Park Central Mall
Encyclopedia
Park Central Mall was the first shopping mall
in Phoenix, Arizona
, located on Central Avenue and Osborn Road. Today it exists as a mixed use business park primarily occupied by regional administrative offices for Catholic Healthcare West
, and regional offices for UnitedHealth Group
. The property is currently known simply as Park Central.
was an early edge city
, which in time came to be known as Uptown Phoenix. Other developers criticized the brothers, believing a development out in the "dairy farm" area was futile, but development proceeded and the open-air mall was completed in 1957. When the mall opened, the primary anchors were a twin level Goldwater's
, twin level Diamond's
, and a J.J. Newberry
five and dime store. Goldwater's and Diamond's soon closed their older Downtown stores favoring their new midtown location in the mall. When J.C. Penney closed their downtown location in the mid 1960s the downtown area would never regain its status as the retail draw it once was.
As Phoenix quickly grew, the area around Park Central Mall saw an increasing number of mid-rise and high-rise office buildings built along Central Avenue and eventually became known as the central business district. Part of this mid 1960s transition included the new addition of a twin level J.C. Penney
store at the mall, and a covered parking deck on the northeast end of the property, to help combat the hot summertime temperatures.
Unable to compete with newer enclosed shopping malls, Park Central, still an open-air facility, had lost most of its major retailers by the very late 1980s. The first major anchor to leave was Robinson's
, which had purchased and converted the Goldwater's store years earlier, closing the location down just before the end of the decade. The second major anchor to leave was J.C. Penney, closing just at the start of the 1990s. Finally the last anchor, Dillard's
, which had purchased and converted Diamond's a few years prior, became a discount Dillard's Clearance Center and remained open in that format until the mid-1990s.
Conversion of the property began shortly after the last anchor closed and most vacant retail space was converted to leaseable office space. The Diamond's space at the west / back end of the old mall became the Arizona regional offices for Catholic Healthcare West, parent company of St. Joseph's Hospital
located on an adjacent property. Banner Health Systems
soon moved some administrative functions into what was Goldwater's, and finally the old J.C. Penney space became offices for UnitedHealth Group. The remaining smaller retail spaces began to fill with nearly a dozen small restaurants mostly located at the east/front end of the old mall (including Starbucks Coffee, Jamba Juice
and Qdoba Mexican Grill
). Other smaller businesses, such as a flower shop, a shoe repair shop, a vitamin/health supplements store, the primary customer care call center for cable service provider Cable One
and a branch location of Wells Fargo Financial, occupy the remaining storefronts. A Hampton Inn
hotel location sits on the southwest corner of the property adjacent to the Catholic Healthcare West offices.
Nearly all the mall's original buildings still stand, and most have only cosmetic changes.
.
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...
in 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...
, located on Central Avenue and Osborn Road. Today it exists as a mixed use business park primarily occupied by regional administrative offices for Catholic Healthcare West
Catholic Healthcare West
Catholic Healthcare West is a California-based not-for-profit public benefit corporation that operates hospitals in California, Arizona, and Nevada. As such, it is exempt from federal and state income taxes...
, and regional offices for UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is a diversified health and "well-being" company. Headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, UnitedHealth Group offers a spectrum of products and services through two operating businesses: United Healthcare and Optum. Through its family of subsidiaries and divisions,...
. The property is currently known simply as Park Central.
History
Park Central Shopping City as it was originally known was first envisioned by Ralph Burgbacher and his older brother, A.J. Burgbacher. The two men purchased the 46 acres (186,155.6 m²) Central Avenue Dairy in the 1950s. At the time, Phoenix was a much smaller city, and the mall's location, 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the state capitolArizona State Capitol
The Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, formerly housed the Territorial and State Legislatures, as well as various executive offices...
was an early edge city
Edge city
"Edge city" is an American term for a concentration of business, shopping, and entertainment outside a traditional urban area in what had recently been a residential suburb or semi-rural community...
, which in time came to be known as Uptown Phoenix. Other developers criticized the brothers, believing a development out in the "dairy farm" area was futile, but development proceeded and the open-air mall was completed in 1957. When the mall opened, the primary anchors were a twin level Goldwater's
Goldwater's
Goldwater's Department Store was a department store chain based in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded in Gila City, Arizona, in 1860 and moved to Phoenix in 1872. The store was founded by Michael Goldwater, the grandfather of U.S. Senator and 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.Goldwater's...
, twin level Diamond's
Diamond's
Diamond's was a department store based in Phoenix, Arizona.Originally named The Boston Store, it was founded in 1897 by Nathan and Issac Diamond, Jewish immigrants who had earlier begun a dry-goods mercantile in El Paso. Consisting of one store in downtown Phoenix, it was renamed Diamond's in 1947...
