Apache Plaza

Apache Plaza was a former shopping center, located in St. Anthony, Minnesota, a small suburb of Minneapolis. This mall has historic significance because it was one of the first enclosed malls in the US, and was the second such center in the state of Minnesota, after Southdale, opening in 1961. Its impressive design, by architect Willard Thorsen, was state-of-the-art at the time. Apache boasted a spacious center court with a hyperbolic paraboloid roof (hyperboloid structure). The paraboloids were concrete shells, shaped like an inverted umbrella. Ten of these paraboloids made up the roof of the center court, which was ringed with Mondrian-inspired clerestory windows. In its glory days, the mall had more than 60 stores. In the early 1970s, the mall was still thriving, despite the opening of nearby Rosedale. However, the larger mall would contribute to the Apache's decline, with the relocation of the Apache's anchor stores to Rosedale.

Other associated developments

In addition to Apache Plaza, the Apache Corporation also developed two office buildings neighboring the mall. The first, the Apache Office Park was built in 1964. Its design had a unique, space-age look; the building was on "stilts" of sorts, with a stairwell/elevator in the center. The space underneath the building served as a parking lot. The second, the Apache Medical Complex, was completed in 1966. Originally strictly a medical complex, this building now houses some other businesses in addition to medical offices.

The decline of Apache

In the early 1980s, Apache underwent a major renovation, only to have its south end slammed by a tornado on 26 April 1984. The tornado is thought by many to be the beginning of the end for Apache. Three days after the tornado, a major snowfall covered the area. Since it was spring, the snow quickly melted, flooding twister-damaged areas of the mall. The damage was repaired, and the mall re-opened on 15 November. But the original charm was lost, notably the multi-colored clerestory windows around the center court being replaced by colorless glass.

The mall seemed to continue to thrive until the early 1990s, when tenants began leaving in droves. Herberger's opened at Apache in 1987, saving the center from demolition for 17 years. By 2000, the mall was nearly empty, but still open to mall-walkers. Around this time, The Apache was voted as the "best place to dump someone"," by the local alternative weekly City Pages. The symbolism of a once-bustling mall now being mostly deserted was appropriate for breaking it off with a soon-to-be-former significant other.

Apache was scheduled for demolition in April 2004, then opening to the public for the last time for a "Bulldozer Bash." This was intended to celebrate plans for building a new pedestrian/transit-friendly shopping/residential community in its place, "Silver Lake Village", which is anchored by a Wal-Mart. However, the majority of the turnout at the event were not there to celebrate the new development, but to share Apache memories and mourn the loss of what was once the center of their community. Then, right on schedule, in rolled the bulldozers, and the once-great Apache Plaza was leveled. The Apache Office Park building soon followed. The Apache Medical Complex, however, still remains. It is being considered for conversion to residential condos. In September 2005, the building was renamed "Silver Lake Plaza". It was the end of an era for the area in and near St. Anthony.

External links

* [http://www.apacheplaza.com Apache Plaza tribute site] History, memories, and numerous photos
* [http://www.deadmalls.com/malls/apache_plaza.html DeadMalls.com: Apache Plaza]