PHOENIX — The final days of the building that housed Arizona's first two-story mall are here.
Demolition on Metrocenter Mall is set to begin late this month or early in September.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Le decimos cuándo se demolerá el Centro Comercial Metrocenter
The mall first opened back in 1973 as the first two-story mall in Arizona. It had five department stores and was the first in the state to host a movie inside.
"It had good memories, but it's time to go," Charlie Kisselburg previously told 12News. "It will be good for everybody to close it and knock it down."
Kisselburg told 12News he'd been shopping at the mall since the 1980s. He now owns a small business nearby and said the mall's closure is impacting the shop.
“Less people, less foot traffic," Kisselburg said.
The mall was notably used for several scenes in the 1989 film "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure."
In November 2022, the Phoenix City Council voted to spend $850,000,000 to replace the empty mall with a walkable village.
The developer, Concord Wilshire Capital and TLG Investment Partners with Hines, released designs that include 2,600 multifamily homes and 150,000 square feet of commercial, retail and restaurant space.
People living nearby said they're looking forward to seeing those plans come to life.
"I think it will be better for the business if they finally put apartments there, better to get more customers and help all the businesses," Leanna Howell said.
Demolition was supposed to begin last summer but a City of Phoenix spokesperson told 12News there was more environmental and remediation work needed before demolition could begin.
Once things finally get moving, Kisselburg said he thinks the city's reimagined plan for Metrocenter Mall will improve the entire area.
The new development will open in phases, according to the City of Phoenix. The first phase is expected to open in 2026.
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