Metrocenter Mall Demolition Date Announced: Here's When It All Comes Down

The mall closed its doors to shoppers nearly four years ago.

PHOENIX — The Metrocenter Mall, Arizona’s first two-story shopping mall, is about to face its final days. Demolition is set to begin either late this month or early September.

Opened in 1973, the mall boasted five department stores and Arizona’s maiden movie theater within a mall. Long-time visitors recall it fondly, but acknowledge it’s time for transformation.

“It had good memories, but it’s time to go,” said Charlie Kisselburg, a shopper since the 1980s and now a nearby business owner. He notes that the mall’s closure has impacted local shops with less foot traffic.

Culturally significant, the mall was a filming location for the 1989 movie “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.”

Last November, the Phoenix City Council approved an $850 million redevelopment plan. Developers, Concord Wilshire Capital and TLG Investment Partners along with Hines, plan to construct 2,600 multifamily homes along with 150,000 square feet dedicated to commercial spaces.

Local residents, including business owner Leanna Howell, are optimistic about the redevelopment. “It will be better for the business if they finally put apartments there,” she said, hoping for an influx of new customers.

The demolition had been slated for last summer but was delayed due to additional environmental and remediation work. The reimagined development will progress in phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by 2026.