wonderland mall (movies, military, money)

[Dwangle]

I grew up at Wonderland Mall. I never had much money but I always had fun. I could go to Sound Town or Platter Palace and look at record albums. There was a bin of 45 RPM records you could buy for around 50 cents in Platter Palace. They also sold Harmonicas for around three dollars. You could also get a KONO HIT LIST. It was free and you got to see how your favorite songs were doing on the radio. Woolworths and Winns sold tropical fish and other pets. It was fun to watch them. We would go to Montgomery Wards and look at the Motorcycles and the Electric Guitars. We would sit in Handy Andy and read comic books. They had a place set aside to do that. We would always look at the plastic model kits and the Hot Rod magazines. We would buy licorice at the Sommers drug store. I bought a radio shaped like a rocket there for a dollar. All I could pick up was WOAI. If you go to any mall now,everything is expensive-even the licorice! There is nothing interesting, just buy some shoes, eat at the Chick-Fila and fight the traffic in the parking lot.

[RGJ]

Originally Posted by Dwangle

I grew up at Wonderland Mall. I never had much money but I always had fun. I could go to Sound Town or Platter Palace and look at record albums. There was a bin of 45 RPM records you could buy for around 50 cents in Platter Palace. They also sold Harmonicas for around three dollars. You could also get a KONO HIT LIST. It was free and you got to see how your favorite songs were doing on the radio. Woolworths and Winns sold tropical fish and other pets. It was fun to watch them. We would go to Montgomery Wards and look at the Motorcycles and the Electric Guitars. We would sit in Handy Andy and read comic books. They had a place set aside to do that. We would always look at the plastic model kits and the Hot Rod magazines. We would buy licorice at the Sommers drug store. I bought a radio shaped like a rocket there for a dollar. All I could pick up was WOAI. If you go to any mall now,everything is expensive-even the licorice! There is nothing interesting, just buy some shoes, eat at the Chick-Fila and fight the traffic in the parking lot.

I only went to Wonderland mall a couple of times. Went to McCreless mall mostly. It sounds like those two malls had a lot of the same stores. McCreless had Handy Andy, Wards, J.C. Penney, Karotkins Furniture, Woolworths, Neisner's, Sommers, Record Rendezvous, a barber shop, Couple of Jewelry stores, Michaels Dress Shop, Luby's, and a few other stores. Mccreles also had a large room upstairs where teens had parties with a live band.

[Dwangle]

All the malls were kind of the same but they were all a little different. My grandparents lived near McCreless mall so would go there too. I remember Neisners. The only thing I didn't like about McCreless mall was Karotkins Furniture. A big store with nothing of interest to me. My family would often go to the Luby's in North Star Mall on sunday. Everything was closed because of the "Blue Laws", but we had fun "window shopping". Who does that anymore?

[RGJ]

Originally Posted by Dwangle

but we had fun "window shopping". Who does that anymore?

My wife

[majormadmax]

Originally Posted by RGJ

My wife

You're a lucky man! Mine goes right past the windows and straight into the store to spend money!

[amexicano]

Does anyone have a link to the website? I couldn't find it on google..

thanks

[txtea]

When I was a little kid, the Handy Andy in Wonderland was the closest grocery store to us...and we lived over off Prue. I remember the store well...the bulk candy display and the grapes were constantly being "sampled" by my brother and I whenever mom would drag us down there (actually going to the store was a treat back then). The Sommers drug store next to Handy Andy had a soda fountain and grill. I do remember getting a hamburger there a few times..and it was great! The Tandy store downstairs had leather crafts and such...made a wallet out of one of their kits you could buy. The Radio Shack across from it was always cool to check out. (they were owned by the same company then). There was a magic store next door to Tandy's...can't remember the name of it, but the guy running the place would always do magic tricks for the kids...so cool back then. The video gameroom ...well..basically pinball machine room, until "pong" came out, was always exciting to visit.

I remember the John Marshall High School Band played in the mall non-stop for 52 hours and 3 minutes back in 1976 to set the world's record for a nonstop concert. I recall bringing my bro food and drinks to keep the tuba section alive.

Hate to see it turn into what it is now....hopefully someone, someday will make it great again.

[4wonderland]

If you look back to the first entries you will find some pictures from years past. It will be a struggle but I really think this mall has a future mainly because the others are just too, too impersonal. I was wrong about losing Burlington as one of the store I just hope that store's management would realize what they are like.
Truthfully it would take one large department store to bring the mall back to life that is one thing the owner should invest his/her time in acquiring.
In terms of the restroom findings, some people don't want to see what is behind the doors at the other malls.

[Merovee]

Originally Posted by 4wonderland

If you look back to the first entries you will find some pictures from years past. It will be a struggle but I really think this mall has a future mainly because the others are just too, too impersonal. I was wrong about losing Burlington as one of the store I just hope that store's management would realize what they are like.
Truthfully it would take one large department store to bring the mall back to life that is one thing the owner should invest his/her time in acquiring.
In terms of the restroom findings, some people don't want to see what is behind the doors at the other malls.

Times have changed. At one time the retail center of any city was downtown. The mall killed downtown in so many ways. Today the favored model is mega outdoor strips such as The Quarry, The Rim, La Cantera, etc...that house big-box stores. A mall is simply insufficient to house more than a few anchors.

That North Star, Ingram, and Rivercenter are still thriving speaks more to tradition and their more inner-city locations. At one time those were the suburban areas. The new suburban areas no longer desire malls.

The best use for Wonderland is to consider it a brownfield and seek redevelopment. The most ideal uses would be a small university campus or another cybersecurity facility. Word is San Antonio is number two in that field and if we play our cards right we will soon outrank the Washington-Maryland-Virgina area and attract more of their work.

[4wonderland]

Stopped by Wonderland this afternoon, there a number of people there. Noticed that the pizza place will be reopening. We will see what happens.