Westgate Square Shopping Center (Racine, Wisconsin): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox building
{{Infobox building
| name = Westgate Mall Shopping Center
| name = Westgate Square Shopping Center
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| building_type = [[Shopping center]]
| building_type = [[Shopping center]]
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'''Westgate Mall Shopping Center''' is a [[shopping center]] located at the southwest corner of [[Washington Avenue (Racine, Wisconsin)|Washington Avenue]] and [[Ohio Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|Ohio Street]] in [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]], [[Wisconsin]]. Opened in 1979, the shopping center is built on the former site of the [[Westgate Outdoor Theatre (Racine, Wisconsin)|Westgate Outdoor Theatre]]. The center's primary anchor was [[Shopko 27|Shopko #27]] from its opening until the chain's bankruptcy in 2019.
'''Westgate Square Shopping Center''' is a [[shopping center]] located at the southwest corner of [[Washington Avenue (Racine, Wisconsin)|Washington Avenue]] and [[Ohio Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|Ohio Street]] in [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]], [[Wisconsin]]. Opened in 1979, the shopping center was formerly known as '''Westgate Mall Shopping Center''' until 2005, and is built on the former site of the [[Westgate Outdoor Theatre (Racine, Wisconsin)|Westgate Outdoor Theatre]]. The center's primary anchor was [[Shopko 27|Shopko #27]] from its opening until the chain's bankruptcy in 2019. The secondary anchor space was occupied by a [[Randall's County Market]] supermarket from 1981 to 2001, and was split into smaller retail spaces after the store closed.


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 19:24, 14 April 2020

Coordinates: 42°42′59″N 87°50′16″W / 42.7165°N 87.8378°W / 42.7165; -87.8378

Westgate Square Shopping Center
General information
TypeShopping center
Location4801-4915 Washington Avenue
Racine, Wisconsin
Construction started1979
OpeningNovember 5, 1979

Westgate Square Shopping Center is a shopping center located at the southwest corner of Washington Avenue and Ohio Street in Racine, Wisconsin. Opened in 1979, the shopping center was formerly known as Westgate Mall Shopping Center until 2005, and is built on the former site of the Westgate Outdoor Theatre. The center's primary anchor was Shopko #27 from its opening until the chain's bankruptcy in 2019. The secondary anchor space was occupied by a Randall's County Market supermarket from 1981 to 2001, and was split into smaller retail spaces after the store closed.

History

Westgate Outdoor Theatre and Turn Style Family Center that once occupied the site of Westgate Mall Shopping Center, shown in 1966.

The site of Westgate Mall Shopping Center was first commercially developed in 1948, when construction on the Racine Outdoor Theatre, later renamed the Westgate Outdoor Theatre, began. The theater's owner, Spiro J. Papas, moved into the retail business in 1961 when he announced plans to build a discount department store north of the theater and facing Washington Avenue. The store building became home to Jewel Tea Company's first Turn Style Family Center outside of Massachusetts, which opened in 1962. After Westgate Cinema opened across the street in 1968, the outdoor theater's popularity declined.

Westgate Outdoor Theater ended the 1978 season without fanfare on September 18. After Jewel shut down all Turn Style stores that year, the Racine store was one of three that was not subleased to The May Department Stores Company to become a Venture store. Instead, ShopKo became interested in the location. In November, ShopKo announced that it was planning to renovate and expand the Turn Style building.[1] However, by February 1979, the company instead proposed tearing down both the store and the theater to build a new shopping center.[2] The theater was demolished in May 1979, shortly after the thirtieth anniversary of its opening.[3]

The general contractor on the shopping center's construction was Tonn & Blank of Michigan City, Indiana.[4] On September 8, 1979, a flatbed truck owned by James Cape and Sons stolen from the construction site was found being driven by a 15-year-old with no driver's license. [5] The center's primary anchor and first tenant, Shopko store #27, opened on November 5, 1979, before the rest of the L-shaped building had been constructed.[6] On January 30, 1980, Randall's Foods announced plans to build a 40,000-square-foot Randall's County Market supermarket at the mall, which would become Racine's largest grocery store.[7] On May 29, around the time that construction on the addition began, surveying equipment owned by Tonn & Blank valued at $1,600 was reported stolen from the construction site.[4][8]

The first store to open in the new addition was Fashion Plus, a women's specialty store which opened on July 28, 1980.[9] Racine's third Radio Shack store opened at the center on September 5.[10] The center's parking lot hosted the "$7 million car sale" during the weekend of September 25-27, 1980, in which seven local car dealers[note 1] joined together to sell over 500 cars.[11][12]The dealers successfully sold the majority of their collective inventory during the three-day sale.[13]

Shari's Card Shop, part of the Cherkinian's Card Shops chain, opened at the center in late October 1980.[14] The Gamut, a variety store selling sporting goods, school and office supplies, and arts and crafts, opened November 10.[15][16][17] Sound & Video Warehouse, an audiovisual equipment store, opened November 28.[18] Lamberton's, a local women's apparel chain, moved one of its locations from the Western Village Shopping Center to Westgate Mall after the Western Village lease ended on February 28, 1981.[17] The store opened at Westgate on March 3.[19] The first Sweet Temptations candy and ice cream store also opened at the center in March.[20] Pants Towne, a jeans store located at 424 Main Street in downtown Racine, moved at the end of March 1981 to Westgate Mall, doubling the store's floor space. [21]

