Hi! I am from Laredo, TX and I recently came across this website, which I really enjoy! I had no clue there were other people, who like me, had a great interest in "defunct malls," so to speak, and in particular with their architecture and interior design.
Speaking of dead malls, Laredo has it's own dead mall -River Drive Mall which was on the banks of the Rio Grande River, facing Mexico. Unfortunately enough, I have been unable to find a photo(s) of it. I am doing some local searching. I know the mall opened in 1970(1); Mall del Norte (the surviving mall) opened in 1977 in north (back then) Laredo thus driving out many of the big retailers from River Drive Mall. River Drive Mall was doing fairly well into the late '80s. The second biggest peso devaluation really hurt this mall and struggled to survive in the '90s, finally closing it's doors sometime early 2000s. It was bought in 2005 (?) by some company in California that was suppose to make out of it a brand new shopping center called El Portal. The renovations were made to the building but the project never materialized because of a fall out between the contractors and the City Council. The project was put on hold, so the building now stands as a white elephant. I don't know if the River Drive Mall sign (that also had a digital time clock) still stands there.
At River Drive Mall, you could find JCPenney's, Frost Bros., Kaybee Toys, Woolworth, Bealls, Orange Julius, Chick-Fil-A, a retro McDonalds (I used to love their wallpaper with silver and green leaves), arcade places, kiddie rides, and a very cool court yard, as well as some local department stores and even a local grocer - Santos & Garza, who were a pre-version of Wal-Mart. They sold everything from food items, clothing, books, toys, guns, and more. I am looking for some pictures that my mother took of my brother and me at this mall when I was about 3 or 4 years old back in 1985. I remember there was also a very beautiful, tall fountain of a nude woman holding a vase and water came out from it; there was also a "tunnel" that connected the mall - the tunnel was underneath a street. The kiddie rides could be found there. The interior deco theme was very earthy 70's - the colors were very mute: brown, green, light yellow, orange, etc. It had some wood paneling, hanging plants, a couple of small fountains at both ends, and mosaic floors and benches, along with retro fixtures. The breezeways were great; they offered a beautiful view of the Rio Grande River; it was beautiful when it rained.
As soon as I can find some photos, I will submit them, but if anyone has any pics or more info about this now-gone place, it would be awesome if they could share. I would be highly interested.
About Me
- Lange
- Laredo, Texas, United States
- "More than meets the eye...and no, I am not a transformer"
You have not idea of how much I'm fascinated with the lines you wrote about Laredo's River Drive Mall.
ReplyDeleteAll the thing you described I remember in my mind as a dream: the retro McDonalds!!.. yes, How can I forget it?... I remember I met the mexican actress Angelica Vale there maybe in 1988-89, she wrote an authograph for me that I stll have. She was eating a Big Mac!!..hahaha
I remember Orange Juliuos too!!---love the chilli-dogs. And I remember KBTOYS, when Masters of the Universe were the toys of the moment. I was not sure, maybe had the idea, but not sure that River Drive had a JC Penney, buy according to you ...yes!! I remember a lot of chinesse stores too.
All I wrote above is from the 80's, Yes, my parents used to take my brother and me to go shopping to Laredo on summer vacation. We are from Morelia, and I still turn nostalgic remembering those days. We still visit Laredo, and when go to Downtown we park in the River Drive parking lot. The last time we went (2 years ago) was completly closed.
I'm nostalgic now from reading about some memories I have from my chilhood.... love Laredo, love shopping.
One last thing ... On 1985 I was 4 too!!
Muchos saludos desde Morelia, México
Glad to hear that. Sorry it took long to reply, was just swamped with work. Anyhow, I think many of us miss that mall. It had character, unlike Mall del Norte now a days. When it opened, it was very nice; I still remember it's original look, but in the past ten years, in their efforts to "renovate" they have made it bland. Nothing interesting or attractive about it. River Drive Mall just had so many interesting spots and corners. I loved it! My mom found some old photos of my bro and I when we were young and that she took at the Mall, I just need to get them from her and post them. Thanks. Keep writing.
ReplyDeleteHi!! ... sorry for not wrinting, I lost this page. Is really good to know you have pictures of the RiverDrive Mall, if you can share it I will be fascinated with the memories. I went to Laredo the past march, sadly the owners of the mall keep it closed, and you can see no activity of remodelation or something. I just visited the Fallas-Paredes Store, and that store is like a flashback to the 80's, the walls, the floor ... wow!! love it!
ReplyDeleteThank's for answering, lets keep wrinting!! hehe ;)
I'm the same, rolisjr" and "chandlerbing15"
ReplyDeleteI'm doing a project on this mall and was wondering if someone can give me details or information about the inside. Things such as, how it looked, where certain stores were located, how you walked through the mall, if it was a continuous type hallway or did you have to go outside to get to the other stores. Where the food court was located, where the arcade was, things like that. If anyone can help with this information please :)
ReplyDeleteHello, I remember that at the entrance to the Santos Store there was a bar where breakfast was served. The store was a world of groceries and indeed, they also sold firearms. In front of the McDonalds was Aladdins Castle, which had arcade video games. Kay B Toys was the number one toy store in the United States, before the arrival of Toy R Us, in that toy store I bought N scale trains, from the Bachmanns brand. At that time, it was 1988, cost 2.50 dlls the wagon and 3.50 dlls the locomotive. I remember the Television station with a window to the central aisle. At one end JC Penney and on the other there was a store called Cindy & Ricardos, of clothes. There was an electric ladder. I had some delicious burgers at Orange Julius and it was the first time I saw the wavy fries, which were only sold there .. !! Good memories of that place.
ReplyDelete