And the walls came tumbling down

Looking East over the old Dousamn St bridge. The old Port Plaza logo in the background and one of the anchor stores H.C Prange Co. to the right along with the old Ramada Inn (formerly the Beaumont and later would be a Day's Inn)

This is obviously not the most timeliest of postings on this subject, since the demolition is nearly complete. So now it is no better time than now to talk a little about the old Port Plaza shopping mall in downtown Green Bay, WI.

Like so many I too have fond memories of Port Plaza, from shopping with my parents when I was little to hanging out there as a young teenager. Some of the early memories are a blur and same as some of the dates for when certain things happened. I would have to say for me the best memories probably were from 13 to about 16 or about '87-'90. These were the days when I got my first job at Kroll's West making $3.35 and hour and I would take my bi-weekly paycheck to the bank then off to the mall and other places in the downtown area like Surfin' Bird Skate Shop , The Exclusive Company, and Imports Plus. The usual routine once we got to the mall was to stop at Osco Drug and buy a carton of Old Gold smokes, either meet someone or put in the call for a bag, stopping at either Taco Bell ($.49 menu items back then)

Old School Taco Bell Sign, anyone remember these?

 or McDonalds. I would always get the McChicken sandwich and put a BBQ sauce on it, back then they were virtually one giant Chicken McNugget not the gross version they are now. I also remember the windows clearly saying $.35 hamburgers and $.45 cheeseburgers.


Then how could a trip to the mall be complete without a stop at the Gold Mine arcade. I can remember when I was a real little kid and being with like my Mom, and when we would pass by it that it seemed so dark and mysterious. It was as if the place not somewhere little kids should go, like as if there was some shady pedophile lurking in there ready to kidnap a kid. Once I got older and started to go there quickly you realized it was nothing like the image I imagined as a real little kid.

I can remember getting my Ramone's style knock off Perfecto leather jacket from Wilson's Leather. Though it was not an expensive authentic one, it still was really good quality. I still wish I never sold it, though these days it is highly unlikely that I could wear it even in my dreams..haha

I also remember many times my Mom taking me out to eat at the Crockery or sitting with my Dad in Diamond Dave's while my Mom and Sister would be shopping. Orange Julius and Hot Sam were both favorites of mine. Back then it was great because both Port Plaza and Bay Park Square had them. though the Bay Park Square Orange Julius was better it was a sit down and had a full menu.

Looking at an old mall directory it said there was a Port Plaza Twin theater. That I do not remember at all, anyone who does remember should chime in on it. Was it short lived or what?



Now with the mall gone it is reminiscent in an eerie way of what the city had to do to pave the way for the mall to be built, basically create a big empty vacant area of land.

Downtown Green Bay 1950

Destroying the historic downtown

Looking North down Washington. These would be razed to add a 3rd anchor to the mall and a parking lot.

Concept Art for the mall and surrounding area 1974

The area that was razed facing Cedar what is now Main St, JC Penny would anchor this side of the mall.

Another picture showing the large amount of area that was razed then to make way for the redevelopment downtown then

Ironically it all comes full circle

It was fun when the mall was the place to be, but as with everything all good things eventually come to an end. For better or worse Green Bay tried to experiment with redeveloping the downtown back then just as they are doing it now. Every time we go out with the old and in with the new there will be those who oppose it and those who welcome it. There had to be obvious economic reasons back then and just as there is now to do what they are trying to do. If we don't take risks and bring in change we get stuck and then there is never any growth. I never got to really see downtown before the mall, I don't remember it. I have to imagine it was a dying area for awhile and not nearly as happening as people try to make it. If it was they would have never thought of redeveloping it. We tend to want to remember the past as a little better than it really was. Lets hope that the new phase of downtown redevelopment can bring a positive economic change back to the downtown area. Retro is in so I guess we should take advantage of it along with the modern too, just make it built to last a couple decades and give room for growth and improvement too.