FORLORN RETAIL

If it's retail abandoned, dying, or about-to-be destroyed , my normally weak Girlie Shopping Gene gathers strength. I'm foolish to believe that America could possible ever care about preserving modern shopping centers, for people only care about sale items inside, not the architecture. Adaptive Reuse is plausible, but again, it's retail so there's a lack of broader vision.

	“WATSON WALGREENS” Built mid-1950s as a Katz Drugstore in Webster Groves, MO. Demolished. A new brick box version of Walgreen's is next door, and this was torn down for parking. This part of town is itching to tear everything down and build new.
	“JC PENNEY” Built 1931 in Wellston, MO, abandoned since 1976. The former JC Penney looks as if Le Corbu plopped down a building just outside St. Louis City. While taking this photo I met the owner; his fondest wish is to turn it into a history museum. See Wellston Modern!
	“NORTHLAND” Built 1955 in Jennings, MO. Demolition completed in fall 2005. The first major retail complex built in St. Louis County, it was an impressive example of Mid-Century Modern architecture. Attend the Northland wake.
	“CROSS KEYS” Built 1969 in Florissant, MO, demolished Spring 2003. This sign always reminded me of Batman. It just didn’t fit the homogeneous look of the new and improved shopping center, so it was torn down.

Images and text ©2007 Toby Weiss. Unauthorized usage is prohibited.