowed, much longer than other malls that had banned it by this time. At GNC I worked for a lady named Donna, who was a total riot and smoked all the time. She actually allowed us to smoke in the back room. It was funny when some customers would come in shopping for their health needs and say “Is someone smoking in here?”
I used to love going there with my friends over the years, we always had a blast. Some of my favorite places were Musicland, Dillard’s (Outlet), Taco Via, Italian Delight, Harold Pener, Montgomery Ward, that ice cream place that sat in the middle of the lower level hallway next to Big Al’s, the movies and of course The Fun Factory. When I was a little kid my grandparents liked to go there to a huge restaurant that used to be in a corner space near the Dillard’s entrance (It had the Children’s Museum there recently). I remember going shopping there with my parents as a kid, the mall was always full of people.
Does anyone remember that maze that used to be set up for kids on the lower level? And what about that giant hanging sculpture that was in front of Dillard’s? It hung in the upper level and went through the mezzanine to the lower level over a fountain. Beautiful piece but is gone now. They must have sold it. Or does anyone remember that little jewelry place just outside of Montgomery Ward called Christie’s? It was kind of an enclosed kiosk. Anyway the lady that ran that place was a weirdo and always had messy hair, but I used to like to go there and pay $1.00 for a mystery bag. I always hoped I would get something expensive. There was always a bird cage with a bird in that store too. My best friend’s mom said that when the mall opened (or shortly after) there was a Fredrick’s of Hollywood in the mall — wow.
I think what turned people off was the crime. Even so, I love Wyandotte County and especially KCK. I hate to see this place go, so full of memories for me. It hurt my heart to hear that the mall would be torn down.
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Bobby
February 25th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Any more news on this mall? Has it closed yet?
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Cindy
March 6th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
My brother and I have a bet going on and need some help. In the early 70’s does anyone remember some type of hobby or craft store at Indian Springs? What was the name of the store? Please email me at k9shelter@aol.com.
We have one dollar riding on this bet
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Aaron Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
@Cindy, It was Hobby Haven. And I remember before Big Al’s it was Smacks. But My all time favorite place to go was Spencers .
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Josh
March 19th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
To Cindy:
I think it was called Hobby Haven.
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Eddie
March 24th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
My next door neighbor worked at JC Penny’s when Indian Spring first opened. Where the sitting area’s are in the lower level were initially fountains that people would throw coins in to. The first day the mall opened they had goldfish in the fountains that you could catch and have for no cost. Spent so much time in the mall growing up it is sad to me that it may be torn down. Thank goodness that Italian Delight lasted this long! I personally believe that a skating rink, bowling alley and even move theater could survive there if the Unified Govt. would organize and monitor it thoroughly( I don’t know if that would be possible) but it could become a viable area again.
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Simon Borgnion
April 4th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
What year did Indian Springs close?
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J Cutler
April 9th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
There use to be a place at the mall that sold old stock or unused craft type items from Hallmark. Does anyone know if this is still around somewhere? Thanks
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Wyatt
April 19th, 2009 at 4:56 am
The Childrens Museam moved out they sold the craft type items. The mall is still open, mostly Unified Government enties downstairs and some few hispanic retailers upstairs. Back in the summer there was a soulfood restaurant which may still be there. Itailan Delight is still there unchanged and super busy at lunch time. I think one of the major items that sealed its fate besides malls just going out of style was Fun Factory. Lots of teens just dropped off or walked over. Little or no money but a place to hang out and at some point trouble follows. Idle hands and such. I rememeber in the early 90s my then GF now wife bought me a looney tunes jacket from Merry Go Round upstairs. It was made by the guy who made all of Arsenial Hall’s Jackets for his late night show. I can remember all the Christmas seasons when the lot was full of cars, helping my dad buy his last minute selection of Channel # 5 for mom, for Christmas. Which was funny, because we had little money. So he would save up money all this time just to buy it for Christmas but then run like a mad man to get it last minute. Lots of fun memories of that old mall. I remember I was a teen and took my kid brother to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when it first came out. We were a little early and the place was packed. We were forced to sit up front and get a neck ache. Last I heard a year ago it would be demolished and new UG buildings put in its lot. I have lots of great memories, but the mall needs redone or dropped. I’ll always have my childhood though!
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Dave
April 27th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
I practically grew up at Indian Springs myself – it opened just before my 10th birthday. One of the old fellows at church told me he remembered when that was all pasture land, and after a bad flood one year there were dead cows floating in the pasture. I think Worlds of Fun opened the same year up in North KC – or maybe it was the following year. KCK was booming then.
There was a lot of controversy when the mall first opened. Some “psychic” said the mall would collapse on a specific day, of course the prediction was false. Supposedly the mall had been built over underground springs that were undermining the whole area, or some such nonsense.
There was indeed a Frederick’s of Hollywood in the mall – one of my good friends worked there in the 80’s. There was also a Smak’s burger joint on the lower level. They had the greatest onion rings. In later years it was replaced by a deli shop, J.T. Pickleman’s, I think. I used to buy all of my LPs at Musicland, and Taco Via was *the* place to hang out. I had forgotten the maze! My little sister and I had so much fun in it, even though we had memorized the path through it. The mall used to have these huge plexiglass rectangles that hung from the ceiling. They were translucent neon colors – orange and pink and blue. Originally the fountains had big rectangular structures in them that the water splashed off of. There were no barriers around the fountains! I can’t tell how many times my friends and I would try to push each other into the water.
I saw my first R-rated movie at the original Dickinson theaters on the Wards end of the mall. The Dillard’s was originally Macy’s, I think. Or maybe the Jones Store. My wife and I bought our wedding bands at Kriegel’s. She worked at KayBee Toys before we got married. I used to hang out in Hobby Haven and wish I had enough money to buy some of the model kits they had in there. There was also a pet store in the mall (Petland?), a Spencer’s Gifts, a Wicks and Sticks, Lim’s Oriental Gifts, Orange Julius, and a Wurlitzer store. I played in a Christmas concert with my school orchestra on the lower level of the mall one year.
I have many memories of that mall, but it died like all malls seem to be doing. I stopped going there because of the crime, and quite frankly it won’t matter what gets built when the Springs is razed, because that whole part of town is riddled with crime. That’s why Sears at Tower Plaza died, that’s why Venture died, and that’s why developers moved out to the Legends – to get away from the crime.
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brookster
April 28th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
I grew up in Johnson County, and the only person that I have ever known who shopped at Indian Springs was abducted from there, and then raped. It has always been thought that KCK is a very dangerous neighborhood–much more so than Kansas City, Missouri. So, obviously, how could one expect the mall to come back to prominence? It is sad, and reading these former posts makes one feel very disheartened. Yet, it is enlightening , too, as I never knew that anyone ever actually liked Kansas City, Kansas. Who knew?!!
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