With a population of over 360,000, Arlington, Texas is one of the country’s megasuburbs. An advantageous location sandwiched directly between Dallas and Fort Worth combined with a national trend of growth in sun belt regions has given Arlington an impressive 40% increase in population since 1990. In 1950, Arlington’s population was just 7,000. This explosive growth is similar to the creation of many other megasuburbs across North America: Mississauga, Ontario, Anaheim, California, Plano, Texas, Aurora, Colorado, and Naperville, Illinois, just to name a few. All of these cities share common threads, having been created in the past fifty years and consisting almost entirely of suburban sprawl and the elements which go with it. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of residents, Arlington is also home to the Texas Rangers baseball team, the University of Texas – Arlington, a large General Motors assembly facility, and Six Flags Over Texas with Hurricane Harbor. Also, the Dallas Cowboys plan to relocate to Arlington from their stadium in nearby Irving.
The history of modern retailing in Arlington stems from the construction of two enclosed malls along TX 360 between I-20 and I-30, Forum 303 and Six Flags Mall, around 1970 when Arlington had only 90,000 residents. Forum 303 was located at the intersection of TX 360 and TX 303. It floundered and failed during the 1990s after construction of a new mall about five miles away, The Parks at Arlington, in 1988. During the late 1990s, Forum 303 was retenanted into an outlet/discount mall, but that also failed and closed permanently in 2005. The current fate of Forum 303 mall is up in the air, but it will probably be bulldozed and rezoned for industrial use as much of the area around it is industrial and not retail commercial.
Six Flags Mall is located just two miles north of Forum 303, closer to I-30 and the Six Flags Park. Although it has enjoyed more success than its neighbor to the south, Six Flags Mall has not lived up to the successes of top tier malls like The Parks at Arlington. With a name like Six Flags Mall, one almost expects an exciting theme-park of a mall, not a dated collection of mostly local stores barely holding its own. The most notable and interesting feature about the mall’s decor are the neon-covered archways placed at regular interviews throughout the mall. The rest of the decor appears to be the result of a late 80s or early 90s renovation.
As for anchors, Six Flags Mall currently has only one. In 1997, JCPenney left the mall and in 2002 Dillards and Sears called it quits. This left the mall with only Foley’s, which closed in January 2004. However, in 2005 there was a reprieve as Dillards returned to Six Flags, this time moving from Forum 303 just down the road. Despite the anchor dearth, Six Flags Mall has made some attempts at a continued survival. Replacing the former JCPenney space are an antique mall, USA Baby, and even a college. Interestingly, both levels of the former JCPenney are used, including the original escalators from the store. Take a look at the pictures below for this.
In my opinion, further revitalization needs to occur before Six Flags Mall can be successful again. Its dated storefronts and decor are not going to woo shoppers from Arlington’s successful Parks mall, which is 10 minutes away. Furthermore, the sites around Six Flags Mall are not conducive to retail as most are industrial parks; in fact, a large GM Assembly plant is across TX 360 from the mall. Most of the category killers and new retail development are along the Interstate 20 corridor on the south side of Arlington. Even though Six Flags theme park and the baseball park are very close to Six Flags Mall, it doesn’t appear to be helping and before long, Six Flags Mall will go the way of Forum 303.
We visited Six Flags Mall in July 2005 and took the pictures below. Feel free to leave some comments of your own.
The remnants of a former Structure clothing store is quite obvious. The architecture of the mall is, almost expectedly, quite hideous.
I can’t seem to click on the directory pic. Please fix this.
A college inside a mall? What anchor store had that aqueduct/bizarre, tiled sunset look? That’s incredible! And those grid ceilings couldn’t be more early ’70s.
“With a name like Six Flags Mall, one almost expects an exciting theme-park of a mall, not a dated collection of mostly local stores barely holding its own. ”
…You hit the entire article right there.
It is one of the most casual malls in Dallas. I think they should keep it. More stuff, less fluff. “With a name like Six Flags, one almost expects an exciting theme-park of a mall, not a dated collection of mostly local stores barely holding its own. ”
That’s so cynical!
I believe the store with the awesome mural is Sanger-Harris, which I guess was the Foley’s before the store closed. Their stores had a very distinctive look. A lot of better department stores were doing arched porticoes, but Sanger’s had some of the more striking interpetations of this look. The interior doors (if that is indeed the Foley’s ) were a great fill of the original arches, but the actual mall entrance seems really small.
The anchor I’m curious about is the one with the faux Spanish Colonial motif going on the exterior. I’m thinking JCPenney, but it could be Sears.
Speaking of JCPenney (as I always do for some reason) those escalators are vintage early ’70s models with the classic escalator well configuration. The handrails are that taupish color that JCP used a lot back then. My local Penney’s had the same color handrails until they strted breaking and were replaced with boring black ones.
Also, Structure reborn as “Streetz’ is the photo of the year!
The directory pic is working now.
The mural was indeed Sanger-Harris, which became Foley’s. Other Foley’s (now Macy’s) stores throughout the Dallas area still have the mural flanking it, most notably the dated and aging Southwest Center Mall, Dallas’ only enclosed mall on the south side.
The faux colonial motif is probably the former Sears, judging by the continuity of the pictures when compared to the directory (on the directory, Sears was the dead anchor at far right).
It’s going to take more than a simple remodeling to rejuvinate this mall.
Remodeling doesn’t always work example: Windsor Park Mall in the same state had one in the 1990s and it’s still lacking lucrative tenants.
This malls going to have to have a complete major overhall. new Interiors,exteriors,new stores,expansion,redoing the entire layout.
Who owns this mall anyway?
I was a manager at the Six Flags Sears store from 7/1994 – 1/2002. The store had a lot of history and was originally located one street over on Abrams (old building is currently a lumberyard). Sears built the mall and opened in 1970.
I have lots of early 70’s -80’s pictures of the store that I rescued from the trash when the store closed. I might scan and post them to a website in the future. It was sad to see the store close. The reason the company gave was the grand opening of the Sears owned “The Great Indoors” located at the Arlington Parks Mall. That venture failed and it closed within 2 years. In truth, it was the area. There were strip bars behind the mall and right across the street from Sears merchandise pickup was a 24 car center which also had nude models. Not the environment mothers wanted to bring their children near. I heard this from customers time and time again.
Last I heard, Tom Morris and a partnership owned the mall
Article about Six Flags Mall
This mall seems that it’s near 100% occupancy. I wonder how the leasing department managed to get all those stores in place.
I wouldn’t say near 100% occupancy, but it doesn’t look too bad occupancy wise. Granted, I don’t see a lot of chain tenants, but it still looks all right.
And that music store’s name, “Eargazum”, is hilarious.
The colonial motif was a Sears. I got my first bicycle from there. The original interior motif looked sort of like a castle. Inside the mall, those arches were there and they were a darker brownish color without the neons (similar to the Sears exterior but darker). And oddly enough, there were concrete animals throughout the corridor. I remember playing on them when I was a kid. I remember a llama and camel but I’m sure there were others. Those animals ended up at Forum Mall for a while.
The archors starting with purple on the mall directory and going clockwise were Pennys, Sanger-Harris, Sears, and Dillards. Dillards and that entire wing didn’t get built until after the Parks Mall was built in the late 80’s. I only went there once after the remodel. That’s also when the castle motif was abandoned I presume. A long time ago, the corridor perpendicular to the Pennys entrance led straight out of the mall but then they added a small food court in the mid-80’s. Apparently, they added more than that since.
The stores I remember as a kid were the department stores, a BDalton somewhere near Pennys in the yellow section, a drug store or dime store of some sort opposite Pennys at the top corner of the red section (complete with greasy spoon with bar seating in the mall corridor), a Circus World toy store in the yellow sector that now leads into the “new” Dillards wing, an Oshman’s in the green wing closer to Sears, and a Gold Mine arcade in the food court (red very top). Outside the mall I remember a Toys R Us that is still very obviously a former Toys R Us from what I hear and a House of Pancakes (old chalet style building) that was eventually an adult bookstore before someone had the decency to put it out of its misery and tear it down.
My dad went to UT Arlington so he liked to visit the area on weekends when we lived in Texas (1979-1987). I spent a lot of time in Six Flags Mall (but more time at Forum 303 and Taylor’s Bookstore). My cousin still lives in the area. She says that the occupancy was pretty sad until Forum (now called Fiesta Marketplace?) finally closed for good. Then a lot of those merchants moved in to Six Flags Mall and filled it up pretty good (though with mostly mom and pop shops).
I keep seeing the store with the mosaic called Sanger-Harris. I have lived in the area most of my life and if I recall correctly it was Stripling & Cox and not Sanger-Harris.
