User talk:Taylor2646/The Mall at Westlake

The Mall at Westlake, almost always referred to as Westlake Mall is a vacant and closed community mall in Bessemer, Alabama.

History
Westlake Mall was built on a former lake bed, along US Highway 11. The mall opened in 1969 with three anchors, Sears, Grant's and Loveman's.

In the late 1970's and 80's, the mall saw decline. It's three original anchors closed by 1989, making it a dead mall or deserted mall. Continuing urban sprawl southwestward toward the Tuscaloosa County line and increased crime and poverty in the city of Bessemer all contributed to the mall's demise.

During the mid 80s, there was an effort to turn the mall into an factory outlet center, though many regular stores were still open.

In 1994, Bruno's Supermarkets opened a flagship store in the former Sears anchor location. It was the company's largest store. The mall continued to operated with a small assortment of stores, including a Goody's Family Clothing store in the former Grant's anchor location.

The Goody's store relocated elsewhere in the late 2000's, and Bruno's filed bankruptcy in 2009, closing its store at the mall.

The center was sold to Bessemer used-car dealership owner Anthony Underwood, who wants to revive the center once again as a outlet mall. As of 2013, the mall sits vacant and sealed, with several of it's entrances blocked.