Remember this? Main Street Station’s short-lived 1980s shopping mall | From the Archives
In November 1985, Richmond’s historic Main Street Station reopened after a renovation to transform part of building into a shopping mall. One November 1985 advertisement described the new mall as having “The finest, most special specialty shops in all of Richmond.”
The $17 million project began in 1978 when David White and his partner Larry Shiflett started their efforts to redevelop the landmark. At first, their financing for the plan included a federal grant that ran into some delays with Richmond City Council until 1981. The deal was on the verge of going through when a fire broke out in October 1983, setting them back once again.
The mall finally opened in November 1985. The scheduled opening was November 7, 1985, but it was delayed by a week due to heavy rains and flooding. At its opening, the mall had 29 retail and seven food court tenants, a total of 70 percent of the spaces leased.
The train station’s mall never caught on however, and after just a few years, it closed in January 1988.
Main Street Station
11-14-1985 (cutline): Shoppers stroll in upper level of Main Street station mall.
Main Street Station
10-10-1983 (cutline): David White (left) and Larry Shifflett stand amidst broken roofing tiles on Main Street side of station which was badly damaged in fire.
Main Street Station
09-25-1985 (cutline): Shops are being constructed along the length of Main Street Station’s shed area.
Main Street Station
19-08-1983: Main Street Station after fire.
Main Street Station
01-29-1988 (cutline): Ron Bassfield pushes a cart of unsold goods out of store.
Main Street Station
05-13-1984: Main Street Station
Main Street Station
09-25-1985 (cutline): Workers prepare an escalator connecting two levels of the Main Street Station specialty retail mall.
Main Street Station
03-06-1985: Main Street Station
Main Street Station
05-13-1984 (cutline): Large openings have been cut in the floor of the station for stairways.
Main Street Station
11-14-1985 (cutline): Main Street Station, once a transportation hub of Richmond, reopened today as an urban shopping center.
Main Street Station
06-14-1986 (cutline): Main Street Station visitors sample offerings in the shopping mall food court.
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The vote marks the end of a months long stalemate between officials over how to replace the aging school building in South Richmond and whether it should be smaller to save money for other school construction projects or bigger to accommodate anticipated population growth.