Hanging Out at the Mall Washington Park Mall celebrates thirty years
passages
A few of our favorite shops from days gone by at Washington Park Mall. The mall celebrates 30 years this year.
When Washington Park Mall opened its doors in Bartlesville, the Summer Olympics were competing in Los Angeles, Madonna and Prince were topping the music charts and “Ghostbusters” ruled the silver screen. Homart Development Company, a subsidiary of Sears and the fifth largest shopping center developer in the U.S. at that time, built the mall in south Bartlesville on a large tract of acreage off U.S. Highway 75. The shiny new enclosed shopping center opened in August 1984 with Sears and Dillard’s Department Stores as anchors and a variety of specialty stores and eateries. It was a glory day for the mall with Corn Dog 7, Morrow’s Nut House and Cookie Co. providing sustenance to keep the shoppers going while they made the rounds to Coach House Gifts, The Athlete’s Foot, Streets and World Bazaar. Shoppers could withdraw cash from their account at Plaza Bank, than continue on at True Gospel, Sport Shack and United Department Store. For kids of all ages there was Aladdin’s Castle arcade and those who worked up an appetite shopping could dine in Luby’s
Cafeteria. The mission when the mall opened 30 years ago was pretty much the same as it is today. “Washington Park Mall was designed to serve as a central gathering place where the Bartlesville community could enjoy an unparalleled shopping and social experience,” says Karen Miller, general manager of Washington Park Mall. “We take great pride in the fact that for 30 years the mall has been an important part of the fabric of the Bartlesville community.” J.C. Penney joined the mall in 1986 with an expansion that grew the shopping center to 356, 691 square feet. As the years rolled on, a movie theater was added, along with three prominent sit-down restaurants – Garfield’s Restaurant and Pub, Buffalo Wild Wings and Billy Sims BBQ. In 2004, the mall began establishing permanent memorials for area veterans. The Wall of Honor recognizes those who have served our country. There is a bronze sculpture of infantry soldiers crafted by artist John Free, Jr., a model of the U.S.S. Oklahoma created by maritime artist James Flood and an A-4 Skyhawk displayed
at the mall. Washington Park Mall also regularly hosts family-friendly, community-based events throughout the year which provides families with the opportunity to spend quality time together at concerts, art shows, or a picture with Santa Claus during the holiday season. The mall is also home to an annual senior fair and Project Graduation’s all night party for Bartlesville High School graduates. The mall was built through the efforts of Phillips Petroleum Co., to provide more shopping options for its employees, according to Miller. But the retail center has always served a much larger population. As the only enclosed mall within a 40-mile radius, Washington Park Mall serves Washington, Osage and Nowata Counties, as well as southern Kansas and parts of northern Tulsa County. While stores have changed throughout 30 years of operations, the mall has consistently remained an excellent option for retail therapy in Bartlesville. JULY 2014 | Bartlesville Monthly
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