Mall Development
Indian Mall opened in either 1967 or 1968 as a shopping destination for Jonesboro and northeastern Arkansas. It was also the second mall in the state (the first being Phoenix Village Mall in Fort Smith). Indian Mall derived its name from the name of nearby Arkansas State University's mascot.
The mall first opened as a small shopping center with Blass (a chain owned by Dillard's; the store was later re-branded Dillard's), TG&Y, Sears, and a supermarket called Stimson's. The mall sustained heavy damage during a series of tornadoes that struck the city on May 27, 1973. J. C. Penney was added in 1976. TG&Y closed in the 1980s; Dillard's then moved its men's wear and home goods to the former TG&Y space. The supermarket space was converted to a food court in the 1980s as well.
Indian Mall was used to host various events including athletic team appearances and signings as well as fundraisers for different organizations across the state and country.
In 1998, shortly after the Westside Middle School massacre, Indian Mall received significant press coverage, as the location where Rev. Phillip McClure, a local pastor, started ministering to people.
Until 2006, Indian Mall was the only mall serving northeastern Arkansas. It featured a variety of national chain tenants, including The Gap, Waldenbooks, Sam Goody, KB Toys, and Dollar Tree.
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Famous quotes containing the words mall and/or development:
“A father ... knows exactly what those boys at the mall have in their depraved little minds because he once owned such a depraved little mind himself. In fact, if he thinks enough about the plans that he used to have for young girls, the father not only will support his wife in keeping their daughter home but he might even run over to the mall and have a few of those boys arrested.”
—Bill Cosby (20th century)
“Men are only as good as their technical development allows them to be.”
—George Orwell (1903–1950)