Back in 1979, my mom took me to the grand opening celebration of PV Mall to see the hot air balloons. Forty-two years later on closing day, my teenage son and I took a final walk through the vacant mall reminiscing.
I grew up at PV Mall. My mom took us there every fall for our annual back-to-school shopping trip. There even used to be a Walgreens inside so you could buy your school supplies after shopping for your school clothes! As a teenager, I spent nearly every weekend meeting my friends there to go window shopping, eat in the food court, play video games at the arcade, and watch movies at the old General Cinema Theatre. When I got my driver’s license, the first place I drove to by myself was PV Mall. As a parent, I also took my kids to PV Mall for back-to-school shopping and an annual Santa photo (that we continued through 2019 when they were 16, 18, and 25-years-old!). We also spent countless hours at the playground and went on the carousel more times than I count!
Unfortunately for PV Mall, over the past 5-10 years, indoor malls have become a thing of the past. Outdoor malls like Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter have become popular with shoppers leaving PV Mall with vacant stores, empty windows, and few shoppers.
In February 2021, the Phoenix City Council voted to permanently close the mall, paving the way for a redevelopment project that will transform the area into an outdoor development, with shops, offices, and apartments. Paradise Valley Mall, which is owned by Macerich, is partnering with RED Development for the project. RED Development is noted for its role in other projects in Phoenix, such as CityScape in Downtown Phoenix and the Shops at Town & Country near the Biltmore area. Officials say the 92-acre site will be developed in phases. The Phoenix Mesquite Library is not part of the redevelopment project. Costco and the mall parking garage will also remain.
We’re sad to see our neighborhood mall close, but excited for the redevelopment to begin! ~Lisa/Listings Assistant
