South Towne Mall

South Towne Mall

Built in 1988 (?), Southe Towne Malle was an investment gamble. Built on what was then miles of nothing miles from anything, the optimism of the project was provided by commitments from the department stores ZCMI and Mervyns. Or maybe it was just ZCMI. Anyway, years passed without a single customer entering the place. Retail space was available for nearly nothing, and a parade of merchants passed through for limited stints hawking this or that item of questionable desirability and legality.
The investors would not be deterred. Sweaty, tearful nights were been spent agonizing over the seemingly endless waves of financial loss, but then there was a breakthrough:
The Carousel.
Wedged into the food court between Orange Julius and Hot Dog on a Stick, the carousel promised hours of gleeful post-meal rotation for one and all.

It worked.

Now that place is kicking, and so is everything else down it that former dustbowl. Viva Sandy!