No the store with the mosiacs was Sanger-Harris, it’s identical to stores at Valley View Center in north Dallas and Collin Creek Mall in Plano. It was modeled after the original downtown Sanger-Harris that was closed when Foley’s bought the chain in 1986-87
Six Flags Mall originally had a “Spanish Court” themed interior, with a larger Mediterranean-style fountain across from Sanger-Harris, flanked with smaller fountains in front of Sears and J.C. Penny.
Aside from the major anchors of Sears, Sanger-Harris and JC Penny, significant businesses included Wyatt’s Cafeteria, El Chico Mexican Restaurant, Revco Drugstore, McCrory’s 5 & 10, and Oshman’s sporting goods. An IHOP, Toys R Us and Target were located nearby. There was also a three-screen General Cinemas theater separated from (but on the same property) as the mall.
Nearby was “Six Flags Mall Safety-town,” a place where parents can take their kids to learn how to ride bicycles.
After The Parks opened in 1988/9, Six Flags Mall underwent a significant remodeling which shed the Mediterranean motif for a 90s look: A new annex was built and anchored by a Dillard’s. The food court was expanded.
These renovations did help to slow the Mall’s decline (whereas Forum 303 Mall did nothing to become more competitive with The Parks and therefore deteriorated much faster). Later on, Six Flags Mall would shrink every time The Parks expanded, and the former would try to compete: In the mid 90s, the new food court was torn down to make way for a Tinseltown Theater.
But remodeling work wasn’t nearly enough: The neighborhood around Six Flags mall became occupied with some seedy businesses. This was also compounded with a shooting in the mall in which an Arlington Police officer working as a security guard shot and killed a shoplifter (the officer was acquitted). By the late 1990s, the reputation of the area was “shady” at best.
Now there is hope that the new Cowboys stadium would help revitalize the area. Six Flags Mall does have potential, but it will be a Herclean effort to bring it back to its heyday in the 1980s.
AHA! theres another factor in your problem! crime. Crime is like poison to a mall,once it become common the malls pretty much dead.
Just look at the Mall of Memphis or Dixie Square Mall two large malls whose size couldn’t prevent their demise.
I wish them luck because resusitating an area like this is the equivalent of making an area such as Downtown Hartford in Connecticut or the Bronx in New York look attractive.
a poor area and a mall are like oil and water, they don’t go together. sigh.
McCrory’s! That’s the name of the place. I kept wanting to call it McRae’s but I knew that wasn’t right. That’s the one with the little corridor diner. I bought my first Transformer there (the yellow VW bug one). I completely forgot about Wyatt’s and El Chico being in the mall. I seem to remember that Revco took the place of Oshmans but I could be very mistaken on that one. Another point of interest in the area was an Arbys down the road that kept the big hat logo long after all the other stores stopped using it. That General Cinemas was like many of the 3 and 4 screen theaters that were on mall property. Red Bird also had one. So did Gwinnett Place in Duluth, GA (the mall from the Sears article).
Crime is a big mall killer. Dirt and grime is just as much a killer though. I remember the last time I went into Form Mall the whole place smelled like urine. No amount of security is going to make up for that.
Was picture 7 of the Six Flags Mall photoset the old entrance for the JCPenney? (and where the Burke’s Outlet and USA Baby/Child Space signs hang) It sure very suspiciously seems like it was an entrance area for some anchor store at one time!
You’re right. Picture 7 is the old entrace to Penny’s.
During the 80s, the left side was where the Revco was and the right side was a corridor entrance to the “Galleria Food Court.” The McCrory’s lunch counter is also nearby. I don’t remember the eateries, but I do remember a video game arcade called Gold Mine and a U.S. Post Office located there.
After the remodeling in the early 90s, the right side became an Afterthoughts boutique and a Suncoast Video. The entrance to the food court moved a few feet.
The Oshmans was actually located on the other side of the mall, next to Sears. In the photos above, it is where Salon & Spa at Six Flags Mall is currently located.
What impressed me about Six Flags Mall while growing up was the fact that they had two bookstores there–a B. Dalton’s and a Waldenbooks.
I currently lease a spot in six flags mall. This mall will need lots of help but can be saved with the right person behind it. First thing is to get it clean. Will also need a stronger security force. Will need some bigger name chain stores. Also will need some anchor stores back. As well as more places in the food court. Maybe wifi in the food court for the school and the local business to have a place to eat and work. The school book store needs to go back to the school campus and a real book store would be in order. As well as move some of the stores there seems to be already 5 and 6 of. You can bring traffic when everyone sells the same thing. With the new things comming to the aera this mall can be great. A food court with starbucks. mcdonalds, Taco bueno and a place for good chicken would be a great. As well as eb games, walden books, and other bigger chain stores. As long as they dont push out the local stores. Local stores are a good thing people like to shop with locals. The only big name retail they have is dillards which looks trashed right now and champs. Great potential is here it just needs the right marketing/ownership.
Many malls had two bookstores in the 1970s and 1980s. Westland Center in Westland, MI had B. Dalton and Waldenbooks until two years ago. I’ve even seen some malls with three bookstores! (Example: The very dead Orchards Mall in Benton Harbor, which, last I checked, had a B. Dalton, a local bookstore in the Hallmark, AND a discount bookstore next to Sears.)
There’s a mall in Iowa that has a Barnes & Noble and a Waldenbooks. Also, in Okemos, MI at Meridian Mall, they have Waldenbooks and a local big-box-type bookstore called Schuler Books & Music.
By the way, I noticed that Dillard’s returned in 2005. Is the new Dillard’s the same location as the old Dillard’s?
Dillard’s Outlet moved to Six Flags Mall from the old Forum 303 Mall, most recently known as Festival Marketplace. A Dillard’s Outlet is better than nothing. Still wondering what they are going to do with the old Sears Building.
I loved this mall as a kid. When it was new, it had an almost moorish feel to it with wonderful brick and stone arches in a dark tan trimmed with a darker taupe stone. Plants were plentiful and several wooden sitting areas ran down the main corridor. There was something called “the galleria” located by Penny’s where small boutique type stores were found. There also was a GREAT sit-down hamburger place called Jamie’s that the longest fries I have ever seen.
When I visited the mall in the late 90’s, I almost cried. Whoever thought painting everything white was going to make the place “modern” should be shot. The interior now looks just bland and generic and cheap. There is no character at all to the mall anymore.
I visited this mall in the mid 90’s when I came to the Metroplex area with my ex hubby when he was in a rock band that had played a gig at the Basement and old rock club down on Greenville Ave. We had stayed with friends that week and they lived in far NE Dallas off Centerville Rd & 635 E. Why we ended up all the way the hell by the GM Plant I can’t remember. Anyway Six Flags Mall at that time was still a bustling mall. Most all the store fronts were full and all the anchors open. I really enjoyed visiting this reasonably priced mall. I had bought a CD there that day at what I think was a Sam Goody and we had lunch at a Mexican place right near the Circus World Toy Store. Fastforward 2006, Labor Day Weekend. Now divorced, my boyfriend and I just needed to get away from shitty boring Houston so we came up to the area for the Weekend. We were actually going to go to Six Flags Park but ended up doing other stuff instead, anyway we stopped at Six Flags Mall and I nearly cried at how it has ended up. The Dillards was cluttered but what would one expect from a clearence center? I got some great stuff there. I was sorry to see that most of the stores had closed. I can see a lot of future potential for this mall, but first they need to kick out that dumb vocational school and get some major name stores again. Even if they are the clearence centers for the chain’s that would be ok, if the area has a somewhat lower faimly income, then the mall needs to market themselves to that. Pulling in say a Giant Big Lots with refrigerated section, Dress Barn Outlet, JC Penny Outlet, Coach Outlet, etc. Obviously the Dillards Clearence brings people in by the droves that are spending money and saving on quality merchandise, so put more of these types of stores there and you will be appealing to upper income as well as lower incomes looking for the same better merchandise.
I agree with the previous poster that most of this mall’s charm was eradicated by the well intentioned ‘remodel.’ The original look was not Disney-esque per se, but still gave off the ‘we’re trying to go with the 6 Flags over Texas semi-historic theme, please try to get into it with us’ vibe. I shopped this mall whilst in my junior high and high school years during a handful of school trips and fondly recall my visits. However, the old look of Town East Mall in Mesquite, Tx is still most likely my all time favorite of the Metroplex malls…
It’s been over twenty-five years since I last saw this place, and some of those photos just brought it back like it was only yesterday. That ‘watchtower’ in the third photo, the mosaic in the fifth, those arches inside… well, the neon lights there must have come later. Could have done without those, as far as I’m concerned, but it looks like a few things managed to last out the decades. Those little banners, for example; I remember those. This is a great trip back!
