Paradise Valley Mall
Encyclopedia
Paradise Valley Mall is a shopping mall
located in northeastern Phoenix, Arizona
. It opened in 1978 and is the hub of a master planned community called Paradise Valley Village. The entire project was developed by Westcor
, the leading shopping center developer in Arizona, which is now a unit of The Macerich Company
. Dayton Hudson Corporation, now Target Corporation
, was an early investor in the project and owned the Diamonds department store chain, which was one of the original anchor tenants.
Despite having the same name as the town of Paradise Valley
it is several miles to the north of that community. The neighborhood of Phoenix containing this mall as well as several other major facilities (Paradise Valley Community College
, Paradise Valley High School, Paradise Valley Hospital, Paradise Valley Golf Course, Paradise Valley Park, etc.) is also called Paradise Valley.
. Much of the area's original development was spurred by that community, although the demographics of Paradise Valley Village have moderated somewhat over the years to be less upscale and more middle-class
. During the 1980s and 1990s, new extensions were constructed, and shopping centers also opened on the ring roads. Paradise Valley Mall has a large park-and-ride stop for Valley Metro
buses. An elevated rail station, as part of the 1989 ValTrans proposal, had been slated for construction here, but the referendum was voted down.
Since the late 1990s, higher income shoppers became more inclined to shop at newer facilities such as Kierland Commons
and the Scottsdale Road/Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard corridor, which features power centers that cater to upscale shoppers. This has caused Paradise Valley Mall retailers such as Macy's to carry fewer high-end name brand goods and sell items more in line with a middle-income customer base. The owners also added improvements in 2001 intended to attract teenagers and young families, a move made necessary by it being the oldest mall in the area. Despite this decline, the mall remains very middle-class and has not yet declined to anywhere near the level of Desert Sky Mall
, Fiesta Mall
, or Metrocenter Mall. Today Paradise Valley Mall is several times its original size, with a gross leasable area
of 1222353 square feet (113,560.3 m²). The surrounding complex of stores has become a major regional retail center in Phoenix, drawing shoppers from all parts of the metropolitan area.
, JC Penney, Macy's
(formerly Robinsons-May
, formerly occupied in a 180000 sq ft (16,722.5 m²). building which was previously The Broadway
before relocating into the Robinsons-May
building), and Sears
. The Dillard's store began as Diamonds, a regional department store chain owned at the time by Dayton Hudson as mentioned above; as part of its own expansion into the Southwest, Arkansas-based Dillards acquired the Diamonds chain in 1984. Numerous smaller tenants exist which are mostly clothing and gift shops. Some of the oldest independent shops still there include Knight Gallery (a tobacco and collectables store) and The Indian Market (Native-themed art and gifts). Across Tatum Boulevard is Sammy B's Pizza, another established fixture in the area.
The building that Macy's had originally occupied was leveled along with a few surrounding stores and a Cosco opened in its place in 2009. In the late 1990s Harkens Theaters closed the malls theater location. The theater sat vacant for almost a decade with Clair's using the original entrance as store space. In 2010 Picture Show Theaters renovated and installed stadium seating along with state-of-the-art digital projectors in the former theater.
Classrooms for Rio Salado Community College
are located within the mall.
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 northeastern Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. It opened in 1978 and is the hub of a master planned community called Paradise Valley Village. The entire project was developed by Westcor
Westcor
Westcor is a subsidiary of The Macerich Company and owns 18 shopping malls and plazas in the Southwestern region of the United States. It was founded in 1964 by entrepreneur Bob Teske. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Westcor is Arizona's leading mall developer...
, the leading shopping center developer in Arizona, which is now a unit of The Macerich Company
The Macerich Company
Macerich is a self-managed Real Estate Investment Trust headquartered in Santa Monica, California.It traces its antecedents to the MaceRich Real Estate Company founded in New York in 1964 by Mace Siegel and Richard Cohen, who combined their first names to name their company...
. Dayton Hudson Corporation, now Target Corporation
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, was an early investor in the project and owned the Diamonds department store chain, which was one of the original anchor tenants.
Despite having the same name as the town of Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley, Arizona
Paradise Valley is a small, affluent town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2005 Census Bureau, the population of the town was 14,558. Despite the town's relatively small area and population compared to other municipalities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Paradise...
it is several miles to the north of that community. The neighborhood of Phoenix containing this mall as well as several other major facilities (Paradise Valley Community College
Paradise Valley Community College
Paradise Valley Community College is a 2-year community college in Phoenix, Arizona. It is located in the North Phoenix neighborhood. A branch campus, , opened in August 2009 in the far northern section of Scottsdale, Arizona to serve this rapidly growing area...
, Paradise Valley High School, Paradise Valley Hospital, Paradise Valley Golf Course, Paradise Valley Park, etc.) is also called Paradise Valley.
