Locals reminisce as St. Clair Square celebrates 50 years
Ah, the mall. Growing up, we didn’t call it “St. Clair Square.” To me it was, and still is, “the mall.”
My parents used to take my favorite brother and me to the mall. Dad would wait with us as we played in the mall’s giant planters and fountains while Mom shopped for clothes. Yes, younger readers, I said fountains.
St. Clair Square originally had a concrete oasis at its center, with fountains and planters. There were tall palm trees that started on the lower level and reached up toward the ceiling above the upper level.
Flooring throughout the mall consisted of red brick tiles. Steel and wood beams held huge round light fixtures. The space was a lot darker than the more brightly lit mall we know today.
The mall had many restaurants (not just fast food, either), stores that are long gone or have changed drastically over the years, an arcade, and much more.
There are so many memories of St. Clair Square. Fifty years of memories, in fact.
Famous-Barr was the first store at St. Clair Square, opening on Oct. 29, 1973. The mall part of the development opened on Oct. 31, 1974.
I wasn’t there at the time; however, plenty of others were, and they do remember those early days.
I asked members of several community Facebook groups to share their memories of St. Clair Square, and they didn’t disappoint.
I miss the mall’s aesthetics. It had that huge center court fountain that flowed down into a reflecting pool, with stepping stones you could walk across, as well as those giant palm trees on either side of the fountain. I miss that smaller fountain in front of Dillard’s (Stix) as well. That sunken area in center court though, totally looked amazing before its first remodel in 1992. – Jim Clarida
My mom and I were shopping at Famous-Barr the very first day they were open. I had a broken leg and was on crutches, but we were not going to miss it for anything. – Jan Velayas
I was a freshman in high school when Famous-Barr opened at the mall. That was the first store to open and I was amazed at how large it was and all the merchandise they had! I had never seen anything quite like it before. Loved the open spire you could look up into at the center of the store. – LaDean Goodwin-Scheurer
I cut the ribbon with Mayor Moody to open the mall. I ran across those newspaper clipping the other day. I worked in Weisfelds Jewelers. – Debbie Manning (Note: Manning was Debbie Braden, Miss Fairview Heights, at the time.)
The years following the opening of St. Clair Square saw the openings of Sears on April 29, 1975, and J.C. Penney in January 1976. On April 23, 1979, the fourth department store, Stix Baer & Fuller, opened. (Dillard’s bought Stix and changed the name in 1984.)
There were so many stores throughout the mall, some of them I forgot or didn’t even know about until others started sharing their favorites.
Stix and Famous-Barr restaurants and Olga’s. Sears, the nail salon upper level just inside mall entrance. I could go on but these are the things I miss the most. – Dolores McCullough
Pam Johnson
–
Nagel
The Record Bar! Coolest store in the mall! Many great memories, a lot of music & concert tickets. One of my displays at the store. It scored me free concert ticket! – Judy Zee Natural Wonders store was also one of my fav! I had gotten a wooden rain stick. – Monica Stier Remember a Sees Candy and a Candle store across from Circus World. – John Poole
Doherty
– Lourdes
– Tim
Stephanie Haisler
Oh the poster shop, Prints Plus? I used to buy a poster on occasion and dream of becoming rich so I could buy the big framed ones to put in my future fancy house. – Mary Kitley
MEMORABLE EATS
Before food courts became trendy at malls, restaurants were spread throughout St. Clair Square, including some inside the department stores.
Many of the memories shared on Facebook mentioned restaurants. There were many mentions of Olga’s Kitchen, York Steak House, and the French onion soup at FamousBarr’s Scandia Restaurant.
Olga’s Cafe was my family’s favorite. I imagine I can still smell the French onion soup from the Famous cafe! – Dee Dee Hughes Ligibel
– Donna Gutierrez
The Famous-Barr restaurant for French onion soup or shrimp salad in toasted cheese bread. – Kathleen Burch Love shopping at Famous-Barr and dining at the restaurant and having their famous French onion soup. And eating at Olga’s restaurant!!! Orange julius was another one – Rita Smiley
The Orange Bowl! And Burger Chef! … For five bucks I went and had lunch with my girlfriends and bought toffee covered peanuts at the Sears candy counter. – Tracy Dillon
We would arrive at 10 a.m., eat Famous-Barr’s French onion soup at lunch. Olga’s for dinner then leave mall at 10 p.m. There were that many stores to keep us entertained that long. One other place was a for sure stop was Aunt Annie’s pretzel. – Bev Williams
Yocks
– Terry
When I was little, my family ate at Hardee’s (formerly Burger Chef), which was located where you’ll now find Victoria’s Secret. I always liked sitting by the brick wall that was just taller than the tables. We could sit and watch people as we ate.
