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Where's the Shopping Since the Mall is So Changed?

Local stores, county malls and Crestwood Court--where there are new shops and arts outlets--draw holiday shoppers.

 

Where is everyone shopping this first Christmas that Macy's is gone from Crestwood Court--which most know as "the mall?" 

"I was just saying how sad it is that we can't just run up to Dillard's or Macy's. How I wish Crestwood would have a thriving mall again," said Giesela Pacheco, who works at Crestview Senior Living.

"I will be shopping at Kohl's and South County and West County malls," said Gary Miller, a Crestwood resident. "I think others will likely do the same. It's a real shame we lost our mall. Lots of memories there."

So area residents are shopping at Walmart or regional malls, but many are trying to keep some of  the money in the Crestwood and Sunset Hills areas.

"Kohl's has good pricing and inventory. Probably the best in Crestwood," according to Miller. "Sunset Hills has Home Depot which I go to. Best Buy and Gordmans probably do well as they are strategically placed next to Schnucks on Watson (Road.)"

"I don't shop much," said Jerrie Lape, of Sunset Hills. "But I'll probably go to West County (mall,) Webster and Kirkwood. There's also Target and Costco."

Another Crestwood resident, Jan Wenk, stays local.

"I have been going to Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lowes, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond in Sunset Hills," Wenk said. "My favorite women's store is Christopher & Banks, which used to be in Crestwood. I go to South County (mall) for that and J.C Penney. I also go to Kohl's and Marshalls in Sunset Hills and we still check out Sears in Crestwood too."

"I shop at Kohl's and Kirlin's," said Pacheco. "Also Target and Walmart or T.J. Maxx, but I end up going to Dillard's at South County and Macy's at West County and occasionally The Galleria."   

A majority of area residents seemed to long for the good old days of Crestwood Mall, which was originally built in 1957 as an outdoor mall. So-called baby boomers still remembered the soda fountain counter in Woolworth's.

Crestwood was added to a somewhat controversial website www.deadmalls.com in 2006. Between then and now Dillard's left the mall, Macy's came and went, but Sears--there since the origin of the mall-- is still there, along with Foot Locker, The Gap and Bath & Body Works.

Some find it hard to belive a community of about 12,000 residents with a median household income of $54,000 could lose its major shopping outlet. Most of the chain stores have left and the plaza's new concept is ArtSpace.  

Crestwood Court has rented stores to companies in the arts. Along with AMC Theater that continues showing current movies, there are small theater groups performing live.  

The mall now features an eclectic group of stores: small boutiques like Pashmina, a vintage resale shop, photographers, a bread counter and The Children's Illustrated Museum which is featuring Mary Engelbreit's holiday exhibit. Santa and the U.S. Postal Service office are still there. 

The newly-styled mall is still a source of income for the city of Crestwood, so when residents shop and buy there, the sales tax revenue returns to city coffers, which is a good thing.

Hoi Polloi is a term meaning the masses and common folk.

Related Topics: Christmas Shopping, Crestwood Court, Holiday, Holidays, Shopping, and South County Mall

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