06.18.2024

Today’s Forecast

93º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:14 a.m. | Sunset 9:03 p.m.

🎶 Let’s go to the mall, everybody

Dead malls: You could shop... until they dropped

A yellowing photograph that shows the interior of a mall. In the center is a square-shaped water feature with water shooting out the top. Two people stand by the fountain talking. To the left, three people are walking or standing near a store labeled "Graves Cox."

Menswear store Graves Cox was one that shoppers could peruse at Turfland Mall in its heydey. | Photo via “Wonderful Lexington Kentucky,” courtesy Lexington Public Library

Shopping malls across America have been left in a state that not even Paul Blart could save, and Lexington is no exception.

Known as “dead malls,” these abandoned, dilapidated, or mostly vacant shopping centers have become a subject of fascination — especially thanks to the online popularity of liminal space aesthetics.

Let’s go to the mall

Turfland Mall was once in its heydey.

In its early days, the mall was known as the largest regional shopping center built in Kentucky. A 1969 tourism brochure touted that “the entire mall is carpeted” to “further enhance the luxurious feeling” of the shopping center, and locals may remember shopping at stores like Montgomery Ward or McAlpin’s.

A ~15-minute drive east is where the 428,000-sqft Lexington Mall once stood. After opening in 1975, the mall housed shops like County Market, Louisville furniture store Heleringer’s, and popcorn retailer the Karmelkorn Shoppe. In 2005, however, the mall’s last store — Dillard’s — closed.

Back to the future

Today, the site of Turfland Mall’s former Dillard’s serves as a UK Healthcare outpatient center. Most of the mall’s remaining space was demolished in the mid-2010s.

Lexington Mall is now a distant memory; in 2010, Southland Christian Church purchased the mall property and redeveloped the space, including demolition.

Though these malls have changed, Lexington still has a number of other shopping centers or districts where you can make like NSYNC and buy, buy, buy:

Fayette Mall | This mall is the go-to spot for most out-of-towners and Lexingtonians alike thanks to its 170+ stores. Pro tip: Grab a cup of coffee from Old School Coffee to help fuel your trip.
The Summit at Fritz Farm | A more upscale option, The Summit is where you can pick up everything from Apple products, lululemon apparel, and stop by for lunch at Ouita Michel’s Honeywood.
Hamburg Pavilion | Located outside of the circle, this outdoor shopping center is home to treat-yourself goodies like World Market + Ranoush, as well as essentials at Target.

Asked

Do you have memories of a local mall from back in the day?

Share them with us, and we may feature your story in a future newsletter.

Orange Julius, anyone?

Events

Tuesday, June 18

Litter-Ally Kentucky: Collage en Plein Air | Tuesday, June 18-Sunday, June 30 | 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. | Eastside Branch Gallery, 3000 Blake James Dr., Lexington | Free | See the unique landscape works by John Andrew Dixon made from recycled paper.
Glo-Life Line Dancing | Tuesday, June 18 | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center, 300 E. 3rd St., Lexington | Free | This high-energy social community will help you meet new people + learn line dances incorporating moves from hustles, shuffles, ballroom, and salsa.

Wednesday, June 19

“A Ballerina’s Tale” Screening | Wednesday, June 19 | 1:45 p.m. | The Kentucky Theatre, 214 E. Main St., Lexington | Free | See the 2015 documentary that tells the story of Misty Copeland, the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre.
Craft and Candle Cocktail Bar | Wednesday, June 19 | 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. | Poppy & Pomelo, 526 E. High St., Lexington | $15+ | Blend your own custom scent to make a candle, reed diffuser, fabric spritz, and more — cocktails, wine + beer are available for purchase.

Thursday, June 20

Nature Olympics | Thursday, June 20 | 3:30 p.m. | McConnell Springs Park, 416 Rebmann Ln., Lexington | Free | Let the kids go for the gold at this active outdoor competition — registration is required.
Thursday Night Live | Thursday, June 20 | 5-8 p.m. | Fifth Third Bank Pavilion, 251 W. Main St., Lexington | Free | Head downtown for the perfect post-work wind down featuring live music, tasty beverages, and delicious food.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Eat

4 reasons to visit Infinity Rooftop Restaurant & Bar this week

a gif featuring images of diners at Infinity Rooftop

Modern American cuisine and craft cocktails await you at Infinity. | Photos courtesy of Infinity

It doesn’t hurt to change up your dining routine every now and then. Our suggestion? Add Infinity: Rooftop Restaurant + Bar to your restaurant rotation.

Infinity offers diners a chance to:

Take in the warm summer weather while dining al fresco
Enjoy the skyline during lunch
Network with other professionals over a delicious menu
Catch up with friends during happy hour

Bonus: The restaurant has a free, well-lit parking garage for patrons.

Make a reservation

News Notes

Weather

City officials have enacted a Phase I Heat Alert, in effect through Saturday evening. Community centers will be available as cooling stations + outreach teams will be in the community distributing water. Be sure to hydrate and cool off at one of these alternative aquatic activities.

Closing

The owners of Creaux announced that the downtown jazz + funk bar’s last day will be Sunday, June 30. While the name and brand will leave with the owners, a group that has “great reputations, talent, and a real love for Lexington” will take over the building at 310 W. Short St.

Ranked

21c Museum Hotel Lexington was recently honored by the Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The downtown spot was recognized as one of the top eight hotels in the country for its excellence in adaptive reuse.

Concert

Tables are now on sale for the 2024 Picnic with the Pops. This year’s theme, “The Kings, Queens, & Prince of Rock” will feature hits from Elvis, Queen, Tina Turner + more performed with support of the Lexington Philharmonic. General admission tickets will be available Monday, July 8.

Drink Up

Raise a glass, drop a deal. We’ll be toasting to Drink Up Week — a celebration of Lexinton’s vibrant beverage scene — from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26. If you own a local business that serves beverages, join us by offering a fun drink deal to our readers — we may include it in a newsletter.

Finance

Did you know? June is National Homeowners Month, aka the perfect time to consider those DIY (or not-so-DIY) renovations. Home equity loans from Field & Main Bank can provide the funds to enhance your living space, potentially increasing a home’s value. Ready to invest in your home — and your future?*†

Environment

This week is National Pollinator Week. This annual celebration, held now through June 23, works to raise awareness for pollinators and their contribution to our environment. Did you know? Columbia Gas supports the development of pollinator + wildlife-friendly vegetation management practices through pipeline rights-of-way. It’s all the buzz.*

†Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender

The Buy

The Buy 6.18.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

The perfect wedding guest outfit for your next summer or fall affair. Don’t forget the sparkly, satin-y shoes.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

The Lexington Legends kick off another three-game homestand tonight at 6:45 p.m. Also, it’s $2 Tuesday, so that means popcorn, peanuts, canned soda, and pretzels are $2.

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