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OT - McFarland Mall Memories
Posted on 2/23/21 at 1:08 pm
Posted on 2/23/21 at 1:08 pm
Saw that they're finally demolishing the remainder of McFarland Mall today. We lived in that area in the late 70's and early 80's, and I spent a lot of time in that mall. Saw the original Star Wars trilogy there, along with countless other movies over the years. Bought a bunch of records and tapes at Turtle's Records. Dropped a lot of tokens into the slots at Aladdin's Castle. Got a bunch of back-to-school clothes at Gayfers. Saw an old lady fall and break her hip at a square dancing exposition. Stood in the voting booth with my mom as she voted in the 1980 presidential election(she voted for Carter).
Posted on 2/23/21 at 1:13 pm to The Spleen
That saddens me as I have a lot of memories there too. Went with a dear sister in law to see Rocky III there and bought a lot of clothes there at Gayfers too. I live in Bham now but grew in Aliceville.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 1:26 pm to The Spleen
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Turtle's Records.
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Aladdin's Castle
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Gayfers
Those are some names you don't hear anymore
Posted on 2/23/21 at 1:35 pm to The Spleen
It's sad for some reason. I used to go to Gayfers all the time.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 1:54 pm to bamapoet
Remember seeing Close Encounters of the Third Kind there.
It was a dump in the 90's, can't believe it took this long.
It was a dump in the 90's, can't believe it took this long.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 2:13 pm to McGregor
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It was a dump in the 90's, can't believe it took this long.
Gayfers and the movie theater were the only things keeping it afloat in the 90's. Not sure when Dillard's moved in there. One of the last movies I saw in that theater was Titanic when I was home for Christmas. That was probably the last time I was in that mall as well.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 2:55 pm to The Spleen
I knew it well having grown up there.
Orange Julius
Orange Julius
Posted on 2/23/21 at 3:06 pm to The Spleen
I bought a lot of clothes at Gayfers as well as saw a lot of movies there in the late 60's and early 70's. The Pasquali's had some good sandwiches as well. The Morrisons was good.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 3:22 pm to JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
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The Morrisons was good.
I remember it being Piccadilly. My older brother said Morrison's moved to University Mall soon after it opened and Piccadilly moved in. Guess that was around 80 or 81.
Walking in that back entrance by the theater and getting hit with the smell of pizza from Pasquali's and popcorn from the theater is etched in my memory.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 6:10 pm to The Spleen
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Not sure when Dillard's moved in there
I think Dillards bought Gayfers.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 7:14 pm to The Spleen
Orange Julius was the BOMB
Posted on 2/23/21 at 7:24 pm to The Spleen
I’ve been in the Vieux Carre a time or two.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 7:34 pm to dirtsandwich
Worked at Spiller Pets in college
This post was edited on 2/23/21 at 7:34 pm
Posted on 2/23/21 at 8:36 pm to The Spleen
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Aladdin's Castle.
Is that the one with the entrance like a barrel? Was always magical to me as a kid.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 9:14 pm to MrMojoRisin
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Is that the one with the entrance like a barrel?
No that was Barrel Of Fun at University Mall.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 10:03 pm to McGregor
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It was a dump in the 90's, can't believe it took this long.
TJ Maxx had a lease there until just a couple of years ago, even though they had moved. Stan Pate couldn't demolish it.
Posted on 2/23/21 at 10:39 pm to auisssa
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Worked at Spiller Pets in college
Got my childhood dog from Spiller Pets, and grew up working at AJ's next door
Posted on 2/24/21 at 8:24 am to MrMojoRisin
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Is that the one with the entrance like a barrel? Was always magical to me as a kid.
There used to be one at Brookwood Mall in Birmingham....get an Orange Julius and then go play the KISS or the Elton John pinball machine at Aladdin's Castle. Chick-Fil-A was a big deal too since it was just this weird chicken place you could only get at the mall. This way, way before they even thought about franchising and the mall was the only place that had one.
Posted on 2/24/21 at 9:07 am to 14&Counting
I was so in love with those arcade style games, that I bought a standup style 60-1 machine off of eBay about 8 years ago from the closeout of a guy's huge inventory. I still have that machine, but hardly play it anymore.
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