AMPLE EMPLOYMENT
Plenty of jobs were available at St. Clair Square.
In the 1990s, I had friends at Sears and Dillard’s. I worked in the juniors department at J.C. Penney.
Honestly, they should’ve just kept my paychecks with all of the clothes I bought with my employee discount. That was more than 25 years ago – I still “mall fold” my clothes at home and straighten while I clothes shop.
I met my husband there. I was the store manager for The Gap and he was the mall’s assistant GM. We now have two daughters and just had our 20th anniversary. – Sarah Baum Snow
I worked at Glik’s and Glik’s for guys in the 80’s. Aladdin’s Castle, Swenson’s Ice Cream and chocolates from Sears counter were break time favorites. – Cheryl Forneris
–
Nikki Steiger
Working at Saturday Matinee was so much fun. Getting to talk about movies all day … didn’t seem much like work at all. – Joseph Little
I worked at Riley’s Coffee and Fudge, just outside of Penneys. I absolutely LOVED working there!! The people watching was the best, and the friends I worked with created lifelong memories!! – Shanna Loness
Ludwig Aeolian – I worked there, taught organ lessons. The employees stood at the entrance and played music, so much fun. – Cindy Lea Walters
Ruger
– Cindy
– Melissa that are questionable.
If you do get a questionable phone call, email or pop-up, hang up or exit out of it and verify the information directly with the relevant agency. For example, if you get an email appearing to be from your insurance company, call your local agent or find a good phone number for the company outside
– Diana
Mitchell
Worked at Stuart’s 1980 to 1982. There were two Stuart’s. I was in the bigger one near Olga’s. A lot of fun working there and a lot of good memories. – Mary Poirot Kerr
– Paula Harry-Shinn
I was one of the first employees at Sears. I worked during the placement of fixtures and displays before the store opened. – Lynn Schwarz Haas
I helped open the JC Penny store. Set up the cosmetic department. Met my husband at the perfume counter. We celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary this past January. – Santha Jepson Jackson
OTHER MEMORIES
Some memories of St. Clair Square weren’t just about the places we shopped, worked or ate.
In high school, my girlfriends and I would hit the mall on Friday nights in hopes that someone’s crush would be there with his friends.
During our first year of college, one friend was home for Christmas break. She and I hit the mall and had a moment of silliness when we ran around KayBee of the email to confirm its legitimacy.
Fillback said that sometimes scammers call pretending to be the police department. They say they’re a police officer with a warrant for you and that if you don’t do what they ask they’ll come to your house.
“If you get a call like that, it’s a scam. If we
My first concert – are you all ready for it – “The Bay City Rollers.” Yes, they played inside the mall. – Shirley Rouggly
I went to see the Bay City Rollers and almost got crushed in the crowd of screaming girls. – Dee Dee Hughes Ligibel
In 1975 or ‘76, the Bay City Rollers (‘70s boy band) signed autographs at the mall. We donned our groupie plaid and hopped a Bi-State bus from Main Street. – Kathy Bretsch
Rick Willard
– Deborah R. have a warrant for your arrest and we know where you live, we’ll come knock on your door, and we’ll be in uniform,” he said.
“You have to look out for those high-pressure kind of things where somebody’s demanding that you get money right away, that you don’t tell anybody,” Fillback added. “Those are all signs that
St. Clair Square celebrates its 50 anniversary later this year.
According to Senior General Manager Michael Hagen, the mall’s marketing team is already making big plans that include special events, giveaways and more.
St. Clair Square mall is located at 134 St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. (Individual store hours may vary.)
For more info, call 618632-7567, visit stclairsquare.com or follow the Facebook page. basically somebody’s trying to scam you.”
He also said you shouldn’t give your personal information — like account numbers, social security number and address — to anybody that you have not solicited on your own.