The northern Minneapolis suburbs get a bad rap. I’m proud to say I live in Brooklyn Center in the house my parents built in 1951. Brooklyn Center has always been a working class, blue collar community. It sprung from WWII vets coming home and starting families. In place of truck farms that grew, potatoes, asparagus and corn, rose a suburb built of working families — the Mississippi River on the east, and Shingle Creek wandering through its center. Today, despite the myth of “North Minneapolis,” I feel safe wheeling its sidewalks and love the fact that everything I need is within a 15-20 minute commute, including downtown Minneapolis. Brookdale Mall was one of those places I wheeled to a lot in the 1980s and ’90s.
The slow decline of Brookdale Mall the past decade has been a bit like witnessing the failing health of a beloved family friend. Some of my earliest memories are of shopping and eating out there accompanied by my mom. A couple of my sisters worked their first jobs at Woolworth’s. My first teenage rebel act — buying a hamster without permission — happened at Brookdale aided and abetted by my best friend Beth. Friday dinners at the Brother’s Deli introduced me to a new food delight called borscht. I even spent an hour or so with other terrified shoppers huddled in an inner corridor during the white tornado of July 1986 that passed by and damaged the Springbrook Nature Center. The summer of “the blimp” — 1991 — I made my first Goodyear blimp spotting as I wheeled to Brookdale. It passed over the parking lot and I was slack jawed in amazement. (I love the Goodyear blimp! Weird, I know.) On hot summer days before I had central air at home, I’d often wheel to Brookdale to spend a few hours until the sun went down, cooling off. I spent a lot of money in that mall. My first credit card, at age 18, was a Dayton’s card I applied for at Brookdale.
The past half dozen years, my shopping habits have changed. I know visit the Mall of America, Rosedale and downtown Minneapolis. There was little left to tempt me to visit Brookdale.
There was talk a few years ago about WalMart opening a store at Brookdale. I had mixed feelings. While I don’t shop at WalMart, it would be a good fit for this diverse community. Those earlier talks died when Sears put up opposition. Then the recession hit and the few stores remaining, slowly left. First J.C. Penney to the new mall in town at Arbor Lakes. Then Macy’s. Then Barnes & Noble. Now, only Sears remains of a once thriving community mall.
WalMart is again back in the picture. And, the deep pockets they bring will be tough for city leaders to turn down. But, I challenge city leaders to look at other, more creative options, possibly along the lines of the Midtown Global Market. Brooklyn Center is a diverse city — Asian, African, Russian, Hispanic, black and white, make up my community today. Even if WalMart comes to town, is it also possible to preserve Brookdale as a community meeting place, with ethnic stores, food and community meeting spaces? Anchor stores like Pier One or World Market or Trader Joes? Maybe even bring back that great old fountain/birdcage.
I know. Things change. And, I am not one of those people who cling to the past for no good reason. But, I believe this community deserves more than just a big box store. Let’s work together to recreate a place people look forward to visiting and that feels like our community.
not only do I remember the birdcage. it had a owl in it. at the opposite end of that court, they had a fountain that would be used for the Santa runs
I remember when Sears had two ways into the mall from the inside of it. as well as the lil mini shops that were in the middle area in the that fed into that second way. before they walled it up.
still remembering the candle shop that was there. as well as the tobacco shop next to it.
I remember the fish tanks over at the Dayton’s court as well as the lil food court there too.
Does anyone remember the big birdcage that was in the middle of Brookdale Mall in the 1960′s? It went all the way to the ceiling. I loved that as a kid. I wish that I could find a photo of it somewhere.
Thanks for writing this. I feel the same way. While I don’t live in Brooklyn Center anymore, my mom still does. I have wonderful memories of planning trips to Brookdale with my friends– a stop at Donaldsons, then Daytons, Sears etc. Lunch at Bridgeman’s… a stop at Fanny Farmer and Halmark… Woolworths… ah… good times. Very good times. There was Bachmans and Hickory Farms… and I got at least two bad perms at the Golden Razor. Got my ears pierced at Daytons.
My first job was at the McDonalds across the street. I saw that they tore that down and remodeled that, too.
I had high hopes that when they added Barnes and Noble and did remodeling that they would be able to survive.. Hope they can figure out something productive to do with the property.
Yes, I loved Donaldson’s. My second favorite after Dayton’s. Do you still call Macy’s Dayton’s? I do.
Nice! I remember Donaldson’s. Does anyone remember the old Spartan stores? There used to be on in the Lex/Larp plaza where the Rainbow is now. After Spartan, it was Roseville 4 theaters for a long time….memories….
Great piece Sue! I was recently streaming video watching some old Mary Tyler Moore Show’s and I saw a sign for Donaldson’s! Remember Donaldson’s?