User:Twelke/London square mall

London Square Mall was the first enclosed shopping mall in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA. The site of the mall was on the Southwest corner of U.S. Route 53 and U.S. Highway 12. An official grand opening was held Wednesday, November 10th, 1971, the mall was owned and managed by PEOPLE of Detroit, Michigan, London Square Mall originally opened with about 40 stores, two anchor stores Sears and H.C. Prange Co., and later expanded and remodeled to include a food court, freestanding theater complex and additional anchor stores.

History
The first plans for London Square Mall were announced in 1968, when F.D. Barrett, manager of the Sears store in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, announced that it will move from its downtown location to a 92,000 square foot location in a new 400,000 square foot indoor shopping complex by early 1971. The shopping complex was originally described as having two large anchor stores with 30-35 additional stores or services and would be developed and owned by Jack Shinkman of Detroit, Michigan. Further details were released in May 1969 when Henry C. Prange, announced that the H.C. Prange Company of Sheboygan, Wisconsin will open 82,000 square foot store at the mall, making it the second anchor store. Developers boasted that mall would contain “landscaping and works of art and be designed to accommodate arts and craft shows, and various other activities that would serve the community.”

Construction and Theme
Construction of the mall started on November 12, 1969 with a formal groundbreaking at 11:30 AM. It was also announced at the groundbreaking that the mall would feature a British theme, suggested by Eau Claire resident Mark Atkinson, who was inspired by nearby London Road. Decorations would include a replica of the London Bridge over a running water pool and a replica of the Big Ben clock that was hand-hewn by a craftsman in Detroit, MI. The exterior of the building would feature precise concrete panels and brick in contracting colors, illuminated by floodlights in the evening to create an “unusual and beautiful effect in the day and night, according to developers. (Staff Writer, 1969)

At the time it announced that a 20,000 square foot Red Owl grocery store, Walgreen drug store, and F.W. Woolworth store part of the mall and by April 1970, Kinney Shoes, Fanny Farmer, Eisen Mercantile, Photo Art of Eau Claire, Stevensons, Musicland, W.J.R. Pretzels, Nobil Shoe, Mode-O-Day, WEAQ Broadcaster Service, Carousel, Three Sisters, Maurices Apparel, and General Nutrition also signed leading contracts. (Staff Writer, 1970). By October of 1970, it was announced that at least 50 stores would now be located at the mall. (Staff Writer, 1970)

Grand Opening

London Square Mall officially opened with 34 stores in operation on Wednesday, November 10th 1971 at 10 AM with local leaders in attendance. The mall unofficially opened August 25 with the opening of the Sears store, followed by Prange’s on September 29th with other store opening as they were completed. At opening, the mall sat on a 30 acre site with building occupying about 400,000 square feet and a 2,200 parking lot and spots for 48 stores. (Staff Writer, 1971)

Local Effects on Business and Downtown

As of early 1972, most downtown business owners only reported a small, if any dip in sales after the few months of operation, but felt confident that sales would bounce back as the novelty of the mall decreased. (Gharrity, 1972) By 1979, there was a general feeling that the downtown was dying, despite still having two major department stores, the addition of a hotel, parking ramp and other infrastructure impairments to make the downtown more accessible. (Gharrity, Bill, 1979)

Traffic Issues

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Later Years Text

Tenants
Walgreen’s opened on Thursday, November 11th with a retail store and adjoining restaurant that occupied approximately 8,600 square feet. (Staff Writer, 1971)

Cinema I and II, opened in October of 1973 with a 500 and 400 auditorium and common lobby and were originally leased to General Cinema, Inc. of Boston, MA. The theaters were located in a freestanding building on the south side of the complex. (Staff Writer, 1973)

In June 1979, the Red Owl grocery store announced with would close on July 7th, citing it’s difficultly to run a grocery store within a large mall. The 22.250 square foot store had a lease for the property until 1990. (Staff Writer, 1979)

Additions
In October 1975, H.C. Prange began at 40,000 square foot addition for to make room for home furnishings, China, gifts, carpeting, and interior design and relocate the Prange Way discount store. (Staff Writer, 1975)

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