Comments on: Blue Ridge Mall; Kansas City, Missouri

By: Brad

Brad — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:34:10 +0000

Lots of great memories here! I also grew up in the 50’s within bike-ridin’ distance of the Mall. I seem to recall there used to be a toystore in the mall called Jo Falk Toys (their commercial begged “Come In And Play With Us”) I’m also pretty sure there used to be a shoe repair store down on the 2nd level, just to the right of the stairs that came down from beside (Harzfelds?) There was also a tuxedo rental store down there where I rented a tux for my brother’s wedding.

I have a few memories of the mall before it was enclosed, and how “cool” it was to see snow on the ground between the stores in winter.

There was also a Zenith TV store up by Jones (you could only get in there from the SE parking lot, not from the enclosed mall proper, I believe).

I really miss Anderson’s bookstore, with their large semi-circular checkout area at the front with lots of magazines all around.

Does anyone remember when and why Woolworths and/or Newberry “boarded” up their huge plate glass windows with concrete? I seem to recall there was a tornado or some kind of a “natural disaster” that caused a lot of broken glass that prompted the incident… but maybe it was just a security precaution?

I remember when JCPenney was in the middle of the mall, and they had a pretty large vinyl record department. I bought all my Beatles albums from JCP!

Didn’t there used to be an above-ground enclosed walkway between the Wards Auto Center and the main Wards store?

Thanks for the memories!

By: Pat Kenski

Pat Kenski — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:11:28 +0000

If you loved Happy Joes
go to Tims Pizza about 3 blocks east of Lees Summit Road on 40 Hi way

they are the ones who ran Happy Joes
the pizza is the same & the have a picture window wher the kids can watch them in the kitchen

By: Pat Kenski

Pat Kenski — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:02:25 +0000

@Laura B., that is the Wards store
I’m a retired Wards employee…that is the intersection of the jewlery counter and womens fashions
We used to call it 1st & main.
I worked in the Electronics Dept. later to be called called Electric Avenue from 1976 til 1999
Guess it was my retirement that put the Mall & Wards under (LOL)
My mother (Evangeline Vogel) & daughter Suzy had both worked at J C Penny.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:08:25 +0000

HI everyone

SInce the holidays are coming up it always reminded me of the zblue Ridge Mall. I remember going there with my grandfather in the 60’s. Later on after my son was born, I went there to see his easter egg he made in school that was displayed with several others throughout the mall. I continued to shop at the mall then in 1990 I was the first female hired in security. I am still a security officer with the company but now work at Blue ridge Crossing. I was sad when they torn down the mall to build Wal-Mart which has been a nightmare. Reading all your blogs brings back wonderful memories. I probably have seen most of you. The Blue Ridge mall was a family mall all the way to the end.I will try and locate some photos for all to see.The Applebee’s that was at the mall is now located off Sterling on BRC site. Brothers Fish and Pets is now located on 40 highway and Sterling. Stop by and see the new site and say hi.Thanks for reading.

By: jo Hayes

jo Hayes — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:27:45 +0000

Looking for pictures of dance academy of in Blue Ridge Mall

By: Cindy B.

Cindy B. — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:03:20 +0000

Julie,

Thanks for helping me remember Kim’s Orientals!!! I too got TONS of turquoise jewelry from there (They had layaway – good for a jr. high school student!)

I also remember The Hub (I kept thinking it was County Seat) I was in the dressing room the first time I heard “Emotion” by Samantha Sang & The Bee Gees. Saturday Night Fever had come out the year before and I loved all that music!!!

By: Cindy B.

Cindy B. — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:57:37 +0000

Diann H, The name of the pizza parlour across from The Jones Store in the late ’70’s was “Happy Joe’s Pizza” I used to LOVE their spaghetti & meatballs!!! They were the best I’ve ever tasted.

By: Cindy B.

Cindy B. — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:40:10 +0000

JeffreyL,

QUOTE: “How I wish it was 1977 again, and I could run around Blue Ridge one more time during its heyday.”

Me too. 1977 was a great time for Blue Ridge Mall. Lots of great stores and lots of stuff going on.

By: Cindy B.

Cindy B. — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:37:31 +0000

cherripepe, Yes, you are correct. Downstairs, there was a Putche’s Cafeteria a B.A. Music Store and a Don’s World of Beef!

By: mike Larson

mike Larson — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 02:08:28 +0000

My early life was all about the mall (BRM) . My dad was a high school science teacher that moonlighted at Zales (jewelry store). We bought our groceries at the Safeway (west side of the mall). When I was in the 4th grade, I remember getting to paint halloween pictures on the storefront windows. That was back when the mall was ‘open air’. I also remember the choo-choo. Also remember a circus setting up in the parking lot, one year. The mall also had a very distinctive sign out on US 40. Big vertical thing, with revolving lights on top. When I stayed overnight at my granpas place, the revolving lamps would put me to sleep. Also remember the Crown drugstore (Rexall) on the east end, Newberry’s, Woolworth’s, Western Auto, the bowling alley downstairs, the dance school, and the preschool. Not to mention, Pennys, Hartzfelds, Arrow shirts, the Jones store, and a toy store… Suppose I could go on forever about the place..
Grew up about 2 miles away and went to the elementary school just south of the mall on Sterling Ave (northwood). Many fond memories….I’m 55. My Grandpa had a towing business that he started back in the thirties just east of the mall. If this stuff rings a bell with someone and you want to reminisce, I am xraymikelarson@yahoo,com.