I think I remember there being a pair of huge concrete “sculptures” just off the southwest corner of the parking lot. I guess they were supposed to resemble a pair of abstract flowers or something. Each had a sort of inverted ‘roof’ set atop a relatively narrow concrete pillar. I suppose you might have called ’em birdbaths. Funny-looking square-shaped ridiculously BIG birdbaths… does anyone here remember something like that there?
I remember this mall as a kid growing up in Arlington in the 1970’s. The County Seat was a jeans store. My parents used to take my sisters to Young Ages for clothes. I used to think it was so big!
Oshmans. And I remember that Jamies place, too!
Andy supprised me I did not think anyone remembered those “birdbath structures”. They faced the division street exit if you were coming from northbound 360. They were built to copy a structure in six flags the park in the USA section. The structure still exists today in the amusement park just ouside of the USA food court building and has tables under it I think… If I rember right the ones in front of the mall were 3 kinda overlapping each other and had water running down them like a fountain.
Those structures were on the JC Penney side of the mall. Actually those structures had to do with the development of the entire are (Great Southwest Industrial Park.) It was going to be kind of the gateway to the area. Unfortunately, many of the wonderful things that made it so great are gone, like the old Americana Hotel that was torn down several years ago. They always looked like mushrooms to me. I worked at Six Flags Mall for 15 years. We used to eat at McCrory’s all the time; you could get a hamburger/fry meal for pretty cheap. The JC Penney closed down in 1997.
Wow. I also had forgotten about the sculptures on the outer edge of the property. We never understood what they were supposed to represent, but no one could miss seeing them when you were driving by the mall. They seemed so far away from anything else and so inaccessible to anyone who might want to see them up close that they gave the impression of being some random piece of artwork that had been dropped and forgotten by the side of the road. I always had suspected that they never were part of the mall’s overall plan and had been built before the mall for some other purpose.
Wow. A blast from the past. I remember walking that mall endlessly as a teenager. McCrory’s and all that stuff. I remember the sculptures, too. My uncle’s car caught fire and burned under them one day.
Hello. I’m doing a website on all the malls of Texas, and I’d like to know a bit more of this one. Specifically, a higher-res version of the mall directory pic. As in, individual stores.
I wouldn’t mind a clear, high-res version of the directory myself.
I believe the mall is outdated and in need of a fresh start. This has to do with the current owner, Tom Morris. He also owns several other malls in Texas and to his tennants, is known as a “slum lord”. All of his properties are in the same shape. Six Flags Mall is no longer the mall we knew growing up.
What will happen to six flags mall & parks @ Arlington when the enormous glorypark opens?
In the words of NY Yankees play by play anouncer Michael Kay on a home run call “SEE YAH!”
NO! Not Tom Morris! He owns Sunrise Mall (which is a true dead mall:
http://www.kristv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2642556
Of course, it was Summer 2007 and nothing happened. They haven’t updated the directory, which is at least a few years old, they haven’t taken down the Montgomery Ward sign IT’S HORRIBLE. He may be a slumlord, but he’s a LIAR.
In high school (Bowie), I worked at the Foot Locker at Six Flags Mall. I had my first date at the movie theatre to see Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind. I worked one summer at the Sanger-Harris when I came home from College. There also used to be a cool night club behind the mall named “Cheers” in the early to mid ’80’s. This was a great mall and I remember so many great times there. It is a shame to see it in decline. The Parks Mall is way too big and way too crowded, and it is every bit as scary after dark…
Does anyone have a better copy of the mall directory and/or list of stores? Thanks!
How large is this mall, anyway?
Like many others here, I grew up in the area and went to Six Flags Mall frequently as a kid.
When the mall was built in 1970, Arlington was really on its way up, pushed on in part by a number of very ambitious city leaders (Tom Vandergriff who owned a car dealership nearby, etc.). The Six Flags theme park had already been open a few years by then, UT-Arlington was slowly expanding, and the city would lure the old Washington Senators to town as the Texas Rangers in 1972. There was a golf course nearby, restaurants, GM, and an industrial park. And it pulled a fair amount of business from next-door Grand Prairie which was fairly content not to compete with Arlington. Six Flags Mall was built with the Six Flags theme in mind — hence, the Spanish-style appearance.
There were the three towers at the Division-Highway 360 corner of the mall a couple of folks referred to — each of differing heights and all opening up into these gigantic squares at the tops. Nobody really knew what they were for. The major anchors were the very upscale Sanger-Harris (which was bought out by Foley’s in the 1980s and later by Macy’s) that had the mosaic on the exterior wall, the not-quite-so-upscale JCPenneys, and Sears (who had the red-tiled “tower”). It is a one-story mall, but all three of these department stores were two-story stores. The old McCrory’s was on the Penney’s end (I most remember the ice cream) before it went out in the 1980s. And there was a Revco directly across from it. There were two bookstores, an Oshman’s, jewelry stores, the obligatory cafeteria (“Wyatt’s”), an old “Record Bar” before the company was bought out several times, and even a Montgomery Ward’s. There were fountains and the animal statues that the others talked about (I remember an elephant as one of them). The lighting always seemed fairly dark in the main corridors in those days.
By the late 1970s, a strip shopping center was built on one side of it (and the Toys R Us on another side, on the block between the mall and Target and near the IHOP). With this smaller shopping center was the ornate Chinese restaurant with the Mandarin architecture and the “Peking Duck” prominently displayed on the towering sign.
There was a small movie theater on one end of the parking lot with the bar next door which went through several incarnations, including Cheers. Several strip malls opened near the mall with movie theaters and specialty shops, but the mall held its own for quite a while. It was considered a pretty big deal when the Dillard’s was added to it. But it was starting to slide by then. There was a Pacific Stereo across from the mall that went out in the 1980s. A drive-in movie theater about 3 blocks away went out and was abandoned, and the whole area gradually declined as all the growth shifted toward other parts of Arlington. When The Parks at Arlington was opened, it slowly sucked the air out of Six Flags. The surrounding stores went out and were, in time, replaced by somewhat seedier businesses. By the late ’80s, the movie theater was not well kept-up by that time and was limited in its selections and was knocked out by the huge new multiplexes not far away. With the remodeling in the 1990s, it created a new image to an extent but lost a lot of its unique character. The location, the reputation of the declining neghborhood, and the newness of other malls across the metroplex really hurt it.
Its heyday was really in the 1980s. It always seemed so busy in those days. But even by the mid-1980s, the Forum 303 mall across town was long past its prime and quickly fading away. And Six Flags Mall was always considered to be light-years ahead of it.
I was back in Six Flags Mall for the first time in 13 years a couple of months ago. I was blown away by the decline. They were tearing down Forum 303 on that very day. It’s still a very clean mall. Full of potential. But it won’t get the chance.
The city of Grand Prairie has wooed Prime Outlets into building a huge new outlet mall on I-20, east of 360. This is gonna be the final nail in the coffin for Six Flags Mall (and can’t do anything but seriously hurt The Parks Mall)
A number of people mentioned how seedy the neighborhood was/is. The topless bars and places of that ilk that used to be located close by are now mostly closed. Grand Prairie has always been a working class town & east Arlington has been headed that way for a couple of decades too. Not to sound racist or anything but I was bowled over by the extend that the Hispanic community has taken over east Arlington. I lived in the area in the early 90’s when it was a mix of working class people of all ethnicities. The Asians were especially prominent (Mostly Vietnamese). Now even the Asians are surrendering to the flood of Hispanics. Call it racism if you like but malls (even 2nd tier ones) simply don’t survive when the area’s ethnic mix becomes dominated by minimum wage immigrants who don’t speak English well. The locals don’t have the disposable cash to support it and they scare off non-locals.
I give Six Flags Mall a year after the Prime Outlet Mall opens.
Maybe Six Flags Mall can still hold its own in an oversaturated market and have a few (OK, a lot) flea market-y stores.
In browsing, here’s an interesting piece about a guy that made a burger joint that was a rip-off of In-N-Out Burger called Lightning Burger in Six Flags Mall.
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2002/03/25/story6.html?page=1
This web site inspired me to go to this mall, and it was a depressing experience. The condition of the mall is very run-down. Those neon archways mentioned in the article are only half-lit or burned-out altogether. Parts of the ceiling are cracked and have mold and water damage. The fountains, still active in the pictures above, have been turned off. The antique mall, Knick Knacks, and the baby furniture store are both gone now. Boutique de Fantasie has moved into the old Victoria’s Secret. Streez is still there. The mall is mostly empty, with just a few stores here and there that cater to the African-American and the Latino communities. There are NO national chain stores in this mall except for Dillard’s and Champs Sports. The GNC is gone, but the sign is still up. There isn’t even a Radio Shack or a Chick Filet. There are only two reasons I could think of to go to this mall. The Dillard’s Clearance Outlet is great, and the movie theater shows first-run movies at very inexpensive prices. This mall really needs to be torn down.
