Fort Saginaw Mall
Encyclopedia
Fort Saginaw Mall was an enclosed shopping mall
located in Buena Vista Township, Michigan, just outside the city of Saginaw, Michigan
, United States
. Opened in 1966, the mall served as Saginaw's only enclosed mall until Fashion Square Mall
opened on the other end of town in 1972. Fort Saginaw Mall had become a dead mall
by the 1980s, as many of its stores had closed. By the end of the 1990s, the entire mall was closed off, except for an attached Kmart
which remained open until May 2004.
The vacant mall was owned by Cafaro Company
of Youngstown, Ohio
long after its closure. Although the community had made plans to demolish it, Cafaro initially refused to sell to the charter township. However, in April 2008, the township has claimed title to the abandoned building, and announced plans to redevelop it.
just outside the city limits of Saginaw, Michigan
, in 1966. It was an "L"-shaped enclosed mall, comprising an eastern and southern wing. Federal, a department store based in Detroit, Michigan
, served as the eastern anchor store
; at the southern end, but not accessible from the mall concourse itself, was a Kmart
discount store with adjacent Kmart Foods supermarket. A five-and-dime store called Scott's 5 & 10, as well as a small movie theater, were also located in the southern wing, and overall, the mall comprised forty stores at its peak. It was the only mall in Saginaw until Fashion Square Mall
opened in 1972, on the north end of town.
In 1976, the theater closed amid rumors that its manager had been murdered. Also in the 1970s, Scott's 5 & 10 was converted to T G & Y. Federal closed its stores in the late 1970s, and their store at Fort Saginaw Mall was eventually replaced with Burlington Coat Factory
. The elimination of the Kmart Foods line made way for an expansion of the mall's Kmart store into the space formerly occupied by Kmart Foods. At some point in the 1980s, Big Lots
was also added in the eastern wing. This store, however, was only accessible from outside. In addition, T G & Y was closed in the 1980s and replaced with Norman's, a local sporting goods store.
After Burlington Coat Factory relocated in 1991, its former space at the mall was assumed by Phar-Mor
, a discount drugstore
chain, which closed all of its Michigan locations a year later. The mall's remaining tenants began to close off in the 1990s as well, and by the end of the decade, the entire mall (except for Kmart) was shuttered. Kmart finally closed in May 2004.
In 2007, Buena Vista Charter Township officials made plans to buy the property from Cafaro Company for $2 million; Cafaro, however, refused to sell the mall, as they had plans to redevelop it. In April 2008, Buena Vista Charter Township successfully purchased the property, and may later redevelop it for various uses. The township has also kept a Burger King
restaurant in the mall's parking lot, as well as a strip mall behind the mall (which includes a Save-A-Lot
grocery store), thus making both properties tenants of the township. The mall's demolition was completed in early December 2009.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
located in Buena Vista Township, Michigan, just outside the city of Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Opened in 1966, the mall served as Saginaw's only enclosed mall until Fashion Square Mall
Fashion Square Mall
Fashion Square Mall is an enclosed shopping mall located in the northern edge of Saginaw Charter Township, Michigan. It lies within the boundaries of M-84 to the west, Tittabawassee Road to the north, Fashion Square Blvd. to the east, and Schust Road to the south. The mall serves city of Saginaw...
opened on the other end of town in 1972. Fort Saginaw Mall had become a dead mall
Dead mall
A dead mall or greyfield is a shopping mall with a high vacancy rate or a low consumer traffic level, or that is dated or deteriorating in some manner. Many malls in the United States are considered "dead" when they have no surviving anchor store or successor that could serve as an entry into or...
by the 1980s, as many of its stores had closed. By the end of the 1990s, the entire mall was closed off, except for an attached Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
which remained open until May 2004.
The vacant mall was owned by Cafaro Company
Cafaro Company
Cafaro Company is an American company which owns several retail shopping centers throughout the United States. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, it is the largest privately owned shopping center development and management company in the United States....
of Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
long after its closure. Although the community had made plans to demolish it, Cafaro initially refused to sell to the charter township. However, in April 2008, the township has claimed title to the abandoned building, and announced plans to redevelop it.
History
Fort Saginaw Mall opened in Buena Vista Township, a charter townshipCharter township
A charter township is a form of local government in the U.S. state of Michigan. Townships in Michigan are organized governments. A charter township is a township that has been granted a charter, which allows it certain rights and responsibilities of home rule that are generally intermediary in...
just outside the city limits of Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, in 1966. It was an "L"-shaped enclosed mall, comprising an eastern and southern wing. Federal, a department store based in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, served as the eastern anchor store
Anchor store
In retail, an anchor store, draw tenant, anchor tenant, or key tenant is one of the larger stores in a shopping mall, usually a department store or a major retail chain....
; at the southern end, but not accessible from the mall concourse itself, was a Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
discount store with adjacent Kmart Foods supermarket. A five-and-dime store called Scott's 5 & 10, as well as a small movie theater, were also located in the southern wing, and overall, the mall comprised forty stores at its peak. It was the only mall in Saginaw until Fashion Square Mall
Fashion Square Mall
Fashion Square Mall is an enclosed shopping mall located in the northern edge of Saginaw Charter Township, Michigan. It lies within the boundaries of M-84 to the west, Tittabawassee Road to the north, Fashion Square Blvd. to the east, and Schust Road to the south. The mall serves city of Saginaw...
opened in 1972, on the north end of town.
In 1976, the theater closed amid rumors that its manager had been murdered. Also in the 1970s, Scott's 5 & 10 was converted to T G & Y. Federal closed its stores in the late 1970s, and their store at Fort Saginaw Mall was eventually replaced with Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
. The elimination of the Kmart Foods line made way for an expansion of the mall's Kmart store into the space formerly occupied by Kmart Foods. At some point in the 1980s, Big Lots
Big Lots
Big Lots, Inc. is a Fortune 500 retail corporation with annual revenues well over $4 billion.Its department stores focus mainly on selling closeout and overstock merchandise. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio, USA and currently operates over 1,400 stores in 47 states...
was also added in the eastern wing. This store, however, was only accessible from outside. In addition, T G & Y was closed in the 1980s and replaced with Norman's, a local sporting goods store.
After Burlington Coat Factory relocated in 1991, its former space at the mall was assumed by Phar-Mor
Phar-Mor
Phar-Mor was a United States chain of discount drug stores, based in Youngstown, Ohio, and founded by Michael "Mickey" Monus and David S. Shapira in 1982. Some of its stores used the names Pharmhouse and Rx Place...
, a discount drugstore
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
chain, which closed all of its Michigan locations a year later. The mall's remaining tenants began to close off in the 1990s as well, and by the end of the decade, the entire mall (except for Kmart) was shuttered. Kmart finally closed in May 2004.
Demolition of 2009
In November 2009, crews began the demolition process for the mall due to the fact the mall building had been boarded up and heavily vandalized since its closure.In 2007, Buena Vista Charter Township officials made plans to buy the property from Cafaro Company for $2 million; Cafaro, however, refused to sell the mall, as they had plans to redevelop it. In April 2008, Buena Vista Charter Township successfully purchased the property, and may later redevelop it for various uses. The township has also kept a Burger King
Burger King
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
restaurant in the mall's parking lot, as well as a strip mall behind the mall (which includes a Save-A-Lot
Save-A-Lot
Save-a-Lot is a discount supermarket chain headquartered in Earth City, Missouri, near St. Louis, United States. The subsidiary of Supervalu comprises approximately 1,250 stores in the United States with over $4 billion in annual sales....
grocery store), thus making both properties tenants of the township. The mall's demolition was completed in early December 2009.