The Randall's County Market supermarket had been hoped to open as early as December 12, 1980, but changes in the construction plans delayed the store's opening until the following spring. The store opened on March 25, 1981.[22] In addition to being Racine's largest supermarket, it was the city's first grocery store to introduce UPC barcode scanners.[23]

Business owners at the shopping center formed the Westgate Mall Merchants' Association in July 1981.[24] That month, Scene II moved to the center from 520 Monument Square in downtown Racine.[25] A Gloria Marshall Figure Salon opened in September.[26] In October, Billings Pianos and Organs moved to Westgate from Badger Plaza.[27] West Wind Book Store moved to Westgate from Western Village Shopping Center in July 1982.[28]

On August 9, 1982, a Racine resident fell and suffered serious injuries at the entrance to the Sweet Temptations candy store. The victim filed a lawsuit against the center and the store in January 1985, alleging that the store's entrance was dangerously elevated.[29] Pants Towne closed in November 1982 after filing for bankruptcy.[30] Fashion Plus closed in January 1983 after a similar bankruptcy proceeding.[31] Lamberton's closed shortly after on January 29.[32]

Two Westgate stores, The Gamut and Scene II, closed in June 1983.[33] Wisconsin's second Fashion Bug location opened on March 29, 1984, in the space formerly occupied by Lamberton's.[34] West Wind Book Store closed in October 1985.[35] Billings Keyboard Center of Racine closed on September 30, 1992.[36]

An interior view of the mall in 1986, taken by Chuck D'Acquisto of the Racine Journal Times, shows Payless ShoeSource and Fashionation.

In 1986, 19 of Westgate's 24 retail spaces were occupied. The shopping center's tenants at that time were noticeably trending toward small specialty stores. That year saw the openings of Wicker Warehouse & Jewelry in May, Silky and Sassy Lingerie and The Socks Factory in September, Living Well Lady Fitness Center in October, and Old Country Buffet in December.[37][38] In February 1987, Sophisticated Lady Figure Salon replaced the former Gloria Marshall Figure Salon.[39]

Fashion Bug moved out of Westgate and into the nearby Racine Centre development in 1989.[40][41]

Westgate Mall Shopping Center was officially renamed Westgate Square Shopping Center in 2005. While the Westgate Square name appears on the center's signage, [42]

The Old Country Buffet restaurant, alongside 45 other locations in the chain, closed abruptly and unexpectedly after a normal day of business on January 18, 2012. The closures were announced the following day as part of a bankruptcy action by the chain.[43]

After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Shopko announced in February 2019 that it would close its Westgate store. The store closed on May 19.[44]

Tenants

Current tenants

Former tenants

  • Shopko #27, opened November 5, 1979, closed May 19, 2019
  • Fashion Plus, opened July 28, 1980, closed January 9, 1983
  • Radio Shack, opened September 5, 1980, closed unknown
  • Shari's Card Shop, opened late October 1980, closed around 1983
  • The Gamut, opened November 10, 1980, closed late June 1983
  • Sound & Video Warehouse, opened November 28, 1980
  • Payless ShoeSource, opened 1981
  • Lamberton's, opened March 3, 1981, closed January 29, 1983
  • Randall's County Market, opened March 25, 1981
  • Sweet Temptations, opened mid-March 1981, closed unknown
  • Pants Towne, opened April 1981, closed November 30, 1982
  • Scene II, opened July 1981, closed June 26, 1983
  • Gloria Marshall Figure Salon, opened September 1981, closed between 1984 and 1987
  • Billings Pianos and Organs, later known as Billings Keyboard Center, opened October 15, 1981, closed September 30, 1992
  • West Wind Book Store, opened July 1982, closed October 1985
  • Fashion Bug, opened March 29, 1984, closed 1989
  • Wicker Warehouse & Jewelry, opened May 1986
  • Silky and Sassy Lingerie, opened September 1986
  • The Socks Factory, opened September 1986
  • Living Well Lady Fitness Center, opened October 1986
  • Old Country Buffet, opened mid-December 1986, closed January 18, 2012
  • Sophisticated Lady Figure Salon, opened February 1987
  • Mimi's Hallmark
  • Diane/Maries
  • Computer Paradise
  • Fashionation
  • Gingiss Formalwear
  • Hair Surgeon Designers
  • Sweats 'n Socks
  • Jalensky's Sports Headquarters
  • A B Gifts & Jewelry
  • Sally Beauty Supply
  • The Book Rack
  • Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles
  • Stretch & Sew Fabrics
  • One Price Clothing
  • Sunshine Sandwich & Sweet Shop
  • Color Copy Cats
  • United States Armed Forces Recruiting
  • Imaginations by J D Salon & Boutique
  • Carpet Clearance Center