I worked at this mall from 1990 to 1993 at Pizza Mia. Anyone remember that? They were around for a lot time and were the nicest people.
Also, there used to be a sandwich shop at the old (separate) movie theater. A sub shop of some sort and it was late 70s early 80s maybe.
I publish a newsletter and shopping guides on DFW Malls, so I make the rounds of the malls 3-4 times every year. My last visit to Six Flags Mall was in October 2007. Recently, James posted that his visit to Six Flags Mall was depressing. I concur – it is now a sad little mall.
At last count in October, there were 71 tenants. With James’ report of 2/10, there are even less now. I’ll be visiting in a week or two and get an updated count. I don’t know how the mall has remained open with very little foot traffic. Just look at the photos – most of them are devoid of people.
The owners have somehow been able to avoid foreclosure three times in the last couple of years, but I don’t think they can hold it off much longer.
I really like shopping malls and go there for the ambience as much as the shopping. It’s sad when you see one in which you had fond memories declining and going away. As another forum poster mentioned, when the economic climate around the mall declines, so goes the mall. That has happened to Six Flags Mall. It has declined to the point that I have told my wife to never go there without me.
I have lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area a total of 9 years with the majority of those spent in Irving. Now that we live in south Grand Prairie, we were looking for an out-of-the ordinary pet store that wasn’t a National Chain. In the phone directory there was a listing for a pet store at Six Flags Mall so we decided to drive out there. Even though we have passed it countless times going to or from 360 (the N/S Freeway), we had only been to the Sears store there before it closed some years back. We parked in front of the Southeast entrance near the Dillard’s outlet store. There were quite a few cars parked all around the main entrance. When we walked in what greeted us was a corridor of closed stores with the chain fence drawn down. Some had signs to point people to their new locations elsewhere in Arlington. The only store that was opened in that area was a Leather store. We made our way to the Pet store that was listed in the directory and along the way, there were some stores open and a Mexican restaurant where maybe a chicken place had been. I noticed several stores were opened but the lights were only on where the customer desk or cashier were–probably to conserve their energy bill. The clientele was mostly African-American and Hispanics but there were some Anglos too. At the pet store, the smell of urine and feces was quite evident from the moment we walked in. In the shadows was an older woman putting carrying things to/out of the back storage. We walked in almost dimmed lighting to where four puppies were in glass display cages. I felt so sorry for the puppies living in that filth. I can only hope that someone will buy or rescue them. After I saw that, I immediately started walking out of the store and my partner followed. He asked if we wanted to get a stuffed toy and I said “No” because of the stench that might have permeated into the material of the dog plush toys. I’m sure the owners mean well and that they’re trying to sell their products to keep the store aloat but I would not like to be one of those puppies.
There was a Texas Treasures souvenir shop a few doors away from the pet store where I found some UT-Texas items. It was not what I was looking for but the store was very well stocked with many Texas souvenirs. There are a couple of jewelry stores that seemed very well stocked but other than those places, the rest seemed pretty depressed.
The Six Flags Mall had its best years in the 80s probably and it is a waste that this piece of real estate doesn’t have a good prognosis for future tennants to move in any time soon.
I love reading everyone’s memories! I was born & raised in Arlington, and the mall was a regular Friday night activity.
I remember Penny’s had a little pace to eat in it, a candy counter and TOYS!
When you left Penney’s and went into the mall, There was a drugstore to the right and a 5 & 10 to the left. Oh and yes, that lunch counter 🙂
I remember County Seat and Pier 1, Sears and the “new” Galleria stores. One of those was a great candy shop.
I visited in 2000 and was taken aback by the mall. UGH. Looks like it’s improved some since that. I also visited the now defunct Forum 303 mall. At that time it was a swap-meet looking mess.
Thanks for the memories!
I think the mall need some help bad I wish I had the money to fix it up.How old is the mall?Can you tell me about the old Jcpenny and the sears?Iwant to the mall it need help. What is with the college in a mall?
This mall is old
What happen in the shoting
{IN RESPONSE TO JUAN}
The “Pet Store” is not a pet store at all. It is one woman running a no-kill rescue shelter run from donations and adoption fees. She is disabled and elderly, but her dogs are always loved. We adopted one from her several years ago and could not have been more pleased.
Juan, if you feel that the dogs are not happy there, then please adopt one. Or if you feel the facilities are inadequate, then give her a donation to better them. These animals are much better off than they would be in a pound where if they are not chosen in 2 weeks, they are put down.
I went there for some cheap photos today, the place will eventually be resold and the mall will come back alive again, I feel bad for the entrepreneurs that will not be able to afford the lease increase. It will come back alive when the stadium opens.
I grew up in Arlington. We moved there in 1968. In 1971 we got our first shopping mall. I remember going opening day to the mall and only being able to shop at Sears because the rest of the mall wasn’t opened. I remember as a child going to JC Penney in downtown Arlington (it’s been an art museum for years, I think.) The mall was renovated in 1990 and that are the colors you see now. One of my first jobs was at this mall. At one time, it had a great pulse to it and was the place to be in Arlington. In the early 1990’s they built the Parks Mall in South Arlington. I continued to shop at 6 Flags because I didn’t like the traffic around the Parks. I think the decline began in 1997/1998 when they closed that JC Penney store. I worked there for years and knew so many people from that store.
My JC Penney business followed to Northeast Mall. This mall has been on the auction block many times and I hope it stays. However, Arlington has fast become “tear down and build a stadium” syndrome so I don’t know if it will last. I saw them tearing down Forum 303 Mall, which had become a horrible eyesore. I have fond memories of Forum 303 Mall. I flirted with a lot of guys at both of those malls!
I just went out there today and took some pictures of the inside. It really supprised me how clean the mall was. That is considering that threre were maybie 4 stores open in the whole mall. I would guess it is at 10 percent capacity right now or perhaps a little more. Alot of the stores I am guessing are only open on weekends or so because they had the doors closed on most of them. here is the pics that I took and posted on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/analogkid281/sets/72157605594881324/
I went to Six Flags Mall last summer when I was an intern for Dillard’s. Not only is it a Dillard’s clearance outlet, upstairs is the actual Dallas buying office. Everyone there looked so miserable! I guess that was my clue!
DEAD! DEAD! DEAD! This is worse than the Sunrise Mall in Corpus Christi. Although owned by Tom Morris, Sunrise Mall fares slightly better than Six Flags. For one thing, it has full anchors (except for a vacant Mervyn’s), chain stores, and enough awesome oddities to make anyone excited. Look for it on a website near you…
Wow, I worked at this mall when it opened. At a little dime store next to JCP. How time flies.
Anybody got any old pictures of this mall?
I can still remember clear as day when there used to be a pretty large foodcourt at the mall, along with a carousel stationed right in the center for kids to ride on. I remember the food-shops being pretty lame within the food court area..such as a fake Tacobell that reminds me of TacoCasa yUKKK!!! ;-0
and of course no McDonalds, I remember Chick-Fill being the only anchor food-shop they had over there. but all the others were lame. except for that Italian pizza place, that still exists today. ;-1
This place is stunning. It’s one of the deadest malls I have ever personally walked into. My friend and I were catching the Yankees/Rangers series, and on the 4th day we had to check out of our hotel since we were heading home right after the last game. The Cinemark ads made the $3.25 matinee at Tinseltown @ SFM impossible to overlook, and of course it was the closest cinema to where we were, so we were set for a double to fill the six hours before game time. I knew from driving by a few other times that the mall was almost gone, but I could not have anticipated the sheer, freaky, breathtakingly morbid status of this mall, which I almost recall having explored once as a kid sometime in the early 1990s. It’s really, really, really dead. Including the parking lots, which on a 103-degree August day look and feel like a desert. The creepy “SafetyTown” is still there, mostly stripped of signs and buildings. The 3 food locations I found filled were all right outside the theater, and all of them unidentifiable [ahem] “independently owned” operations. Remaining stores were very few, and the only difference between the Dillard’s and the rest was the brighter lighting over the shopper-less pall. Someone above mentioned the strip clubs being gone, which I guess they are, if you count vacant-but-standing as “gone”. The Tinseltown is fine and incredibly cheap, though, and you don’t have to see much of the mall to get to it (perhaps this was a bad idea in retrospect). Who in the world thought it would be a good idea to build a mall surrounded by an industrial park?
The mall is going into forclosure.
Sean, you beat me to it. Story here.
I only visited this mall twice within a few days of each other (despite going to Six Flags Over Texas, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, etc. on many, many occasions), but both trips were for a good reason: To look at potential pet rabbits (this was in ’91 when the mall was full; the pet shop was a Docktor Pet Center), and eventually buy the one who would give me seven great years.