, and a J.J. Newberry
J.J. Newberry
J.J. Newberry's was an American five and dime store chain in the 20th century. It was founded in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, United States, in 1911 by John Josiah Newberry . J.J. Newberry had learned the variety store business by working at S.H...
five and dime store. Goldwater's and Diamond's soon closed their older Downtown stores favoring their new midtown location in the mall. When J.C. Penney closed their downtown location in the mid 1960s the downtown area would never regain its status as the retail draw it once was.
As Phoenix quickly grew, the area around Park Central Mall saw an increasing number of mid-rise and high-rise office buildings built along Central Avenue and eventually became known as the central business district. Part of this mid 1960s transition included the new addition of a twin level J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
store at the mall, and a covered parking deck on the northeast end of the property, to help combat the hot summertime temperatures.
Unable to compete with newer enclosed shopping malls, Park Central, still an open-air facility, had lost most of its major retailers by the very late 1980s. The first major anchor to leave was Robinson's
J.W. Robinson's
J. W. Robinson Co., Robinson's, was a chain of department stores operating in the Southern California and Arizona area, previously with headquarters in Los Angeles, California. Through the middle of the 20th century It was a division of Associated Dry Goods family of stores...
, which had purchased and converted the Goldwater's store years earlier, closing the location down just before the end of the decade. The second major anchor to leave was J.C. Penney, closing just at the start of the 1990s. Finally the last anchor, Dillard's
Dillard'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,...
, which had purchased and converted Diamond's a few years prior, became a discount Dillard's Clearance Center and remained open in that format until the mid-1990s.
Conversion of the property began shortly after the last anchor closed and most vacant retail space was converted to leaseable office space. The Diamond's space at the west / back end of the old mall became the Arizona regional offices for Catholic Healthcare West, parent company of St. Joseph's Hospital
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center is a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. It is currently operated by Catholic Healthcare West , one of the largest healthcare systems in the West with 40 hospitals in Arizona, California and Nevada. St...
located on an adjacent property. Banner Health Systems
Banner health
Banner Health is a non-profit health system in the United States, based in Phoenix, Arizona. It operates 23 hospitals as well as specialized facilities...
soon moved some administrative functions into what was Goldwater's, and finally the old J.C. Penney space became offices for UnitedHealth Group. The remaining smaller retail spaces began to fill with nearly a dozen small restaurants mostly located at the east/front end of the old mall (including Starbucks Coffee, Jamba Juice
Jamba Juice
Jamba Juice is a chain of smoothie restaurants, headquartered in Emeryville, California, with over 700 locations operating in 30 states, the Bahamas, Canada, Korea, and the Philippines. Over 500 locations are company-owned, with the remainder being franchised...
and Qdoba Mexican Grill
Qdoba Mexican Grill
Qdoba Mexican Grill , is a chain of fast casual "Fresh Mex" restaurants in the United States serving Mexican-style cuisine. The company is owned by Jack in the Box, having been owned and expanded by ACI Capital until 2003....
). Other smaller businesses, such as a flower shop, a shoe repair shop, a vitamin/health supplements store, the primary customer care call center for cable service provider Cable One
Cable One
Cable ONE is a United States cable service provider and subsidiary of The Washington Post Company, functioning as its own self-contained corporation within its parent company. The company's name and current focus dates back to 1997; prior to that time the company was known as Post-Newsweek Cable...
and a branch location of Wells Fargo Financial, occupy the remaining storefronts. A Hampton Inn
Hampton Inn
'Hampton Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Hampton by Hilton are the names of a brand of hotels trademarked by Hilton Worldwide. Most Hampton hotels are independently owned and operated by franchisees, though a few are owned and/or managed by the Hilton Hotels Corporation...
hotel location sits on the southwest corner of the property adjacent to the Catholic Healthcare West offices.
Nearly all the mall's original buildings still stand, and most have only cosmetic changes.
Anchor Tenants
- Banner Health Systems - Occupying the original Goldwater's
- Catholic Healthcare West - Occupying the original Diamond's
- UnitedHealth Group - Occupying the original J.C. Penny's
Light Rail
Park Central Mall has its own "Midtown Station" stop on the Valley Metro Light Rail systemMETRO Light Rail (Phoenix)
Metro Light Rail is a 32 km light rail line operating in the U.S. state of Arizona. Part of the Valley Metro public transit system, it serves the cities of Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. Construction began in March 2005; operation started December 27, 2008...
.