History
The single-level mall first opened in 1977 on Plano Road, stretching between the intersections of Beltline Road and Spring Valley Road. The three adjacent corners of Beltline and Plano Road were also occupied by shopping centers. At one point, the mall had four full anchors: Sears, Dillard's, Titche-Goettinger (which became Joske's in 1979 and a second Dillard's location in 1987), and Montgomery Ward. It also featured a multi-screen movie theater.
By 1981 Collin Creek Mall—a much larger mall—opened in nearby Plano, but Richardson Square continued to be popular through the rest of the 1980s. Stores began rapidly closing in the early 1990s. By 1993, the property was at about 60% occupancy. Dillard's maintained both its store and the former Joske's location, which it would close in 1995.
A small free-standing strip of stores was built in 1985 on the outer corner of the property closest to Berkner High School. Tenants included a realtor and dry cleaning business, but most of the stores were never leased.
In 1998 the mall was remodeled, with many new tenants and a food court added, as well as a Barnes & Noble bookstore which occupied the space of half a dozen stores. The entrance corridor near Sears, formerly occupied by a movie theater, video arcade, and several food vendors, became a Stein Mart. Shortly thereafter Montgomery Ward filed for bankruptcy and closed its stores. The former Ward's pad was demolished and converted into a Super Target. Stein Mart, Oshman's, and several other small stores soon closed as well. The mall continued to operate until Garland's Firewheel Town Center opened in 2005. Dillard's, Old Navy, and Barnes & Noble all relocated to Firewheel.
Richardson Square Mall was demolished in 2007, except for Sears which remains in operation as a free-standing store. The loss of the mall was significant for the city, but, in 2006, with the announcement that Simon Properties would be renovating the site, city leaders expressed optimism that the new development would flourish.
Read more about this topic: Richardson Square Mall
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