An extant asset
Apple Blossom Mall is another one of those retail destinations that I've never had the pleasure of viewing in person. I picked up this mallmanac in a western Virginia visitors' center sometime in the late eighties.
Apple Blossom Mall Mallmanac ca. 1987. View the full PDF version here.
As far as buildings of my own design go, I'm a stickler for clean lines and standard flections, however the layout of this structure has always fascinated me. At a time when enclosed facilities rarely deviated from the basic dumbbell, L angled or cross templates, this one had an abundance of odd corners and an overall unconventional footprint. It seemed to be a unique little place.
-UPDATE- Apple Blossom Mall lease plan ca. 2011. View the full PDF version
here.
Apple Blossom Mall opened in 1982 in the small northwestern Virginia town of Winchester. JCPenney, Leggett and Sears served as the opening anchors with a small six screen Manos Cinema placed near the main entrance. They were joined by eighties stalwarts including Benetton, Kinney Shoe and Tape World.
-UPDATE- 1 & 2- Apple Blossom Mall’s original entrance. (Source for both) 3- The Belk entrance. (Source). 4- The new main entrance to the mall. (Source) 5- The JCPenney interior entrance. (Source) 6 to 8- Scenes along the main concourse. (Source for all)
During the first couple of decades of Apple Blossom Mall’s existence, very little has changed. Leggett was converted to a Belk upon their takeover in the nineties while the cinemas converted from a Manos Cinemas to the AMC Classic cineplex today.
-UPDATE- 1- Apple Blossom Mall Mallmanac ca. 2014. View the full PDF version here.
-UPDATE- 2- Apple Blossom Mall Mallmanac ca. 2017. View the full PDF version here.
Simon, the mall's owner, announced a "lifestyle" redevelopment for the site, but no plans were ever finalized nor any work ever carried out, leaving the mall to remain in its traditional, enclosed state. The owners are presently investing in an extensive renovation for the Apple Blossom Mall, so, hopefully, this is a positive indication that Simon has some faith in the viability of the complex in its extant format.
-UPDATE- Apple Blossom Mall lease plan ca. 2021. View the full PDF version here.
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