This mall is dead, and will close eventually. Apart from the overmalling of Dallas, this mall has Trader’s Village, Parks at Arlington, and Grapevine Mills coming from all corners. There’s no way they can get tenants and clientele. Sorry, SFM, thanks for the memories!
Don’t forget about the new development going up by the Ball Park & the new Cowboys stadium. Tom Hicks the owner of the Rangers & Steiner Associates are building a complex that could be refered to as Easton Town Center on steroids.
I worked at Six Flags Mall Safety Town as a volunteer (the only paid people there were the Arlington Police who orchestrated the thing) from summer 1981 through summer 1985. The whole idea was to teach kids how to cross the street safely, and what the various signs (stop, yield, etc.) meant for car drivers. So it was all good fun – kids on big wheels and parading around in lines learning to cross the street. At that time of course, the mall was a very different place – quite vibrant. The closest analogue would be a smaller version of the mall in the movie Valley Girl, all with a distinct late 1970s, early 1980’s feel.
There were two Safety Town sessions a day – one 9-10 AM, then an hour break, and then 11-12. The mall management gave us a small allowance ( I think $1.50 a day) for lunch or what have you. I recall walking past Waldenbooks and blowing the whole allotment on a videogame called “Phoenix”, which was sort of a Galaga knock-off. In the later years we’d go to Mcdonalds for breakfast with the police officer in charge of the operation. The movie marquee was near the Safety Town setup, so I remember the comings and goings of movies like Tron and Gremlins.
It’s sad to see the state of the mall today, but that’s the way it goes I guess. Even in its early days the mall wasn’t exactly surrounded by a good retail environment. That part of Arlington wasn’t attractive in the early 1970’s, and it never got much better I’m afraid!
My sisiter ran an animal rescue/pet shop there at the mall right up until just yesterday when the lights were litterally shut off. When I was there to visit her a few years ago, I was amazed that such a beautiful mall had such a low occupancy percentage. How could this happen????? My heartfelt sympathies go out to all the tenents that held on until the end–hoping for a miracle. The business that my sister had was her “life”–she gave her all for the little fur babies that had no one to love them. She worked open to close, generally by herself, so that many amimals would have a safe place to stay and food in their little bellies. To everyone that has helped her out over the years and to those who gave loving homes to the animals that God entrusted to Charlene–MY SINCEREST THANKS!!! I know that there are many animals that are better off because of all the Angels from pettown. Marge
OK–I HAVE BEEN READING SOME OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS MALL AND I HAVE A REPLY TO JUAN (2/24).
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH BRAD’S RESPONSE(3/24) IF YOU THINK THESE PUPPIES ARE UNHAPPY–VOLUNTEER TO HELP CHARLENE OUT. IF YOU KNEW THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS BUSINESS SHE RUNS, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE SAID WHAT YOU SAID. PEOPLE DROP THESE ANIMALS OFF IN BOXES/BAGS AT HER BACK DOOR THERE AT THE MALL AND CHARLENE TAKES THEM IN, IN HOPES OF FINDING LOVING HOMES FOR THEM. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SHE HAS TAKEN SOME OF THEM TO HER OWN HOME TO CARE FOR THEM BECAUSE THEYU HAD PHYSICAL DISABILITIES THAT NEED ATTENTION. CHARLENE IS A VERY LOVING PERSON WHO HAS MORE LOVE FOR THESE ANIMALS THEM SOME PEOPLE HAVE FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN. SHE SACRIFICES HER OWN PERSONAL WELL BEING SO THAT THESE ANIMALS CAN GET THE MEDICAL ATTENTION THEY MAY NEED AND THE ONLY HELP SHE GETS IN FROM THE LOVING INDIVIDUALS WHO HELP HER OUT THROUGH DONATIONS OR OFFER VOLUNTEER WORK WHEN POSSIBLE. SHE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY TO HAVE EMPLOYEES BUT CONTINUES TO WORK OPEN TO CLOSE 7 DAYS A WEEK TO TAKE CARE OF THESE LITTLE CRITTERS. BEFORE YOU JUDGE A SITUATION–PLEASE GET THE FACTS RIGHT. iF YOU WERE TO VOLUNTEER JUST 3 HOURS OF YOUR PRECIOUS TIME–I THINK YOU WOULD SEE THAT THESE ANIMALS DO NOT LACK FOR LOVE OR FOOD FROM HER. SHE LOVES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM AND IS DETERMINED TO FIND A LOVING HOME FOR THEM. MARGE
SAVE THE SIX FLAGS MALL!!!!
do you know where i cant find or speak with your sister Charlene
thank you
Hello Margery,
my name is Jose i have adopted 2 dogs from her location
an got shocked when we went back to take or puppies for their shots and saw that she wasnt there anymore…
do you know where i can contact her for questions?
I stumbled onto your website quite by accident, and really enjoyed the trip down memory lane. I grew up in east Arlington, worked at Six Flags from 1970-74 and Sanger Harris 1974-75. My sister also worked at SH and I did again part time in the late 80’s. All of my clothes came from Penny’s -or the sale racks at Sanger’s. My dad always bought tires and tools from Sears. I ate many a meal at Wyatt’s, El Chico(the hostess Bobbie still works at the one on Collins), and Dino’s -the sub sandwich place in the seperate building notheast corner where the original movie theater was -became a disco. Then in the 80’s, The Cork and Cleaver opened on the corner of 360 and Galleria Drive.
There was not a Montgomery Wards; it was at Forum 303. There was a Pier 1, Bag and Baggage, Sunglass Hut, 5-7-9 Shop, a knife shop, Tobacco Lane, Baker’s Shoes,and …..well, my gray hair is choking my memory.
The concrete scupture was a “Gateway” to Great Southwest Industrial Park, built before the mall. The mall was always geared toward the working class “bedroom community” of Arlington. I remember Sangers/Foley’s always go in close=outs and markdowns. But as the rooftops continued way north and south, noone wanted to drive “over to that side of town”. I just stopped going to malls altogether – too crowded.
Thanks for your blog…..
I
JOSE,
I WILL BE TALKING TO MY SISTER THIS WEEK. IF I TELL HER YOUR FIRST NAME, WILL SHE KNOW YOU? I LIVE IN NY SO I DON’T GET TO SEE HER VERY OFTEN. IT WAS NOT HER CHOICE TO LEAVE THE MALL–THEY SHUT OFF THE ELECTRICITY AND THE FIRE DEPT MADE EVERYONE LEAVE SINCE THERE WAS NO FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW SHE CAN CONTACT YOU–I WILL GET HER THE MESSAGE. HOPE YOUR DOGS ARE DOING GOOD. MARGE
Hello Marge
No i dont think she will know me by my first name but she can reach me at my email address its jac0223@yahoo.com
thank you…
JOSE,
I WILL GIVE HER THE MESSAGE ASAP. TAKE CARE.
Marge,
thank you so much…
Hello Marge
Charlene can reach me at my job, my # is 214-492-7056
thank you
JOSE,
WILL PASS THE # ON TO CHARLENE WHEN I CHAT WITH HER.
MARGE
JOSE,
CHECK YOUR EMAIL–I SENT YOU A MESSAGE 🙂 MARGE
The mall is closed isn’t it? The fire alarm system and electricity are off, everyone got kicked out. What will go in its place?
I haven’t heard anything about it closing. Where did you hear about everyone getting kicked out?
Followup. The power is back on and the mall’s under temporary ownership.
SURE WOULD OF BEEN NICE IF “TEMPORARY OWNERS” COULD OF BEEN THERE BACK IN AUGUST WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE SHUT OFF BECAUSE THE OWNER AT THAT TIME COULDN’T (DIDN’T) PAY THE ELECTIC BILLS. WHAT THE HECK WAS HE DOING WITH THE MONEY HE COLLECTED FROM ALL HIS TENENTS???????
I have lived in Arlington my whole life and spent so many Saturday’s at that mall- our parents would drop us off at 10 or 11 am and we stayed there all day with no concerns for our safety. I too remember the McCrory’s 5 and dime that had hamburgers and shakes.
It is so sad to see it now in such a state of decline, it was a really cool place to hang out back in the day.
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB9CFDDD95B09FA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
Sorry, that link was about the ambitious remodel Six Flags Mall was having, similar to North Hills Mall. Very similar.
Wonderful memories.
In 1982 I sold lemonade and corn dogs at the Corn Dog on a Stick right inside the south entrance before the Dillards annex was built. It was Wyatts Cafeteria on the left, then Tobbaco Lane, the Corn Dog, skip a few and maybe a jewelry store at the intersection before you have to turn left. El Chico was on the right going in the same entrance. I remember a fire there but it didn’t affect any other part of the mall. There was also a Motherhood Maternity on the right side.
