Demolition of Metrocenter mall in Phoenix has begun

The Valley's most iconic mall is about to be reduced to rubble. After months of preparation and years of delays, exterior demolition of Metrocenter finally began earlier this week, paving the way for redevelopment of the legendary Phoenix mall.

On Monday, crews from California-based demolition company Resource Environmental began tearing down the walls and structure of Metrocenter, which operated from 1973 to 2020, following a ceremony led by City of Phoenix officials.

The 64.2-acre property near Interstate 17 and Dunlap Avenue will be transformed by a group of real estate developers, including Florida-based Concord Wilshire Capital, into an $850 million walkable urban village The Metropolitan and mixed-use project The Loop.

Metrocenter's demolition, expected to take about a year, marks the end of an era for the Phoenix mall, a beloved Valley retail destination for generations of local residents.

The demolition of Metrocenter has officially begun pic.twitter.com/9zGOLwPbXS

— Jeremy Duda (@jeremyduda) November 18, 2024

Metrocenter memories

After opening in 1973, Metrocenter made its mark. At the time, it was the Southwest’s first “super-regional” mall and the only one in the U.S. to feature five department stores (including now-defunct retailers like Goldwater's and Diamond’s).

Metrocenter’s interior featured sleek design and architecture, along with an indoor ice skating rink, a first for Arizona at the time.

For local residents, the 1,400,000-square-foot mall was more than just a retail and cultural hub — it was a place to gather. As Phoenix New Times described in a 2020 cover story, Metrocenter was “everyone’s favorite west side mall" for most of its 47-year lifespan.

People flocked to its stores, restaurants, and nearby attractions like Golf ‘n’ Stuff (now Castles N' Coasters), making it a key part of Valley life for decades. Metrocenter was also popular Teens and 20-somethings often hung out there, cruising the parking lot or simply spending time with friends.
Phoenix Councilwoman Ann O’Brien, whose district includes the Metrocenter site, told New Times in 2023 that she was a regular at the mall while growing up in the West Valley.

“I was about 5 years old when the mall first opened. I went [to Metrocenter] for as long as I could remember. I worked there, [got] photos with Santa, hung out with my friends and was also a cruiser,” O’Brien told New Times in 2023. “It was the place to be to hang out. It has a lot of fond memories for a lot of people.”

In 1989, Metrocenter was featured in the cult sci-fi comedy Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, standing in for San Dimas Mall. Several scenes were filmed at Metrocenter, including a memorable sequence where historical figures like Billy the Kid and Socrates lead cops on a wild chase through stores, the food court and onto the ice rink.

In 2019, the late Connie Hoy, a former Valley resident and production assistant on the film, told New Times how filming took place at Metrocenter after hours.

“We had to shoot there at night when everything was closed. And we were there for almost a week, so it was like several nights of … keeping a vampire schedule,” Hoy told New Times in 2019.

Metrocenter’s downfall

The good times at Metrocenter didn’t last forever. By the late 2010s, the mall had seen a significant decline in business due to the rise of online shopping and the emergence of newer retail centers across the Valley. The departure of anchor stores like Sears left smaller retailers struggling to survive, further contributing to the mall's downward spiral.

By 2019, the mall had become a shadow of its former self, as most retail spaces were vacant and few shoppers remained.

The final blow to Metrocenter came in 2020 with the arrival of COVID-19, as the pandemic caused the mall’s closure after nearly five decades in operation.

Florida-based real estate developers Concord Wilshire Capital and TLG Investment Partners purchased the mall in 2023 and announced plans to redevelop it into an $850 million project designed around an “urban village” concept. Metrocenter was originally scheduled to be torn down later that year.

Then came a series of delays caused after the Arizona State Legislature abolished a residential rental tax that Concord Wilshire and TLG had planned to use to fund its redevelopment of the Metrocenter property.

Earlier this year, both companies secured alternative funding for the project, including reimbursements from the City of Phoenix through revenue generated from municipal taxes on roads, parks and other sources.

In September, Phoenix officials issued demolition permits for Metrocenter, and crews from Resource Environmental began asbestos abatement and interior demolition.

‘Time to make this area the crown jewel it once was’

On Monday, Concord Wilshire and City of Phoenix officials unveiled plans for the redevelopment of the Metrocenter property before demolition began.

The Metropolitan will be a 68-acre urban village offering three townhome complexes: Terra Court, Luna Villas and Brava Gardens with 1,200 units available to rent or buy. Prices will range from approximately $400,000 to $500,000 per unit and are aimed at young and working families and retired individuals.

According to O’Brien, the name of the project pays tribute to Metrocenter.

The Metropolitan will be adjacent to a 140,000-square-foot retail destination known as The Loop, which will include shopping, bars and restaurants, an outdoor entertainment venue and other attractions and amenities.
Both projects will be located within walking distance of the Thelda Williams Transit Center, the two-level transit hub connected to Valley Metro Rail.

Both projects are expected to be completed by 2026.

In a post to X on Monday, O’Brien stated that while she will miss Metrocenter, the redevelopment of the property is crucial to Phoenix’s future.

"I will remember Metrocenter as a foundation of my youth," O'Brien state. "But it’s time to remake this area the crown jewel it once was, so families (and) community members can create new memories."