Comments on: River Roads Mall; Jennings, Missouri

By: Phil R

Phil R — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:20:36 +0000

More from me…Had a buddy of mine that worked at the tuxedo rental shop across from where the Stix seasonal shop used to be, I think there was a fabric shop next to that. Helwig music was across from the stairway at the front of the mall. I think it had a downstairs section for music training ?? My friend and I used to meet at the clock almost every afternoon.. I remember when they built the JC Penneys addition in the mid 70’s. Can you remember the sexy voice of the lady that paged managers on the intercom in the new Penneys. They also sold guns and tobacco. The tobacco counter was by the back door, so as to make it easier for us high school students. Magazines at Walgreens, bookstore by Penneys,
It all keeps coming back….more to come.

By: Phil R

Phil R — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:08:53 +0000

It is starting to look like a St. Cyr reunion party (8898). We started going there while my folks and I still lived in Spanish Lake in th early 60’s. We would pick up Grandma, she lived on Switzer, and it seems we would spend the day there. Mom got her hair done at the beauty parlor just inside the entrance to Stix, Grandma and my sister would wait sitting on the aqua padded seats overlooking a goldfish pond??? at the Stix entrance. I would go look at the Matchbox cars in the seasonal addition to the Stix store, in the summer this area was full of outdoor furniture and Christmas stuff in the winter. I rode the monorail many times, the tracks remaining many years after the cars were gone. I spent most afternoons at the mall after school (Jennings, class of ‘76) with my friends and/or girlfrend, Some random thoughts… pet store on the 3rd floor of Stix… hours of pinball at the bowling alley… guns, model kits, HO cars, pet shop and fabric store in the basement of Woolworths…and remember that guy hawking junk jewelery for years at the top of the escalators inside Woolworths? Whew, too many memories for now.

By: Old Man River (Roads)

Old Man River (Roads) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:30:32 +0000

I feel I have some of the best mementos having been a regular “visitor” inside the mall from ‘02-’07: a several foot wide section of the white wooden Steamboat Room rail that surrounded the outside of the restaurant; the original blueprints to the entire Stix structure; the original contracts (in binders) for the creation of River Roads, the large “Wrap/Pay Cashier Here” illuminated sign that hung from the ceiling of Woolworth above the check stations, several tiles from the floor of the main mall, several Stix gift boxes, crystals from the chandeliers that amazingly still hung from the ceiling of the main floor of Stix in the 2000’s, creating an eerie time warp effect aka “The Titanic”, and much more. I have enough to open a museum if I wanted to: “River Roads – The Touring Exhibit”. I also have stacks of photos from the main office that was on the lower level.

By: Denise

Denise — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:02:03 +0000

@Steve,
Any chance that your relative’s bakery is KNODELS? I grew up in Walnut Park – in North St. Louis. We went to Knodels often. I couldn’t believe they were still in business in the 90s, and in fact they did my wedding cake in 91!

By: Denise

Denise — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:40:58 +0000

@Vince Valenza,
Just came across this posting and I had to respond! RR was a favorite hangout of mine, too. My mom and I would take the bus from Walnut Park in the 60s, eat at the Harvest House Cafeteria and shop all day. I worked at the mall, at the Life Uniform Shop, through high school and college. I also worked briefly at Cusies, which was owned by my sister-in-law’s uncle. Gosh, what great memories!!!

About a year ago I drove by the site of what used to be RR – now just a big crater. I wish I had been able to see it before it was demolished!

By: Denise

Denise — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:28:52 +0000

@Kelley,
This brings back such great memories. I do remember the toy store with the monorail. I think it was part of Stix, and it was seasonal. I remember the puppet show, too. Haven’t thought of that in many years.

I, too, spent many days at River Roads. I ate my first soft pretzel at the counter at Woolworths. Remember the pizza there? I worked at the Life Uniform Shop through high school and college.

Thanks for the memories!

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:47:02 +0000

I believe the RRs heyday was 65-70. I remember the parking lot being full at Christmas. I mean FULL to Jennings Road, full to the empty lot (west), and full to the south where the lot meets residential. Thousands of cars. Inside it was SO packed. Heavy activity everywhere. You could not walk comfortably there were so many people. My first job was there, cleaning the mall.

By: Bobby Cool

Bobby Cool — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:28:34 +0000

@Mrs. Jones, you are completely wrong about what you said there. Tolerance was practiced and time ran out on the violent nature of the activity at that mall and others in North County. People don’t want to live that way, and shouldn’t have to. Do you understand that? It would be the same no matter what color the culprits were. By the way, what happened to St Louis Center?

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:27:20 +0000

I to remember Christmas at the mall. I am almost 50 as well and have very very fond memories. We could not wait until we could ride the monorail (although it was a little scarry as a 7yo) but what simpler times. We always went there as a family on Saturday nights. I loved the Pretzels at Woolworths! Those were memories with my father (who died in 1971) that I will never forget. I also went to the dentist on the lower level. And the animated decorations at Christmas were the best. Is it just me or did we seem to have more white christmas’s in the 60’s. Oh what a joyful time. I agree with many of the posters as to the demise of the mall. But am sorry to see it now as a past memory!

By: Robin Kay

Robin Kay — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:25:03 +0000

I fondly remember RR mall especially the toy store and the Gumball Express train that was only used during Christmas. Brings back sad memories but we all know that everything changes right?

I have lived in NorthernCalifornia for 35 years and have visited RR on occasion until the early 90s when the only retailers left were Walgreens and a Korean wig store and grocery store.

I do remember the excellent pizza at Woolworth’s and the Steamboat Room but most of all I miss that train. If my memory serves me correctly (I’m almost 50) passengers boarded the train at the back of the former Stix, Baer & Fuller dept store and the train was located on the ceiling where it went outside Stix and around the perimeter of the mall. You could see all the Christmas decorations and lights especially if you went in the evening.

I always told myself that if I ever got rich I would build myself a Gumdrop Express monorail on the ceiling of my mansion (that never happened). Those were the days, too bad they’re gone.