There was a Sears Charm School on the left and Sears Photography on the right as you went up the elevator to the second floor. I so wanted to go there, but to no avail.
I remember Kinney shoes in addition Baker Brothers. The Revco was down by Penneys. They actually made an entrance for Revco when they opened it.
Does anyone remember in the northeast part of the property not on the directory, there was a building that had a Pizza Inn in it. It has changed hands a few times and even had some wrestling. The Pizza Inn was in the same building as the theater which only had two shows maybe. .
I
I loved the Sanger-Harris/Foley’s at Six Flags Mall. The level of service there was absolutely terrific, and the people were all committed to making sure that you got exactly what you needed. The Sears there was pretty nice as well, and I was disappointed when the mall lost both of those stores, especially since the big Tinseltown “mall-saving” addition had just happened.
The mall was a showplace in its heyday, and the Texana / Six Flags theme was actually carried out pretty well. There might be hope for this mall if it can hold out until the Cowboy stadium is finished and open — it is actually one of the easiest locations to get to in the Arlington area, and if it realigns toward food and post game shopping, it might make it.
The big irony is that the Dillard’s renovation came right before the beginning of the end for the mall — it had a brief but shining moment.
I had the idea that since kids these days are into airsofting and paintballing. Why not lease out a dept store just for that. Like have kiosk selling equipment and supplies such as ammo, guns, and protective wear. You could charge 50 dollars for admission, gun rental, and extra ammo. If you bring your own equipment, it would be 30 dollars. It would bring a lot of attention to not only Six Flags Mall, but Arlington as well. We’re already getting a new stadium i mean the least they can do is make an area for kids interested in the game but don’t wanna travel too fartto get there. It’s in town and quite close. In my opinion, it’s better than going 3 hours out just to play it every weekend.
There was a paintball kiosk up at Westmoreland Mall near Pittsburgh the one year, but that’s because there’s a paintball arena a few miles away from the mall. Some tenants have contracts in place to prevent recreational anchors such as paintball arenas and skateparks from opening at their mall, as it may interfere with the mall’s business atmosphere. I don’t see such a scenario playing out at Six Flags because most of the tenants there are independents.
@Gary: Look at Livonia Mall. Looks like it worked there, for a while at least.
@Benjamin,
All ready thought about it about 3 years ago. There was a SERIOUS paint gun store in the mall. They would bus kids to an alternate site for paint ball competitions.
I worked at that KB Toys for a while. That mall was one of the most bizarre places I’ve ever been in. Memories of it are like a dream.
i was just there a couple weeks ago, it feel like some bad zombie movie set
man, i really miss this mall growing up in the 1980s..my mom use to frequent to six flags mall every 2 wks we went to sears,jcpenneys,kb toys…my grandmother went to this foleys/sanger harris alot other than north hills or hulen…..i remember the childrens safety set in the back of the mall,target,toys r us,ihop,firestone there was a best department store down the street….i really hate to see this mallin such shape………..the last time the mall was busy was like the late 90s early 2000s when sears and foleys left
hahahaha im going there today
I’d like to find out any info about the “Cheers” night club behind 6-Flags Mall. I went there alot in 1984 and had many good times, had alot of girlfriends back then. I moved out of Texas in 1989.. whatever became of “Cheers” and when did it close, I also remember Bobby McGees in Arlington and a place called “Pazazz” that was on Lamar.. Those wild Friday Nights of the 1980’s.. I had alot of good times in the 1980s. Arlington Texas really changed since my day the new ball park is where I once lived.
@Alexis, Based on the comments from August 09 onward it sounds like Sis Flags Mall is not too far away from closing all together. Does anyone have any opinions on this possibility? Is the GM plant across the Hwy still open?
I understand they assemble SUVs there.
Are there ‘any’ operating businesses outside of the mall, but located on mall property?
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?
I love the Six Flags mall “Tinseltown” movie theater. I have seen so many movies there, one of the first movies that I saw there was “Titanic” back in 1997. The place is hardly ever crowded, but when I went to Six Flags Mall this past Saturday (11/21/2009) to watch a movie, the place was packed out. I had to stand a long time in line for my ticket and also for popcorn.
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.
If i were wealthy, i would buy this mall and just live in it. I spent so many of my childhood times here and if it gets tore down, its like a part of me dying.
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.
@Jack,
Yes GM still makes Tahoes,Suburbans,Yukons, and Escalades at the plant.
@Raynette,
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.
@Gary,
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.
@Jack,
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.
@Thom,
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.
I felt like getting some exercise today, and since I was near Six Flags Mall, I decided to go there. It’s become even more of a ghost mall since I was last there in early October.
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
8) 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.
Everytime that I am in Arlington and I want to go see a movie. I go to Six Flags Mall because it is like 5-6 dollars cheaper than going to the Parks Mall and the movies usually never sellout at Six Flags Mall. I go to Six Flags Mall occasionally and everytime I go it seems to get emptier & emptier. I was sadden recently when I went yesturday and saw that Champ’s sports was closed. I used to buy some cool jerseys there and they had some cool nikes too. Now the only recognizable stores I know is Dillard’s, Cinemark & Italia Express. I hate to see malls like these run down and close. So many of us tie memories to hometown surroundings like malls, arenas, parks, etc. By the way I’m not buying the crime rate in the area as the reason that the mall is doing so bad, there have been times at the Parks Mall where someone has gotten stabbed in the parking lot, especially on Friday nights. I can blame the industrial environment surrounding Six Flags Mall but the crime rate not so much.
close the mall put the locks on it. Make it a parking lot for the cowboy stadium it’s a wrap nothing can save this mall and besides before you go up there you have to pray that the electric is still on.
Speaking of the Cowboys, Jerry Jones was going to build an enormous lifestyle center at the stadium. It was a joint venture with Steiner Associates of Columbus OH. Does anyone know what happend to the project?
If it ever gets built, kiss this mall good buy.
I worked at the JCP in 89-92, housewares and childrens! It was an awesome job! I grew up in that mall! I remember a Skillerns drug store then and Eckerds took its place across from Mccrorys. I remember shopping in the JCP western shop. The JCP salon used to be the little coffee shop when I was little!
I loved going to Sanger Harris! I saw Ghandi at the General Cinema theater on a school field trip in the 6th grade! I loved Waldonbooks more than Bdalton!
I bought my Def Leppard and Brian Adams LPs at the Record Bar! Ate my first enchillada at El Chico and ate lunch at Wyatts many times…a blueplate!
Then they added the food court and we ate at one potato two a lot!
So many Six Flags Mall memories…wish it was just like that still!
I moved to northern Grand Prairie in 1990, and lived about three miles from Six Flags Mall, so I was not around in the 70’s and 80’s heyday of the mall, but to me it was a pretty active mall throughout the 90’s. I really liked it as it had a B. Daltons and a Waldenbooks bookstore, Radio Shack, Sears where I bought most of my clothes, and being a smoker I also went to Tobacco Lane quite frequently. What I liked most about SFM is it was not too big and had most of the stores I wanted to shop at. I have allot of fond memories of shopping there, but in 2000 I moved further north in Grand Prairie and since I live closer to Irving mall I do most of my shopping there.
However, I still went to SFM once in awhile and over the last ten years I have watched it slowly decline. I was there about three years ago and most of the stores were occupied, but just about all the name brand stores were gone and very few people were in there shopping. Yesterday I went there, just to see how it was doing, and was appalled at what I saw. I didn’t take an official count but it appeared that 90% of the shops were abandoned, just sitting there empty. For the first few minutes that I was in there I actually expected someone to tell me the mall was not open for business and I should leave. It was also very warm and seemed like the air conditioner was turned off.
I remember when every shop was occupied with a name brand store and the mall was fairly crowded on the weekends, especially in the early to mid 90’s, but now it reminds me of a ghost town. I have enjoyed shopping at malls ever since I was a kid, I’m 52 now, and I hate to see a once thriving mall decline as much as SFM has. I also hated to see the Forum 303 mall go downhill, but I never went there as often as I went to SFM and do not miss it as much.
@Joe,
The A/C hasn’t been working right all summer long. I finally stopped doing my mall walking there because it was just too darn hot. I don’t know if one or more of the A/C units broke down and the bank opted not to fix them or if the bank deliberately turned the thermostat up in order to cut down on the electricity being used, but it made it unbearable. Almost every store still there had brought in portable fans to help cool themselves off.
I had hoped that the bank foreclosing on the property would help, but they seem content with letting it rot away.
