Freedom Plaza (Dead April 2008)

We all remember my post last year about FREEDOM PLAZA?

It’s dead. The tornado that ripped through Suffolk yesterday demolished this place.

{photos from The Daily Press, and AP}

A Drive Down Newmarket Fair Mall/Newmarket North Mall

{Mutiply.com mirror}

Ok, this is bad video, and I should have cleaned my windshield first, but I ran out of wiper fluid. I did this on a whim.

This mall (in Hampton, VA) stopped being a mall in 1998-ish, and became Netcenter, an office complex. Only Sears and Piccadilly Cafeteria remains.

I had to duck my digital camera at one point because an Amsec worker was outside an entrance on his break.

I drove from the old Miller & Rhoads to the very last mall entrance before Sears.

Report: 6 Out Of 10 Americans Cannot Locate Payless Shoes On A Mall Map

Report: 6 Out Of 10 Americans Cannot Locate Payless Shoes On A Mall Map 

Kitchen’s Mini Mart, Ivor, VA (closed March 2008)

This place stopped providing gas months ago (the last price for gas there was 2.02).

In the last days this place was open, there was ALL sorts of old coke and pepsi stuff, like shelves and signs on the side of the store. I didn’t get a chance to get any.

Staples, Williamsburg, VA

I’ve been wanting to take a photo of this place forever.

This HAD to be a grocery store in the 1980’s. Like an A&P/Super Fresh/Farmer Jack
maybe. Any clues? All the stores around this area are very 1980’s as well. I need to go back and take photos of those. This location is on Richmond Road I think and is near the 347 entrances for William & Mary.

Question: The Shortest-Lived Stores in Your Area

What do you think was the shortest lived [chain] store(s) in your area? A store that seemed to open and then close months or a year or two later?

My three off the top of my head would have to be:

• Hills in Hampton, VA. Lasted from late 1995 to January of 1997. Still vacant, save for that one time the Salvation Army used it for a drop off place during the holidays.
• Frank’s crafts and nursery also in Hampton, actually not even a mile away from Hills. I think this place was seriously only open for a few months in late 2000. It was across from Coliseum Mall. I think the building is now a skate shop and a Panera Bread.
• FX electronics storein Virginia Beach, Hampton, and somewhere else probably. Apparently only lasted for a nanosecond in 1989.
• Now I don’t know, since I was a little kid (around six) when the chain left the Hampton Roads area, but how long did Bradlees stay in Hampton?

Stuff White People Like Finally Brings Up Target

Stuff White People Like FINALLY brought up Target — the most suburban, whitest, hates fat people, the NAACP even hates them — store. Even if it is an April fool:

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (PR Newswire) - The Target Corporation (TGT) has purchased the popular blog “Stuff White People Like” (http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com).

Starting April 1st, 2008 the nation’s second largest retailer will use the site as a promotional tool.