Notes

  1. ↑ Pfankuchen, David. "ShopKo may buy ex-Turn Style store", Racine Journal Times, November 28, 1978, page 1D.
  2. ↑ Pfankuchen, David. "ShopKo key to development", Racine Journal Times, February 4, 1979, page 1C.
  3. ↑ Conrad, Fred W. "Goodbye to Westgate" (editorial), Racine Journal Times, May 8, 1979, page 6A.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Construction under way on Westgate supermarket", Racine Journal Times, June 3, 1980, p. 4C.
  5. ↑ "Police", Racine Journal Times, September 9, 1979, p. 2B.
  6. ↑ "ShopKo opens Monday", Racine Journal Times, October 30, 1979, p. 1D.
  7. ↑ "Supermarket planned: Biggest in city", Racine Journal Times, January 31, 1980, p. 6C.
  8. ↑ "Police", Racine Journal Times, May 30, 1980, p. 1B.
  9. ↑ "Westgate Mall store will open", Racine Journal Times, July 22, 1980, p. 4C.
  10. ↑ "New Radio Shack store opening", Racine Journal Times, September 4, 1980, p. 4C.
  11. ↑ Herman, Robert J. "Racine auto dealers joining for gigantic sale", Racine Journal Times, September 21, 1980, p. 3B.
  12. ↑ Trower, Ralph. "Tent sale without tent", Racine Journal Times, September 26, 1980, front page.
  13. ↑ "Dealers sell 267 cars", Racine Journal Times, September 29, 1980, p. 4C.
  14. ↑ "Card shop to open in Westgate", Racine Journal Times, October 19, 1980, p. 7C.
  15. ↑ "Another store signs for Westgate", Racine Journal Times, September 3, 1980, p. 4C.
  16. ↑ The Gamut advertisement, Racine Journal Times, November 15, 1980, p. 8A.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Lamberton's to move to Westgate", Racine Journal Times, November 17, 1980, p. 4B.
  18. ↑ "Sound store to open", Racine Journal Times, November 19, 1980, p. 4C.
  19. ↑ "Store opens at Westgate", Racine Journal Times, March 3, 1981, p. 4C.
  20. ↑ "Ice cream store to open", Racine Journal Times, February 17, 1981, p. 4C.
  21. ↑ "Jeans store at Westgate", Racine Journal Times, February 27, 1981, p. 4B.
  22. ↑ "Test before opening", Racine Journal Times, March 24, 1981, p. 1F.
  23. ↑ Pfankuchen, David. "Randall's supermarket will enliven retailing", Racine Journal Times, March 15, 1981, p. 1C.
  24. ↑ "Westgate businesses form association", Racine Journal Times, July 14, 1981, p. 4C.
  25. ↑ "Scene II plans move to Westgate Mall", Racine Journal Times, July 6, 1981, p. 4B.
  26. ↑ Advertisement, Racine Journal Times, September 20, 1981, p. 10A.
  27. ↑ "Bits of business", Racine Journal Times, September 24, 1981, p. 5C.
  28. ↑ "Bits of business", Racine Journal Times, July 27, 1982, p. 4C.
  29. ↑ "Courts", Racine Journal Times, January 4, 1985, p. 5A.
  30. ↑ "Bits of business", Racine Journal Times, November 23, 1982, p. 1C.
  31. ↑ Advertisement, Racine Journal Times, January 5, 1983, p. 7A.
  32. ↑ "Bits of business", Racine Journal Times, February 1, 1983, p. 4B.
  33. ↑ Pfankuchen, David. "Business bits", Racine Journal Times, July 11, 1983, p. 4B.
  34. ↑ Pfankuchen, David. "Business bits", Racine Journal Times, March 29, 1984, p. 1D.
  35. ↑ Advertisement, Racine Journal Times, October 26, 1985, p. 11A.
  36. ↑ Advertisement, Racine Journal Times, September 29, 1991, p. 10A.
  37. ↑ Blankenburg, Andy; Susan M. Zaeske. "Racine offers abundant business space; Malls continue trend toward specialization", Racine Journal Times, August 24, 1986, p. 3D.
  38. ↑ "Business Today: Racine County", Racine Journal Times, October 29, 1986, p. 4B.
  39. ↑ Advertisement, Racine Journal Times, February 23, 1987, p. 7B.
  40. ↑ Advertisement, Racine Journal Times, February 16, 1989, p. 5A.
  41. ↑ "Business Talk", Racine Journal Times, May 29, 1989, p. 7B.
  42. ↑ Burke, Michael. "Name change", Racine Journal Times, July 3, 2005, p. 3C.
  43. ↑ Burke, Michael. "Racine Old Country Buffet closed in bankruptcy action", Racine Journal Times, January 23, 2012.
  44. ↑ Burke, Michael. "Shopko now officially closed; optical department still open", Racine Journal Times, May 22, 2019.
  45. ↑ Advertisement, Racine Journal Times, September 21, 1980, p. 11A.
  46. ↑ Advertisement, Racine Journal Times, January 4, 1984, p. 8A.

References


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