tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post4600644958254091491..comments2024-03-21T12:57:00.928-07:00Comments on GR Retro: North Kent MallJef_Leppardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14975449121763741580noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-78296303551293700922022-06-15T19:30:48.284-07:002022-06-15T19:30:48.284-07:00Ancient dude commenting on March 11, I used to pla...Ancient dude commenting on March 11, I used to play at the Aladdin’s Castle at North Kent Mall many days a week from 1977 to 1985. You’re totally wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-50525258383123866672022-06-15T19:27:10.612-07:002022-06-15T19:27:10.612-07:00Holy Boomer! “Sam Goody” was that in 1965 or somet...Holy Boomer! “Sam Goody” was that in 1965 or something? In the 1980s it was most definitely an Aladdin’s Castle arcade near the entrance. Maybe try to imagine a mall changes over the decades?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-69561501421894245392021-09-01T14:31:45.846-07:002021-09-01T14:31:45.846-07:00Skipped school to see Star Trek III: The Search fo...Skipped school to see Star Trek III: The Search for Spock at The Movies at North KentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-8095831725417371922021-08-05T00:01:21.648-07:002021-08-05T00:01:21.648-07:00With all the weird sex comments above I thought I ...With all the weird sex comments above I thought I would add a little story about me and a random hookup I had a this mall. When it was open, maybe in 2000 I think, I had my cock sucked by some guy in the restrooms in the back of the mall. (Seriously). One of the only times I ever did anything public to this day. It was a trip. Jacob Traysonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-59223910798143260782019-11-15T22:36:32.385-08:002019-11-15T22:36:32.385-08:00Took the suggestion to go to Westwood mall in Jack...Took the suggestion to go to Westwood mall in Jackson. Definitely an identical twin to North Kent. Entire building outside (with the exception of the Walmart store) is identical to what north Kent looked like. Same entry pavilion, same exterior look. Identical Kmart anchor (except Westwood's is a JCPenney). Inside it looks like an exact copy. It's surreal. Looks like the north Kent mall never closed if you walk through it. It's insane and shockingly nearly every store is occupied and isn't a dead mall. GameStop, JCPenney, Bath and body works, hot topic, etc. It's a crazy busy mall. Sad north Kent couldn't have held on but at least it's twin I'd there for our memories. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-20392183983096200072019-07-11T23:17:08.051-07:002019-07-11T23:17:08.051-07:00Definitely used to go to the arcade in it's va...Definitely used to go to the arcade in it's various iterations. My mom worked at the Pretzel Peddler. I especially remember going to the card shows with my late grandfather... Also at Breton Village, and Eastbrook. Going to have to seek out those statues - I remember those from EARLY childhood. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06671515440215340680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-49319365142263589362018-11-20T17:39:30.259-08:002018-11-20T17:39:30.259-08:00Hey, does anyone else remember the hi-fi stereo st...Hey, does anyone else remember the hi-fi stereo store? My brother and I are reminesing and can't remember the nameAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-73713777253706366122018-07-28T22:04:04.704-07:002018-07-28T22:04:04.704-07:00I miss going to Aladdin’s castle while on my orang...I miss going to Aladdin’s castle while on my orange Julius fix. Pole position anyone?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10249046024903960884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-72443487770511488592018-05-24T14:49:20.992-07:002018-05-24T14:49:20.992-07:00God, so many memories from that place. My favorite...God, so many memories from that place. My favorite was the Pretzel Peddler. They would put your giant pretzel on a stick and dip it in nacho cheese. Also saw a Kenny Rogers impersonator a few times. Great memories!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12201164113305668321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-51755672190172482292018-04-26T20:26:48.730-07:002018-04-26T20:26:48.730-07:00Icarus was the best of the statues at North Kent m...Icarus was the best of the statues at North Kent mall.<br /><br />They took it down after water from the fountain started to corrode the wing. I have no idea what became of it.<br /><br />I also hope it survives somewhere.Russhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02130111492831019363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-57488884253426374632017-10-14T10:48:36.896-07:002017-10-14T10:48:36.896-07:00In the 70s and 80s, the Eastbrook Mall arcade was ...In the 70s and 80s, the Eastbrook Mall arcade was called "Someplace Else." Not sure when the name changed...At that time there was a large arcade in the Woodland Mall outlot next to Movies at Woodland called "Funway Freeway"phineas moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08335618918565569703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-13260411459706459122017-09-17T18:27:09.730-07:002017-09-17T18:27:09.730-07:00I ate pretzels from pretzel peddlers as a kid you ...I ate pretzels from pretzel peddlers as a kid you were next to Orange Julius.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06373577312605262182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-90391808614054997212017-04-30T18:47:51.309-07:002017-04-30T18:47:51.309-07:00Aladdin's Castle closed in 1991, because the M...Aladdin's Castle closed in 1991, because the Mall did not want to renew the 20 year lease.<br />I use to work at the store and was around when it closed for the last time at this MallAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-65599912263809177472017-02-27T09:51:55.779-08:002017-02-27T09:51:55.779-08:00I used to work at Aladdin's Castle from 88-89 ...I used to work at Aladdin's Castle from 88-89 and Sbarros after that from 89-93. Those were some of the best years of my life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-30085780034737080882017-01-03T17:04:34.016-08:002017-01-03T17:04:34.016-08:00I worked at Duba's!I worked at Duba's!