former Sears; Cloverleaf Mall, Richmond, Virginia

former Sears; Cloverleaf Mall, Richmond, Virginia, originally uploaded by Joe Architect.

former Sears Auto Center; Cloverleaf Mall, Richmond, Virginia, originally uploaded by Joe Architect.The Sears Auto Center echoed the design of the main store.

Saks Fifth Avenue (Stony Point Fashion Park)

Saks Fifth Avenue (Stony Point Fashion Park), originally uploaded by Joe Architect.

Saks Fifth Avenue has called Richmond, Virginia's Stony Point Fashion Park home since 2003. The 80,000 square foot store boasts two selling floors and a contemporary design.

River Ridge Mall, Lynchburg, Virginia. Vintage General Cinema exterior sign, photographed 4/25/09.

River Ridge Mall, Lynchburg, Virginia. Vintage General Cinema marquee, photographed 6/5/09.

River Ridge Mall, Lynchburg, Virginia. Vintage General Cinema marquee, photographed 6/5/09.

The River Ridge 4 Cinema was opened in 1980 by General Cinema Corporation, and was a standard design for its era. General Cinema sold its southwest and central Virgina theaters to Carmike Cinemas in the 1990s, and this theater has been one of their properties ever since.

What makes it unique is that while other theaters of its vintage were closed or remodeled, this theater was essentially left the same, and is a perfectly preserved example of what General Cinema's theaters looked like in their 1970s-1980s heyday.

Regal Entertainment is scheduled to open a new theater at River Ridge this year, and although the fate of this property has not been officially discussed, it's a safe bat that it will close soon, taking with it all of its history and these signs, which is a perfect example of General Cinema's classic signage.

JCPenney, Charlottesville Fashion Square, Charlottesville, Virginia. Exterior entrance. Photographed 6/21/09.

Previously on LiveMalls
JCPenney, Charlottesville Fashion Square

Eastland Mall featured in WSJ Article

Eastland Mall, Charlotte, North Carolina. Exterior signs. Photographed March 14, 2009.

Charlotte's Eastland Mall is featured prominently in a story about declining malls on page A1 of today’s Wall Street Journal. If you're a regular LiveMalls reader, you know that Eastland and its former anchors (including Belk, Ivey's and Miller & Rhoads) have been featured prominently here. As this mall fades into obsucrity, it may be a good time to take a look back at the mall that was, and what better place to do it than LiveMalls?

Previously on LiveMalls
Eastland Mall, Charlotte, North Carolina

Macy's, Herald Square, New York, New York. Main floor cosmetics area. Photographed March 28, 2009.

Macy's, Herald Square, New York, New York. Cup of ice from Cucina & Company. Photographed March 28, 2009.

Macy's, Herald Square, New York, New York.The Cellar housewares department. Photographed March 28, 2009.

Macy's, Herald Square, New York, New York. Main aisle of main floor Photographed March 28, 2009.

Previously on LiveMalls
Macy's, Herald Square

Moonlight Madness at Cotswold Mall

Cotswold Mall, Charlotte, North Carolina. Moonlight Madness Sale advertisement, February, 28, 1975 (Pat Richardson)

The year is 1975, and Cotswald Mall is celebrating Mardi Gras with a Moonlight Madness Sale. These are better appreciated by clicking on the images to enlarge them. Vitage ads from The Collins Company, Ivey's and Roses are featured. Special thanks to frequent LiveMalls contributor Pat Richardson for the scans.

Previously on LiveMalls
Cotswold Mall, Charlotte, North Carolina

Malls of America: R.I.P.

As of today, the much appreciated Malls of America blog has been removed from Blogger. Keith Milford's work over the past several years chronicling the history of retail was legendary and remarkably thorough. The commentary was always informative and fun, and the photo quality was consistently good.

Malls of America was around for a couple of years before new posts came to an abrupt, unexplained end about a year and a half ago, but it served as the inspiration for at least a half-dozen blogs and websites. I was a supporter to the end, and I kept going back to the site for a while hoping to see new posts. Alas, it was not to be.

If you've never seen the site, check out the archived version before it's too late.

former John Wanamaker, Hecht's, strawbridge's and Macy's (King of Prussia Plaza); King of Prussia Plaza, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Exterior view, October 26, 2008.

former John Wanamaker, Hecht's, strawbridge's and Macy's (King of Prussia Plaza); King of Prussia Plaza, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Lower level mall entrance, October 26, 2008.

Sears; King of Prussia Plaza, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Exterior view, October 26, 2008.

Nordstrom; King of Prussia Plaza, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Mall entrance, October 26, 2008.

Dutch Square Center; Columbia, South Carolina. Mall directory. Photographed January 10, 2009. (cantnot)

Belk (former J.B. White); Dutch Square Center, Columbia, South Carolina. Exterior view. Photographed January 10, 2009. (cantnot)

Richland Mall, Columbia, South Carolina. Exterior view showing portions of Barnes & Noble, parking garage and Belk (former J.B. White). Photographed January 10, 2009. (cantnot)

Dillard's, SouthPark mall, Charlotte, North Carolina. Morrison Boulevard facade, August 8, 2002.

Dillard's, SouthPark mall, Charlotte, North Carolina. Rear facade, August 8, 2002.

Dillard's, SouthPark mall, Charlotte, North Carolina. Morrison Boulevard facade, March 14, 2009.

Dillard's, SouthPark mall, Charlotte, North Carolina. Second floor Sharon Road entrance, March 14, 2009.

Previously on LiveMalls
Dillard's (former Ivey's), SouthPark
The Ivey's Archive

JCPenney, Staunton Mall, Staunton, Virginia. Photographed March 26, 2009.

This 71,972 square foot store was opened in 1969 and is one of the few JCPenney stores of its era of this general design still operational.

There was a detached Penney's auto center located in front of this store but it has been subdivided for an Virginia ABC store and a Red Lobster restaurant.

JCPenney; Miller Hill Mall, Duluth, Minnesota: 1973

JCPenney; Miller Hill Mall, Duluth, Minnesota. men's department, 1973 (uncredited photo)

Blogger Andrew Krueger unearthed some great pictures of the JCPenney at Miller Hill Mall, Duluth, Minnesota, from 1973.

Check them out in Part One and Part Two

JCPenney, Hanes Mall, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Exterior view of lower level. Photographed 1/24/09.

Previously on LiveMalls
JCPenney, Hanes Mall

Lord & Taylor; King of Prussia Plaza, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Exterior view, October 26, 2008.

Lord & Taylor; King of Prussia Plaza, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Exterior view, October 25, 2008.

Lord & Taylor; King of Prussia Plaza, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Mall entrance, October 25, 2008.

Lord & Taylor; King of Prussia Plaza, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Interior view, October 25, 2008.

Reviving the memory of his beloved Carolina Circle Mall

Frequent LiveMalls contributor Billy Coore collects memorabilia from the former Carolina Circle Mall. (Greensboro News & Record photo by Neslon Kepley)

The love affair began at a young age, with the cheery music and constant spin of the merry-go-round.

The emotion only grew stronger over time, with trips to the food court, strolls through store aisles and afternoons at the movies.

Even when others fell out of love with Carolina Circle Mall, taking their business and money elsewhere, Billy Coore's devotion remained...

Read more of Lanita Wither's story on Billy Coore at the News & Record website.