Bannister Mall closing for Good at end of may

[Frazod]

I went there the day I first came home on leave from the Navy after completing A school back in '84. I remember walking around in uniform, hand-in-hand with my girlfriend (the one I really liked, not the one I ended up marrying). That was one of the happiest days of my life. Of course, that was a long time ago, and I don't think I've been back since. Too bad the place went to hell.

[Iowanian]

Given the amount of criminals that visit the area....maybe the empty building should be turned into a prison.

I had a cousin robbed at gunpoint there by 3 "youths".....got him for a whopping $2 and change....yes...and took the change.

[DMAC]

Was this the mall that had that huge arcade downstairs?

[Jordan]

NO!!! They shut down Cleopatras Jew-ry (for those of us that watch local KC commercials)...........best commercial rap video EVER!!! Even better than Used Tire City!!!

Disclaimer: Sarcasm at its finest.

[Micjones]

I worked at United Artists for a while.

I remember Tape World was just across the way on the top floor.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Micjones

I worked at United Artists for a while.

That theater in there used to be really nice back in the 80's. I remember seeing "Return of the Jedi" there on opening night.

[Calcountry]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

That theater in there used to be really nice back in the 80's. I remember seeing "Return of the Jedi" there on opening night.

I think I seen Octopussy there when I was visiting the area one summer.

[Baby Lee]

Cross thread reference, just remembered how much I used to love eating at Big Al's in the food court.

[Pitt Gorilla]

We used to go to Metcalf South for our shopping (we lived about 2 hours away). We also visited Oak Park, which only had a few stores at the time. Of course, around here, the malls are doing pretty well. The mall in Columbia was thriving as well.

[keg in kc]

I lived about a mile from there from, ah, 2000 to 2003.

It was amazing how much (in some ways) my life changed when I moved to Overland Park. I regularly walk at 10 or 11 at night here, and I don't think anything about going to Super Wal-Mart at 2 am.

2 things I would have never done on Bannister road.

[Baby Lee]

I don't think that rent was an issue, because the Mall itself started downhill when the staple [national, solid] stores were replaced with Mom/Pop stores selling Velvet paintings and Trinkets. Surely those stores weren't MORE able to meet the rent than a Sam Goody or Waldenbooks.
Wards was a big loss, that closed store was a huge sore thumb indicator of decline.
The fire at Best Buy, leading to Circuit City leaving when it didn't have it's symbiotic partner across the way.
Then the restaurants ceased to be a draw.
By that time, between Metcalf developments to the west, Martin City springing to life to the south, and the Lee's Summit development where 470 meets 50, meant that people in many directions got one-shopping a short distance away instead of piecemeal shopping at BM.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

By that time, between Metcalf developments to the west, Martin City springing to life to the south, and the Lee's Summit development where 470 meets 50, meant that people in many directions got one-shopping a short distance away instead of piecemeal shopping at BM.

I'd call that a valid point. When we lived there, while we were a mile from BM, we did all our shopping 10 or 15 minutes away (IIRC) in Lee's Summit.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I'd call that a valid point. When we lived there, while we were a mile from BM, we did all our shopping 10 or 15 minutes away (IIRC) in Lee's Summit.

I'm optimistic that that entire corridor [from BM to Truman Corners] will rebound by about 5 years after the 71 triangle is completed.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

I'm optimistic that that entire corridor [from BM to Truman Corners] will rebound by about 5 years after the 71 triangle is completed.

I hope you're right, that area was a spot that I spent alot of the 80's.

[DT4everaChief]

Originally Posted by UCFGoldenKnight

I searched but found no thread.
Bannister Mall closing

In the 80's that was the place to go with the family and shop. Now it's the place for all the thugs to hang out at since idian springs is closed.