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-22237435938154240772016-11-29T20:21:02.193-08:002016-11-29T20:21:02.193-08:00My dad was the scout/general manager for Sullivan&...My dad was the scout/general manager for Sullivan's baseball club. I miss games at Valley Field and road trips to Battle Creek to play Verona Barbershop or the Ferraris.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-47560586018404190102016-11-05T08:56:09.579-07:002016-11-05T08:56:09.579-07:00The Onion Crock The Onion Crock Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-58204646395639918022016-10-28T05:33:57.309-07:002016-10-28T05:33:57.309-07:00My husband and I remember Captain ships Potato chi...My husband and I remember Captain ships Potato chips and their home made dip. I'm pretty sure that was the name even though they were excellentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-83044810147297993122016-10-27T09:28:14.809-07:002016-10-27T09:28:14.809-07:00I used to like North Kent mall because it was quie...I used to like North Kent mall because it was quieter and less frantic than some of the others in town. I remember one night I wanted to go there, but Mom said it was too fare to go. We went out and ended up in Elgin Illinois!Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617429461307957797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-6854240889501107142016-09-26T18:00:00.202-07:002016-09-26T18:00:00.202-07:00Went to North Kent mall in the early 1980's wh...Went to North Kent mall in the early 1980's when I was a kid went to orange Julius Pretzel Peddlers good pretzels went to Kmart and ate in the Cafeteria of kmart herd Kmart is closing in December rip Kmart North Kent Mall 1974-2016 Lived in Grand Rapids in the early 1980's.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06373577312605262182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-10127830324890471832016-07-05T06:34:18.779-07:002016-07-05T06:34:18.779-07:00I have read about how the North Kent Mall has a tw...I have read about how the North Kent Mall has a twin, an identical mall in Jackson called the Westwood Mall. Went there a couple of weeks ago on a day off. Wow!!! Want to go back in time??? Pay a visit to the Westwood Mall, it's identical to the North Kent Mall. The big stone entrance is the same and everything. And although it didn't have the most foot traffic the mall was pretty full, hardly any closed stores. Walk in and let the memories wash over you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-40041561494331964942016-03-05T12:21:48.046-08:002016-03-05T12:21:48.046-08:00I went to all those arcades in high school. The Al...I went to all those arcades in high school. The Alladin's castle changed names to Nickelodeon back in the 90s and Nickelodeon used to be the arcade in Eastbrook mall before it changed names into Games People Play. Most people remember the arcade in North Kent Mall as Alladins Castle. Not that many remember it as Nickelodeon.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10404357911982022552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-34591891077025757642015-08-23T15:53:51.973-07:002015-08-23T15:53:51.973-07:00RIVER TOWN CROSSING MALL! Not Rivercity Mall - I...RIVER TOWN CROSSING MALL! Not Rivercity Mall - I getting too old!BioSphereMindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01319177557951975628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-64995504312315792332015-08-23T15:47:34.082-07:002015-08-23T15:47:34.082-07:00I was away from the Grand Rapids Area for five yea...I was away from the Grand Rapids Area for five years due to Military obligations - and only came home once on leave in early 1969 - not to return until late 1972 - so many changes took place I was totally flummoxed when I saw the NEW malls. The only one I remembered was Rogers Plaza Mall...and the original Eastbrook Mall and Woodland Mall was just under construction.... However - I did go to the Cinderella City Mall ,which took a full TWO and half days to get through it all, in Engelwood, Co... so what I found back in Grand Rapids paled in comparison. Yet, Our Malls manage to cling to life via new ownership's, investors, redesigns, changing with the times and what the buying public wants - whereas - the 3 FLOOR MEGALITHIC SUPER STRUCTURE that was once Cinderella City is no more, as it was razed to the ground in 1999. It couldn't maintain itself by being such a monster as it was. A 7000 car parking lot couldn't hold all of the shoppers cars during it's heyday. Competing smaller Malls killed it. <br />Personally, I am not big on shopping Malls as I prefer individual boutique stores or online...I really don't like crowds. I like a shop to have a unique atmosphere and what it is I am looking for, that will draw me back to it. I like casual shopping. I must have easy access from where I parked my car. I have a hunch online mega retailers like Amazon - will seriously chew away the need or purpose for big concrete buildings like malls in the next 20 years. My initial take on North Kent Mall when I first saw it was " This is IT? " You've got to be joking!" <br />RIVERCITY MALL to me is a little dwarf cousin of Cinderella City Mall! It makes me wonder just how long it'll survive - especially now that a Mega Retailers outlet-plaza has just been built at 131 and 84th. Birch Run Redux? I question the timing just now as we face a national financial calamity? BioSphereMindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01319177557951975628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5586072547795231876.post-74309298200416264422015-07-17T17:11:10.358-07:002015-07-17T17:11:10.358-07:00That is awesome...I'll have to pop in there so...That is awesome...I'll have to pop in there sometime just to get a receipt =)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com