@jatterb, Actually, Italia Express was there in the heydays of the mall. The manager is the same for the past 30 years. I still remember him from the early 90’s
@Reza,
I don’t remember when Italia Express first came to Six Flags Mall (my first memory of it wasn’t until after the food court was torn down to make way for Cinemark), but it has certainly been there for a long time. Along that same lines, I think both Pretzels Etc. and Scent-Sational were both there during the heydays as well, though I believe the latter has changed owners since then.
In looking over that list, I realize that a few of them have since gone out of business. I think it’s time to go back and take an official count.
I thought this mall was completely closed now? I heard the Dillards moved up to the Irving Mall.
@Margaret,
I think Dillards may have closed at SFM as I drove by there two weeks ago on a Wednesday morning around 11am and all the doors were closed and there were partitions behind the doors to block anyone from seeing inside. I did see several cars in the parking lot, but they may have been the cars of employees who were inside preparing to close the store. I don’t know anything about it moving to Irving Mall though and I did not see any signs stating that it was moving.
@Joe, well, it doesn’t open until 11am Wednesday anyway…
http://www.dillards.com/sec/StoreHomePageServlet?storenumber=0607
@Pseudo3D,
I wasn’t aware of that, I thought most stores opened around 10am or earlier this time of year. Thanks for pointing it out.
This web page needs to be shut down! This mall in Arlington Tx is no longer occupied by manufactures or retailers. ALL OF THE STORES ARE CLOSED! And have moved to other locations.
I hope that the city of Arlington can rebuild or improve this place to bring the shoppers back.
I visited this mall yesterday. The Dillard’s was very good for a clearance center- tons and tons of selection, and the men’s suit department was massive. A+.
The rest of the mall seemed vacant and in decay; there was road construction around the mall; and the area did not seem very retail-favorable.
Looks like the maill is on its way out……. again…..a fallen light at the SE Entrance north of Dillards is just hanging there. No Maintenance? I went in to film most of the mall with my video camera and 3 stores were barely open, music playing over the speakers in the mall and no one to hear it.Kinda spooky. This is not the kinda place to go and just walk around alone.Its not safe. I have fond memories of hanging out there in the 80’s as a teen. back then I had an 84 cutlass and had 2 hubcaps stolen. Personally I would not go to see a movie there or eat anything. Its a mall of the past and will NEVER come back. The streets and business’s that once populated the area are gone. BTW I was just about done filming and was approached by a one of the remaining foreign “store associates” and told I could not film there……I told him otherwise and he proceeded to call security and as I was heading out the door I could see security heading my way and he said something and I said “its a public place.” Big mall security……LOL……..Goodbye SFM. Gone but will never be forgotten.
After reading this whole selection and the comments it saddens me seeing how the mall went from such an amazing place to where it is now. One thing that no one has noted in here or probably knows is that the old sears building has been a haunted house for the past 3-4 years. Open during the halloween months (End of september – first weekend of november) and I am one of the volunteers for it. (http://www.theboneyard.org) The mall is still lasting. There are only 2 shops in the whole mall that are still there. The Dillards and a little rap/hiphop shop. Pretzels etc is still there down the hall from the Dillards and the pizza shop is still alive and kicking. The lights in the old arcade are always on but isn’t open anymore (shoved full of arcade games that still work). I’m only 19 but I love this mall. Always enjoyed walking through it and playing with the animals in the pet shop that was there. My mom used to work for a pet store in it back in 82-84. I’m not sure how much longer this mall will last but I’m going to miss the hell out of it once it is gone.
I remember working there as a security guard in the late 90s. I worked all over the place and remember the stores fawnly. I miss tilt and sam goody the most. I used to work at the prezelmaker where I met a beautiful girl at subway. Then I moved to american cookie company and a simulator that went around 360. ((((I wondered what happened to Cheryl, she was hot but , anyways I still go to the movies there (cheapest in town)) and enjoy the pizza place which is the only food place there…..
I still walk the halls and a tear almost comes out … I am in my 30s and I miss the place alot…. I used to be a big thing in the mall and spencers oh spencers over there (((easy to steal from))) turned to a christian place… I think it is closed down but like the others say nothing last forever… you just wished it did………
I visited this mall to take photos about a month ago. How very sad. 🙁 I counted 6 stores that were open or in business:
1)Little Angels Formals
2)Dickie’s Outlet store
3)Pretzel shop
4) Pizza restaurant
5) Cinemark Tinseltown
6) Dillard’s Outlet
I went at about 3 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon. The Dillard’s had a bunch of cars in the lot and people going in and out, but I only saw one person walking around the mall. Turns out his buddy worked at the pizza place and he was just looking around.
The old Sears end wing is roped off, and there are buckets for roof leaks EVERYWHERE. The plants are all dead. The AC isn’t even turned on. I’d say about 90% of the neon on the arches are burned out.
I honestly thought that it was locked up when I drove up to an entrance, just because the parking lot and entrances are so dilapidated. But all the doors (save the Sears end) were open. As I drove around the outside I could see cars parked in a truck loading area, so someone is working there.
It was very sad to see it now and remember how much fun I had there as a kid.
I have TONS of photos and would be happy to have them put on this site if you’d like; just contact me at the email address I provided.
I have a feeling that the mall won’t be around much longer.
i cant help but feel like somebody died close to me….first north hills now this….i have a load of memories growing up in the 80s/90s i wish for this mall to be revitalized by the new stadium since glory park and the new gp mall are dead projects….if all the construction were done and they could get a couple resturants to commit to the surrounding area we could poss se some progress but i guess it’s just wishful thinking….they couldve put the highlands in this area wouldve changed a lot of things for the positive…….
does anyone on here have any old 1978-2000 photos of fort worth/arlington malls?
Well, Festival 303 Mall (I know that’s not the right name, just combining names here) did try to get people from Dillard’s to enter the mall…
Does anyone at all on here know or have a picture of or even remember where the A’gaci store near the Dillards outlet once stood??? My girlfriend has a history with A’gaci as a company and would like to know or see if anyone may have a picture or a map of where the old A’gaci store once stood.
@Thom, I too partied in those days. Our favorite was Bobby McGee’s. We decorated our apartment with thier stuff. I worked at Safari Bar and Pazzaz as a black jack dealer. But mostly partied. Dated a few guys back then. Even dated the DJ at Cheers for a while. Fun memories – I moved away in 1990. So all my memories of Arlington are 1984 – 1990. I worked at Tijuana Yacht club in Dallas as well. Those were the days !!
My question is when will the city of Arlington finally decide to demolish the entire building and put the whole land up for lease?
They trashed the forum 303 mall and rebuilt a fresh new shopping center and it only has 1 tenant. Epic Fail, sadly.
If they trash Six Flags Mall and try to do something new with it – i fear it will fail also.
Its the locations.
I am going to Six Flags mall later to check out the dillard’s clearance center. I haven’t been to this mall since it was thriving and amazing so i’m bracing myself for horrible depression lol
just got back – this mall is doomed. Only hearing stories about it i thought surely there would be hope – but no.
I have NEVER in my life been in such a big place that had so little.
it was HOT. No A/C, i was literally the only person walking around. These tenants literally gave up and ran. most of the closed stores still have products and inventory rotting away inside.
Then i saw the most bored, zombie-like mall cop pacing around searching in vain for something to do.
Six Flags Mall will be a pile of rubble soon enough.
Which is why I’m curious to when this whole building will be demolished.
@Dav, Or better yet, have mother nature set the place on fire and burned down to nothingness.
@Emma, “As I drove around the outside I could see cars parked in a truck loading area, so someone is working there. ”
http://www.theboneyard.org/
A haunted house resides within the old Sears building. It’s been there since they had to leave the Forum Mall from deconstruction. I am one of the volunteers there and every now and then you will find all of our cars parked either in back or up front as we have our work days or our own little personal parties.
Does anyone know who owns Six Flags Mall? Interested in purchasing. If you have a name, number, email address, website or any type of contact information I would appreciate it.
Thank you.
@Josh, Great to know that there is still SOMETHING happening over there. I’ll be sure to visit the haunted house before Halloween. 😉
@Keila, check with the Tarrant County Tax Assessor. They’ll have that info. You should even be able to look it up online.
I used to love to go to the Six Flags mall. Me and my mother would go at least once a week and go shooping. I have been watching the mall over the course of 10-13 years and I am NOT impressed. The mall is slowly dying. The only businesses left are the Dillard’s Outlet and the Cinemark Tinseltown 9. I took some photos on 9/24/11 and walked around the mall, and I was just shocked what had happened. When I was 3 years old (1998) I was fascinated with the way everything was. Everything was so thriving and populated. Now… those words are not true anymore. the Six Flags Mall is a “dead-mall”. I have had so many memories and now it is disappearing. I wish they would do something to improve the mall. It is right across the Cowboys Stadium, there should be “thriving” businesses there by now. But, there is a Haunted House that will be opening sometime this month. It is called “Boneyards Haunted House” or something like that. If you go to the theater entrance, you can still walk around the mall. Everybody says it is outdated, but I think it looks fine. Just don’t get caught by a security guard with a camera in your hand. I have gotten kicked out because of it. It still is very clean inside of the mall, and it is always lit up by the numerous skylights and windows in it. If you want to see the pictures I have taken this is the URL: (http://www.myspace.com/firelucario/photos#!/my/photos/album/1957195)(Note: do not include parentheses)
> I DO NOT want it to end up like the “Forum 303 Mall/Festival Market”.
