Comments on: Indian Springs Mall; Kansas City, Kansas

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:58:49 +0000

@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 .

By: brookster

brookster — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:39:41 +0000

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?!!

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:58:14 +0000

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.

By: Wyatt

Wyatt — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:56:17 +0000

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!

By: J Cutler

J Cutler — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:31:41 +0000

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

By: Simon Borgnion

Simon Borgnion — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:17:38 +0000

What year did Indian Springs close?

By: Eddie

Eddie — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:56:27 +0000

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.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:37:47 +0000

To Cindy:

I think it was called Hobby Haven.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:48:20 +0000

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

By: Bobby

Bobby — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:30:17 +0000

Any more news on this mall? Has it closed yet?