Arlington, TX

Demolition crews razed the Festival Marketplace today. The demolition will make way for a $66 million business park development. Phase I of the Pioneer 360 Business Park construction will include 1.3 million square feet of office and warehouse space which will cost around $55 million. Phase II will include a $10 million redevelopment of the Montgomery Ward site.

The mall was better known to us Arlington old-timers as the Forum 303. The Forum, built in 1970, featured an ice skating rink and anchor stores Dillard’s, Montgomery Ward and Wilson’s (which later became Service Merchandise). My family did plenty of shopping at the Forum when I was growing up and I had my photo taken with Santa there most every Christmas. I remember the soda fountain at Saturday’s where you could order up a “suicide” made with every soda they had, and even chocolate syrup. I shopped for my clothes at Stuart’s as a teen. During the early 80’s it became the premier hangout for junior high students with the Forum Fair arcade and the AMC movie theater.

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As I mentioned yesterday, you can catch fireworks at the Lake tonight during the “Light Up the Lake” celebration.  Tomorrow night they’ll be lighting up the Ballpark in Arlington following the Rangers game against the Angels.  You can go to the game or just park near the stadium and enjoy the show.  We usually grab a spot in the southeast corner of the Six Flags Mall parking lot and have a great view.  The game starts at 7:35 so fireworks will probably begin sometime around 10:00, but you better find a spot to park well before then.  Tickets for the game start at $3 for kids and $6 for adults. 

Here is a list of other celebrations in the Metroplex: (more…)