Everest College has taken its classrooms down the road to the old Wick’s Furniture showroom. Quick Learning Center has slowed down to an empty standstill. It’s Breaktime has gone on a permanent break. One of the two jewelry stores occupying the corners at the Foley’s junction was unable to replace it’s battery. Two of the bridal stores have divorced the mall. And Cozumel Seafood has gone on vacation to Cozumel.

It should also be noted that the oldest store at Six Flags Mall has finally succumbed to the harsh realities of living in a ghost mall. Casual Fields, the sole survivor of the mall’s good ol’ days, was renamed Pinkie this past summer. By the end of summer, it had been renamed H N C. The store now stands empty.

The following businesses were open during my visit today:
1) Anthony’s
2) Arcade
3) Cinemark
4) Classique Jewelers
5) Dillard’s Outlet
6) Expo Artesanias Mexicans Furniture
7) Francis Bridal Futbol Soccer
9) Italia Express
10) Lilani’s Fashion
11) Scent-Sational
12) Soothing Solutions
13) Streetz
14) Sunny Fragrances
15) Texas Souvenirs

The following businesses were closed during my visit today, but appear to still be in business:
1) Golden Treasure
2) Lil’ Angels
3) M&J Electronics
4) Martha’s Place
5) Millenium Jewelers
6) Pasteleria Y Taqueria Princesas
7) Pretzels Etc.

So if my assessment of that second list is right, then there are 22 businesses left at Six Flags Mall. Considering all the empty space in the mall, I’m actually surprised the number is that high.

I don’t remember exactly when Cheers closed, as I never went to the club. But it did go through a series of names over the years before finally closing for good.

Pazazz survived for a few years but then suddenly appeared to fall out of favor. It went through a few changes, eventually becoming a teenage-only club. There was one last attempt to revive the place a couple of years ago, and when that failed the building was torn down. The lot remains empty today.

The only businesses that were ever on mall property to begin with were Firestone (which is still there), Sears Automotive (which is now a motorcycle dealership), Safety Town (which has been abandoned), and the building outback that housed the General Cinemas, Dino’s Subs, Olan Mills, and Cheers (the only thing in there now is a salon).

That said, there were plenty of businesses immediately surrounding the mall property. Target, Toys R Us, Showbiz Pizza (later Chuck-E-Cheese), IHOP, and Dairy Queen (now Pioneer Restaurant) were all located immediately across 109th St. from the mall. Galleria Dr. housed several businesses in its pre-red light district days, including a popular Chinese Restaurant, Larry’s Shoes, and Pepperidge Farms. And Division St. east of the mall had many thriving restaurants and businesses on it.

At one time, there were plans to turn the old Sears into an indoor skateboard park. But like many of the plans drawn up post-Dillard’s wing expansion, the then-owners didn’t have the funding or the know-how to move forward.

I know the building you are talking about, though I don’t remember there being a Pizza Inn there. I do remember the Dino’s Subs that had been a mainstay for so many years. The building also housed a 5-screen General Cinemas theater (two screens up front and 3 screens in the back), an Olan Mills photography studio, and a club that changed hands and names but seems to be mostly remembered as Cheers.

A few years ago, The Gym moved from inside Six Flags Mall (it had occupied the old Oshman’s store) into the outside building. They put a lot of work into the building and aired live PCW events on UPN21. They have since moved to another location in Arlington. Today, the only occupant in the building appears to be a Salon.

I also spent a lot of time in the Forum 303 mall too and it was sad to see it go – but i have a lot MORE love for 6 flgs mall because i saw it during a very booming, successful time. Forum 303 was already on life support when i was a kid.

The Parks Mall simply will not allow this mall to surivive.

After the movie, I walked around the mall and noticed that they have a section of the mall closed off (the section that goes to Sears). The rest of the mall is really sad and depressing. I also noticed that the outside parking lot needs a lot of help (lots of pot holes need to be repaired, there are weeds growing up through the parking lot, and the parking spaces need to be repainted. The whole parking lot just needs to be redone. They tore down “Safety Town,” so I guess that is a good start.

Taos said “i was just there a couple weeks ago, it feel like some bad zombie movie set”
did it seem that way to you when you recently visited?