>
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> If you want to send a comment contact me at: killerdragon12345@yahoo.com (Make the subject “Six Flags Mall)
The mall is in foreclosure right now. I went there with my mom and we talked to some security guards about the history of the mall. Every time someone wants to buy it, the bank will usually decline their offer. This place should be saved or become and outdoor/lifestyle mall. I went filming in there on 9/24/11 and 11/12/11 and it is completely dead. There are only two anchor tenants and no off-brand stores whatsoever. I went there on 9/24/11 and there was one store. It was a off-brand sporting goods store. Now I went on 11/12/11 and it moved to the Valley View Mall. I recommending NOT bringing a camera in there. I got kicked out for having a camera, and I was only filming for 1 minute!!! Amazingly, the plants inside are still alive. But if you check around the 80’s addition and the dillard’s wing, there is mold growing on the ceiling. It was gross and I could barely smell it. The food court only has one restuarant and it is a chinese food place that is only open in the afternoon. The dillards is okay, but some stuff is WAY overpriced. I have made videos about the mall if you want to see them. This is the adress for the videos:
This is the Facebook page I made about the mall:
http://www.facebook.com/DarkDragonGuardianX#!/pages/Six-Flags-Mall/134546296649583
Please check these out if you like/love the Six Flags Mall. I want to do anything I can to help save this mall!!!!!
It’s been months since I was last in Six Flags Mall, so I thought I would stop in for short walk through on Wednesday (4/4/12). I wasn’t expecting what I found/learned.
Little Angels Formal closed up shop. Worse, I learned the woman who owned it passed away shortly after her daughters closed the store for good.
Lalani Fashions, which was a Dickies store, has closed. Frankly, I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did.
Dillard’s Clearance Outlet has permanently closed off the mall entrance to its store. You must now enter from one of the three outside entrances.
Technically, there are five businesses still operating at the mall.
1) Cinemark
2) Italia Express
3) Dillard’s
4) Arcade
5) The Boneyard
The arcade isn’t open for customers to play video games. Instead, the owners simply expanded the video game repair service they had to fill the entire space.
The Boneyard, of course, is only open during the haunted house season.
If what I was told today was true, one of the reasons for this last decline in the mall was that the bank that foreclosed on it refused to lease space to new tenants. No clue why they would do that, but it meant that no one new could move in, so when someone moved out, it was simply one less tenet to draw customers in.
Also, the recent auction on the mall flopped badly. While apparently three people did show some interest in the mall, no one submitted a bid. Supposedly the mall has an auction on it every month but no one is biting.
what was the name of that dance club located behind six flags mall in the 80s? also if anyone knows, i’m trying to remember several of those clubs in arlington in the 1980s. those were good times.
THIS MALL IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED. THERE ARE NO ENTANCES LEFT AND THE MALL WILL BE DEMOLISHED IN LATE 2012. THE DILLARD’S WILL MOVE TO THE IRVING MALL, BUT THE CINEMARK TINSELTOWN 9 AND BONEYARD HAUNTED HOUSE WILL STAY ON THE LOT.
Okay, we have the full story on what is/might be happening to the mall, for now, and the future. Right now, the mall is being shuttered from the inside to rid of everything out of the mall. Next, Dillard’s will move all of their merchandise to the Irving Mall (Currently on progress). Then, the Dillard’s will close somewhere around October, then the mall demolition will start around November. While the mall is being demolished, the Cinemark Wing and the Sears Wing will stay on the lot. They will try to make some kind of business center in-between them. The theater will expand from a 8 theater to a 16 theater, and the Boneyard will stay as well. When the mall is completely demolished, they will turn it into a business center, like the area where the Forum 303 used to be, except this center will be like an industrial center/ outdoor lifestyle area. If you want anymore info on this or have any suspicions, please message me. ~Radin Darkflame
Okay, we have the full story on what is/might be happening to the mall, for now, and the future. Right now, the mall is being shuttered from the inside to rid ofevrything out of the mall. Next, Dillard’s will move all of their merchandise to the Irving Mall (Currently on progress). Then, the Dillard’s will close somewhere around October, then the mall demolition will start around November. While the mall is being demolished, the Cinemark Wing and the Sears Wing will stay on the lot. They will try to make some kind of business center in-between them. The theater will expand from a 8 theater to a 16 theater, and the Boneyard will stay as well. When the mall is completely demolished, they will turn it into a business center, like the area where the Forum 303 used to be, except this center will be like an industrial center/ outdoor lifestyle area. If you want anymore info on this or have any suspicions, please message me. ~Radin Darkflame
Too bad: Italia Express has been operating for at least 10 years. Sorry to see it go, and I’m happy it stuck around until the end.
@Pseudo3D, It is staying, they will make an area for a mini-food court for the theater…
@Pseudo3D, Prangeway and I both made a trip (together!) to Dallas this weekend, and tried to get into the Six Flags Mall but the only accessible area is in front of the theatres, and the only remaining tenant is the Italia Express. Sad that I never got to see this mall personally (though Prangeway did, obviously).
That’s going to be cool if they keep the movie theater! If they add more theaters to it, they will probably raise the ticket prices. Maybe after all of the demolishing they will really clean the area up and redo the parking lot.
I’ve lived 10 minutes away from the mall my intire life. As far as I was concerned growing up, the parks mall and the six flags mall were equal to me. If six flags mall had continued to live, I strongly believe the rapidly expanding entertainment district blosoming around the new cowboy stadium would have revitalized the mall. Until I found rumors of demolition, I was planning on getting a spot there for a recording studio for local acts (including myself). I feel like after 303 went under six flags mall gave up. The beautiful glass arched skylights have so much potential and after studying the floor plan its not that far off from the floor plan of modern shopping malls(other then the decor) and its so large that its a waste to tear down. If only we had one of those movie momments where, at the last second, someone stops the builders and rallys everyone to help!…but arlington is destined to leave it behind and (as its always done) move on to bigger and more profitable things.
https://www.facebook.com/SixFlagsMallTributes
I’m sorry, but all of what you just said is completely untrue. There are always rumors as to what is going to happen to this mall. Almost all of these are untrue and have no facts associated with them. If you feel that what I am saying is untrue, I would love to hear facts that say otherwise. As of right now there are no future plans at the mall and the Dillard’s store is open and plans to be going forward. @Corbett Myers,
@Ken English, Sir, this is what I incorporated off of the condition of the mall as it sits now. This is basically what I believe will happen, it is not meant to be taken seriously. Its just a hypothesis on what MIGHT happen in case of future reference. If you go to the mall, the people who work there might give you a clearer idea of what is happening. If you would like to know more message me. ~Radin Darkflame
I’m a student at the nearby UT Arlington and my normal residence is in Richardson, so I drive by this mall a lot. It’s currently undergoing a facelift; a lot of the old Six Flags Mall signage is gone as it’s been renamed Plaza Central, and supposedly the inside’s being remodeled. It’s slated to reopen this coming Valentine’s Day. Let’s see how that all plays out…
Check out this Facebook page we have posted on here numerous times, and you can also check the latest on the re-tenanting and re-modeling of this mall as well. It is supposed to open possibly anytime during February 2013 — July 2013, we do not know for sure, but will find out as soon as we can….
https://www.facebook.com/SixFlagsMallTributes
This is our page on the Six Flags Mall and for the New Plaza Central….
The mall is currently undergoing the continued renovations that are taking place. There are currently 60 or more tenants in this mall, but the owner will not open the mall until there are more. But renovations continue to take place with new tenant booths, wall murals, and a constant string of workers walking through the entire mall. The only store that are currently there are the Dillard’s Clearance Center, Boneyard Haunted House, Cinemark Tinseltown 9, & Italia Express in the food court. There is even a name change on the mall, which is now called, “Plaza Central”.
Check out our page for the latest news and information on the Six Flags Mall.
@Kelli Joch, Hi Kelli! I had a great friend that was a bartender at Cheers and then at the Safari Bar in Arlington he as the bar manager. His name was Brad. Big guy with a beard….do you remember him…and if you do what was his last name? I would love to reconnect with him! We had so much fun….let me know if you can!
What was the name of the fur coat store that was built near SFM?? Love to know, thanks