Development
Paradise Valley Mall is just west of ScottsdaleScottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
. Much of the area's original development was spurred by that community, although the demographics of Paradise Valley Village have moderated somewhat over the years to be less upscale and more middle-class
American middle class
The American middle class is a social class in the United States. While the concept is typically ambiguous in popular opinion and common language use, contemporary social scientists have put forward several, more or less congruent, theories on the American middle class...
. During the 1980s and 1990s, new extensions were constructed, and shopping centers also opened on the ring roads. Paradise Valley Mall has a large park-and-ride stop for Valley Metro
Valley Metro (Phoenix)
Valley Metro is the unified public brand of the regional transit system in and around the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area, responsible for public transit.-About Valley Metro:...
buses. An elevated rail station, as part of the 1989 ValTrans proposal, had been slated for construction here, but the referendum was voted down.
Since the late 1990s, higher income shoppers became more inclined to shop at newer facilities such as Kierland Commons
Kierland Commons
Kierland Commons is a lifestyle center in Phoenix, Arizona directly bordering Scottsdale, Arizona. The mixed use development is centered around a "Main Street" feel and composed mostly of outdoor retail shops with residential units above and adjoining residential tower.-Development:The mixed-use...
and the Scottsdale Road/Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard corridor, which features power centers that cater to upscale shoppers. This has caused Paradise Valley Mall retailers such as Macy's to carry fewer high-end name brand goods and sell items more in line with a middle-income customer base. The owners also added improvements in 2001 intended to attract teenagers and young families, a move made necessary by it being the oldest mall in the area. Despite this decline, the mall remains very middle-class and has not yet declined to anywhere near the level of Desert Sky Mall
Desert Sky Mall
Desert Sky Mall is a large regional shopping mall in west Phoenix, Arizona. It is located on 75th Avenue and Thomas Road. The mall was developed and is managed by Westcor. It is anchored by Sears, Dillard's, La Curacao, Burlington Coat Factory and Cinema Latino. The Desert Sky Mall opened in the...
, Fiesta Mall
Fiesta Mall
Fiesta Mall is a regional shopping center in the U.S. city of Mesa, Arizona . Fiesta Mall is located west of Alma School Road, between Southern Avenue and the US 60 freeway.- History :...
, or Metrocenter Mall. Today Paradise Valley Mall is several times its original size, with a gross leasable area
Gross leasable area
Gross leasable area in the retail development industry is a term applied to shopping malls, lifestyle centers, outlet malls and other retail centers to indicate the amount of floor space available to be rented...
of 1222353 square feet (113,560.3 m²). The surrounding complex of stores has become a major regional retail center in Phoenix, drawing shoppers from all parts of the metropolitan area.
Future plans
Currently, most visitors arrive by car, but there are plans to extend the light rail to serve Paradise Valley Mall and other parts of the northeastern areas. Such improvements are not part of the current development phase and are not expected until the 2030s. Long-term plans include the construction of light rail further north along Tatum Boulevard as well as frequent "supergrid" bus service.Tenants
Major retailers include Dillard'sDillard's
Dillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
, JC Penney, Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
(formerly Robinsons-May
Robinsons-May
Robinsons-May was a chain of department stores operating in Southern California, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, previously with headquarters in North Hollywood, California...
, formerly occupied in a 180000 sq ft (16,722.5 m²). building which was previously The Broadway
The Broadway
The Broadway was a mid-level department store chain headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States of America. Founded in 1896 by English born Arthur Letts, Sr., who later went on to develop Holmby Hills, The Broadway became one of the dominant retailers in Southern California and the...
before relocating into the Robinsons-May
Robinsons-May
Robinsons-May was a chain of department stores operating in Southern California, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, previously with headquarters in North Hollywood, California...
building), and Sears
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
. The Dillard's store began as Diamonds, a regional department store chain owned at the time by Dayton Hudson as mentioned above; as part of its own expansion into the Southwest, Arkansas-based Dillards acquired the Diamonds chain in 1984. Numerous smaller tenants exist which are mostly clothing and gift shops. Some of the oldest independent shops still there include Knight Gallery (a tobacco and collectables store) and The Indian Market (Native-themed art and gifts). Across Tatum Boulevard is Sammy B's Pizza, another established fixture in the area.
The building that Macy's had originally occupied was leveled along with a few surrounding stores and a Cosco opened in its place in 2009. In the late 1990s Harkens Theaters closed the malls theater location. The theater sat vacant for almost a decade with Clair's using the original entrance as store space. In 2010 Picture Show Theaters renovated and installed stadium seating along with state-of-the-art digital projectors in the former theater.
Classrooms for Rio Salado Community College
Rio Salado Community College
Rio Salado College, known as "the college within everyone's reach," is the largest of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges and has never built a traditional campus...
are located within the mall.
Anchors & Majors
- Dillard'sDillard'sDillard's, Inc. is a department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dillard's locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri,...
(200,000 sq ft.) - JCPenney (148,840 sq ft.)
- Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
(145,580 sq ft.) - Old NavyOld NavyOld Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
(15,390 sq ft.) (Now closed) - Sears (125,000 sq ft.)
- Under development is Costco in the former Macy's location.