The Sears Mall in Anchorage

What’s a Mall?When Mike of the Anchorage Memories Club was 15 years old, his family made a trip from Anchorage to San Antonio, Texas to visit relatives. One day, Mike’s aunt said, “how would y'all (that’s Texan for “you all”) like to go to the mall?”Almost immediately, a puzzled Mike asked, “what’s a mall?” Being raised in Anchorage back in the day, there was no mall.Nothing There But Acres of Soggy LandFor years, there was nothing at Northern Lights Boulevard and the New Seward Highway in Anchorage, Alaska but some scraggly trees and soggy land. But a man named Larry Carr would change all of that.Pictured above is the Sear MallWe’re getting ahead of our story, by showing you the Sears Mall right now. But what the hey. The Sears Mall in Anchorage is the subject of this wonderful memory. BONUS (This One’s a “Blast from the Past”)On the other side of the street where the mall would be built on Northern Lights Boulevard and the New Seward Highway was the Bun Drive-In. On the roof of the Bun, was the small radio studio where the Coke Show radio program with Ron Moore was broadcast each evening. Take a look at A Fascinating Treasure Chest of Coke Show Radio Memories and remember.Larry Carr Comes to AnchoragePictured above is Larry CarrIn 1947, Larry Carr, the man who would build Anchorage’s first mall, arrived in Anchorage.His first day job was working for the Alaska Railroad. But in the evening he worked at a grocery store called Thrifty Mart. His time there, paved the way for what was yet to come.Carr’s on 13th and GambellLater, in 1950, at age 21, Larry Carr found an old Quonset Hut at 13th and Gambell, and he decided to go into the grocery business with his brother, Bernard Joseph Carr.But the Quonset Hut turned out to be a challenge.The walls of the Quonset Hut were so thin, that one winter morning they found everything in the store had frozen overnight. What’s a Quonset Hut, You AskPhoto courtesy of John ParkerIn the 1949 picture above, this Quonset Hut was the first building on the corner of Spenard Road and Fireweed. It was the Spenard Post Office and Parker’s Store.Now imagine this Quonset Hut as Larry Carr’s first Anchorage grocery store.More Carr’s Grocery Store Locations FollowedEven with all the challenges, including a store full of frozen food on a cold Alaska winter morning, the first Carrs food store was a success. So they opened more locations.Yes, You Can Share This EditionAre your friends and family curious about a far off place called Anchorage, Alaska?You’ll be a superhero, when you share this edition of the Anchorage Memories Club. They will be so happy, they will send you on a two-week vacation to the world’s most beautiful beach. Trunk Bay on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Well, it could happen.Thanks for reading and listening to the Anchorage Memories Club. This post is public, so feel free to share it.A 17.6 Acre Site Just 1.5 Miles from Downtown AnchorageAnchorage was growing up, and Larry Carr had a vision.He was going to build the first Mall in Anchorage. And it was exciting. On January 31, 1968, the Sears Mall, the first ever in Anchorage, opened its doors.Inside, the towns folk of Anchorage discovered a comfortable atmosphere and what was built to resemble a downtown sidewalk, with shops on either side.Do you remember?When the mall first opened, it featured Carr’s Quality Foodcenter as an anchor store on one end, with Sears on the other.Mall stores included, Russell Stover Candies, a Wells Fargo Bank, Sheffield Cafeteria and Pub, and a Ben Franklin Variety Store. There was also Andy’s Carmel Corn (a favorite of our family), Grandma’s Closet, the Book Cache, and Sears had a café. Some of these might have been added later.In addition, there was a 10 cent mechanical horsey ride for kids.And the indoor setting was just perfect for shoppers from all over Alaska, especially during those long, cold winters.Pictured above is the Book Cache in the Sears Mall in Anchorage.What are your memories of the Sears Mall? What were your favorite stores and restaurants in the Sears mall?BONUSYou can read more about Larry Carr and the History of Carr-Gottstein Foods right now.Just for FunPhoto above by Jim ZollerDo you remember?This “Around the World” amphibian visited Anchorage in 1957.Do you have pictures of Anchorage that you would like to share?Did you know that you can also join our free, Alaska Stories and enjoy Alaska?From Our North Stars (that’s you)From our look at Anchorage, Alaska’s World Famous, Pioneering, Fur Rendezvous Winter Carnival.Teresa is happy:“I would like to say, THANK YOU for creating the Anchorage Memories Club. I was born and raised in Anchorage, and the Anchorage Memories Club brings such joy to my soul! I just had to say, THANK YOU to you both!”A Note from Mike and Mary:Teresa - Thank you for your kind words. You are what the Anchorage Memories Club is all about.Nelson made this comment:“Thank you for keeping these memories alive!Our family was the first Colombian family to reside in Anchorage.”Loren remembers:“I came to Alaska in 1956, in the back of a “51” chevy from Illinois, with two brothers and a sister. 12 days on the road, and numerous flat tires. Fireweed Lane was the city limits then. You could go downtown, and you knew just about everybody you saw.”Mona has a question:“I don't remember the Fur Rendezvous being called Rondy or Fur Rondy. I only remember hearing about the Fur Rendezvous. Is “Rondy” a new thing? I lived in Anchorage from 1962 to 1974.”Connect with Mike and MaryWere you in Anchorage before the Sears Mall? Were you there when they first opened the Sears Mall? What were your favorite stores?Ok, Mike and Mary had three favorites. Andie’s Carmel Corn, Grandma’s Closet and the Sears Mall Book Cache.Do you have a comment? We love hearing from our North Stars (that’s you). You can reach us by replying to this email. Or, you can Contact Us to say, “The Sears Mall in Anchorage, Alaska was a great place to hang out.”Until next timeMike and MaryAnchorage Memories ClubJoin for FREE, and enjoy the memories of two Alaskans.Anchorage Memories Club is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Anchorage Memories Club at www.anchoragememoriesclub.com/subscribe