Comments on: Mall 205; Portland, Oregon

By: ECD

ECD — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:50:37 +0000

@Matt,

The tower was at Eastport. It was torn down when the waterslide closed. I worked at GI Joe’s for 12 years, I saw it come down. I also saw Mall 205 go up and it never had a waterslide. Been here since 1970.

By: ECD

ECD — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:46:53 +0000

@Michael,

BAZAAR was on 82nd & Division, it was a general merchandise retailer like K-mart. Next to it was a grocery called ‘MR. C’s’. Then it became Builder’s Square, a Home Depot type store and the grocery became an Albertson’s which had moved up the street from Eastport Plaza, on 82nd & Holgate. Then Albertson’s moved out into a new store built next to GI Joe’s at Eastport after the mall was demo’d and Builder’s Square closed down. It sat empty several years until Portland Community College converted it into the ‘SOUTHEAST CENTER’ and it is a community college campus now.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:53:14 +0000

There was DEFINITELY a waterslide in Mall 205 at some point. I never did see it, since I was born in ‘85, and that was around the time they were in the mall. I distinctly remember the tower though, it was in the middle of the east-to-west walkway, and directly down from the north entrance as well. Right in the middle.

I remember the jewelry shop and candy shop on the corners as you turned into the walkway. There was a pretzel cart at the tower…I loved those pretzels.

Recently I started drawing a map of the mall and stores I remembered, like Scamp’s, B. Dalton, Game Trader, Regis, Perfect Look, the Aladdin’s Castle arcade….those last four places moved spots a couple of times each, too. I miss the old days of that mall, going for an A&W hot dog, fries, and float….playing in the arcade…..going through KB Toys and Ward’s. I wish I could go back.

By: Toph

Toph — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:09:02 +0000

The Hydrotube was right outside of the GI Joes at Eastport Plaza, not at Mall 205. There was also one at Jantzen Beach and Washington Square. I only know this because I found a twenty dollar bill and my childhood best friend and I spent an entire Saturday in the Hydrotube. Seriously from Open to close. I remember that you’d come splashing out into the pool inside the mall. There were glass walls into the mall and there were always a ton of shoppers watching the tubers. Of course, Ben and I were probably some of the reasons they got shut down. We would stop ourselves just around the first turn and wait for the other to catch up. Then we’d fly down and try to do tricks splashing into the pool…Good Times!

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:24:25 +0000

I’ve grown up in the SE Portland area. I remember Mall 205 before it “went under”. To my knowledge, there was never a waterslide there. However, there was a water park of sorts at Eastport Plaza, a mall that used to exist about 10 minutes south of Mall 205. Eastport Plaza was torn down years ago for a Wal-Mart and cinema. But I definitely remember thinking that the coolest thing at the old Eastport Plaza mall was the waterslide. It was an indoor mall as well, however it died off…much like Mall 205 is now. Makes me sad.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:04:57 +0000

Hi, It’s really interesting to hear about these old places. I lived in Vancouver and when I was a child my parents used to shop at a store called “Bazaar” on 82nd Ave I believe. This would have been the late 60’s and early 70’s. Does anyone else have a recollection of this store. I’d like to find out more information on it. I also remember Jafco and it seemed like there were several of them. Any input would be greatly appreciated !

By: Delmar

Delmar — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:45:29 +0000

Actually our son worked at Montgomery Wards, not White Front.

By: Delmar

Delmar — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:42:47 +0000

Erika,
The big witch’s mouth that you remember, may actually be at the Enchanted Forest, just south of Salem, Oregon. It is still there, it is an amusement park with small roller coasters,little trails hat lead to different displays, like Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, the mouth of the witch, little tunnels, and a frontier village with gift shop. It is only open during the summer months.
My wife and I went to the grand opening of the White Front at Mall 205. Our oldest son worked there in the early 90’s Time flies when you are having fun.

By: Mars

Mars — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:29:43 +0000

Jonah, you are sadly right; 205 is plummeting once more. The Target and the Home Depot still get great business, but nobody goes in between and it really shows now. The Hallmark is gone and the Learning Palace, which was there BEFORE the renovation, has just closed shop as I type this.

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:28:05 +0000

There also used to be a Mrs. Fields cookie down where the food court is now and a DMV which obviously brought alot of business to the mall. They had a clothing store that teens could buy very inexpensive clothes at, my friends and I used to shop there. I sure do miss those days.