Hillcrest Mall
I wanted to tell the story about one of three malls that is no longer around... Hillcrest Mall. The location of it was in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Around here, the lone mall standing today that always got high praise (undue praise in my opinion), is Westgate Mall. Hillcrest Mall was a simple mall that harkened back to the 60s/70s in its design. It had a charm Westgate never had and never will have. This recollection is based totally on my memories. If you have any memories, remember any of the stores I've failed to remember, or possibly have any pictures, please share them! :-)
Hillcrest Mall was built in the 60s, but I'm not entirely sure. The floor plan was sort of a T shape. It was sort of a small mall which had a dated 60s/70s look, but let me tell ya, it was an awesome place! I have so many great memories of this place when my parents and I went there. I'll try to give you a visual through my description. I'll only tell you the stores of which I remember. I feel this mall's story should be told. Most all of these places were gone by the time it was demolished...
When you walked into Hillcrest, on both sides, you would find restaurants. The one on the right used to be a Razzberry's. It was a short entrance leading you to the center of the mall. Above Razzberry's, was my all-time favorite place in the mall... Corn Dog 7. I have many fond memories of my parents and I ordering a large lemonade which we would share on the car ride home. They remained in the mall until 1997. There was a Camera America above the restaurant on the left. From here, you could either go to the west wing, the east wing, or the extremely short north wing, which was really just an additional exit.
Hillcrest had old fashioned lighting and carpeted floors. You had two sets of stairs on both the east and west wings (one set on each side) you could use or a walk-up ramp in the middle. As you turn the corner to go to the west wing, you found a craft shop. On both sides of the beginning of the west wing, you'd find hot dog/hamburger stands. I'm sure the one on the left was once a 50's-type diner stand because there were 50's decorations still hanging inside from the ceiling. Both of these places had long since been gone at the time of the mall's closing. On up further on the west wing, you'd find mostly clothing stores. Among the stores on the left side, were a Jean Nicole and a KayBee Toy Store. On the right side, above the little snack stand I mentioned earlier, you'd find Jake's, then above that, you found Casual Corner. Above that, was an old style Radio Shack. Above that, there was another mall entrance/exit. Among the stores on the right side, above the entrance/exit hallway, you'd find the Community Center. At the very end of the west wing, you'd find one of the two main anchors, Dillard's. They left the mall in 1996.
Once you go back down to the center court (which was just a little stage with plants), you could go to the "north wing". Below the little snack stand leading to the north wing, was once a card/balloon shop that had long been gone. At the very end on the right, which was a very short distance, was a tuxedo shop, then you would find the exit. If I remember correctly, it was either on the north wing, or the east wing, you would find a long hallway that would lead to the offices and restrooms. I want to say it was on the north wing. Leading to the east wing, you would find a former Ray's Jewelers on the left, on the right, below Corn Dog 7, you would find what was called Victory Lane, which sold NASCAR apparel and memorabilia (it was the one of the last tenants to move in, but left almost a year before the mall's closure). As you enter the east wing, on the left you would see the former Sound Shop. On down on the left side, you found a Waldenbooks, then what was once a large women's shop. On the right, below Victory Lane, once sat a Freidman's Jewelers, then you found Wood's clothing shop, then Flicker's arcade, then a clothing store called emphasis (spelled that way). There was a small court down there at the end of the east wing where the coin operated kid rides were, as well as where the Christmas tree was placed every year at Christmas time. On the left, below the women's store, there was once a sports store there, which later became a temporary Halloween store. On the right, there was blank space below emphasis, then you would find a Hair Plus which had long been closed up. On the very end of the west wing, you'd find the oldest store in the mall (opened in 1961), as well as the second anchor, Belk's, which closed in 1997 sealing the mall's fate.
My fondest memories of this place were at Christmas time. Every year, as far back as I remember, there were three main attractions that I never got tired of. They were all located on the east wing. The Christmas tree, which was simple, but beautiful. Then there was a long big, kaleidoscope. You stooped down to look into it. But my favorite of all... the big gift box that had a bear that would peek its head out every 10 seconds. It was mechanical. It brings a tear to my eyes just thinking about it. I never got tired of them. They were there every year until the eventual demise of the mall in 1998.
My Dad and I were there very close to the end, I think it was the same month it closed. The mall had started to deteriorate in the early to mid-90s. The smaller stores started leaving mostly by the early to mid 90s. The jewelry shops, Woods, Flicker's, the snack shops, all left in the early 90s. Some of the places left in the late 80s and stayed vacant such as that place above Radio Shack and the tuxedo shop, and I think Sound Shop too. The restaurants I think closed up at the beginning of the 90s. Radio Shack hung on until I think 1996 or 1997. KayBee Toys closed shop in 1996 or 1997. Dillard's leaving really brought the downturn into a full-blown spiral. Belk's departure finished it off pretty much. Once it left in 1997, what few places were there started going away. By the closure in 1998, the only places that were left, were the craft shop, the women's store, and I think Waldenbooks. That was it. Tenants were told in 1998 to vacate the mall. The last time I was there, it had already been announced it would be torn down and would be replaced with a strip mall (which still exists today). I walked around one last time wondering how could such a wonderful place finally see the bulldozer. I miss that place beyond words today. :-(