THUNDERBIRD MALL: MENOMONIE, WI
Ross Schendel's Commentary:
Posted July 8, 2003 (user submitted)
I first discovered Thunderbird Mall in Menomonie, WI during 1999. It doesn't even show up on the ICSC.org website; I found it through regular online searches I do for small town, rural ancillary malls. I first visited this mall in March of 2000. I went back again in July of 2001. Nothing changed. Menomonie is a town of about 15,000 people located about 50 miles east of the Twin Cities, MN metro and about 20 miles west of Eau Claire.
Both aforementioned cities have extensive successful malls, so personally I view this mall as an anomaly. It seems it was built not to function as a typical mall of anchors and large national behemoth chains, but to house a collection of local stores. It is very typical for a small town mall. Most in the midwest that I have noticed usually have little to no anchor stores, a music store, a jewelry store, and mostly local fodder. There are a few chains that seem to exist solely for small town markets/malls, such as On Cue Music, which is Sam Goody's small town/small-mall outlet.
With that said, this mall has interesting old decor design features. Its floor is something to the effect of dark brown 70s style schlacked wood, and the storefronts have little change to them since this mall was built in the 70s. Notably, there are no anchors to this mall; however, there are supposed to be. As indicated in the outdoor and indoor pictures, small anchors (befitting for this mall) were once open, but have since closed. And, I have no idea what they were. The only other thing that can be said about this mall is the notably interesting sign. I liked it.
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Tyler Swagger’s Commentary:
User submitted Dec 2012The Thunderbird Mall in Menomonie Wisconsin was (as far as I can remember back) originally anchored by Snyder Drugs, Pamida (a K-mart type Wisconsin based chain store), and Doug and Dicks IGA grocery store. It was also home to the Thunderbird lounge (a popular bar) Cost Cutters, Radio Shack, Musicland, and several other chain mall clothing and accessory thingy stores.
In the early 1990's the mall began to deteriorate. The rent went up but the repairs and maintenance stopped. Doug and Dicks moved out and took over the old K-mart building down the road after K-mart built a new store. Doug and Dicks eventually sold out to Marketplace from Rice Lake Wisconsin and moved again... this time across the street from the Thunderbird mall where the bowling alley and lodge/resort once stood.
In roughly 1994 or so, Snyder Drugs closed and Pamida closed their store due to competition from the new Walmart and the established K-mart. Also a series of new strip malls and plaza areas were built on the old KOA campgrounds around and near the Walmart. Most of the few remaining stores left the Thunderbird mall for these new locations.
The thunderbird is not completely abandoned... but it is close.
Brendan Brown’s Commentary:
User submitted Aug 2007Thunderbird Mall is dead but it is buried and gone the mall has been reborn as Shop's Off Broadway. We have renovated the mall and secured anchor tenants-Dunham's Sporting Goods and Stout Ale House, Broadway Bowl, Cedar Brook Church, Off Broadway Banquet Center, Little LA, Furniture Your Way etc..
Please remove us from your listing as it connotates a bad image, we have worked hard,invested resources and continue to do so; to bring back this location for the community. It is a disservice to hard working, communities and the spirit of Americans to promote the negatives of the past.
Thank you,
Jake’s Commentary:
User submitted Apr 2007This mall was very dead for a very long time. It was actually a busy place in the early 80's, but by the mid 90's most of the stores had left and it was a ghost town. At its peak in the 80's, there were three anchor stores. Snyders (drugstore), Pamida (small town department store), and Red Owl (grocery store). Then Red Owl moved out and everything went downhill. The other anchors closed not long after that.
(Update April 2007) This mall is no longer dead. It was sold to new owners and re-named "Shops Off Broadway". The two main anchor store spots are now re-occupied, with a sporting goods store at one end of the mall, and a fairly large sized restaurant/sports bar at the other end. There is also a bowling alley that re-located from across the street. I haven't been inside of the mall for awhile, but driving by shows a much renewed mall. I also know there are a few smaller stores inside that have recently opened.
So, by all indications, it seems as if the new ownership has turned this place around.
Mike Longsdorf’s Commentary:
User submitted Dec 2006Would welcome you to revisit the former Thunderbird Mall. We have redone the entire parking lot, added site lighting, landscape islands, have 2 anchors in place with new stores returning. I can be reached @ 715-577-6230.
Thank You,
Mike Longsdorf