In another thread I said about how I was bummed to discover the Birdcage theatre was demolished, since I went there as a kid lots of times. I can see some divergence in the google earth poctures over the years too. That building on the south end became a Target by 1998, and by '02 a piece of it was reconfigured (projecting outwards now).
I found a piece of an article from '95 (so this must've happened right after I left) but can only read the first few parts without having to buy it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but my best guess is that it might've been actually quite ahead of its time (outdoor power centers are more the rage today). At the time maybe more people probably went to the mall, so it didn't do as well as they expected. The total irony of that philosophy is, if they'd left it alone it would've probably caught up been successful now, lol.
I know this is a really old thread but I had to post a reply because Birdcage Walk and the surrounding area has always held special memories for me as well. =)
I remember when my dad used to drop me off at the arcade in the mid to late 80's, I'd usually have anywhere from $10 - $20 which I earned from mowing lawns..lol. I would spend a few hours playing video games and when I ran out of money I would walk around the area approaching people and asking them if I could borrow a quarter to make a phone call (seems crazy now with the advent of cell phones, huh?) only to take the quarters back to the arcade and play some more games..lol. Sometimes I shoot across the street to the old Tower Records and bide my time listening to the latest CD's or at Tower Books reading magazines.
As I grew older it went from video games to taking girls out on dates to Birdcage Cinema, there wasn't much riff raff then that I can recall at least. I had more than my fair share of make out sessions in the car following a movie at good old bird cage cinema...lol. Right after I got out of High School I worked at the old Montgomery Ward (another place that is out of business) which was at the opposite end of the mall..such great memories their as well. In fact, I met my first true love through that job..yikes!!
I left for college in Southern California in the mid 90's and never really "went back" if that makes sense. I mean I came back for the Holidays for the first couple years but even then it was just never the same, I could see the area was changing. One of the last times I saw that specific area was when I was back in town with (what would become my future wife)having bought her home to meet my dad a few months after we had started dating. I remember they had just put up the Target and I was really sad. I kind of new that place wouldn't stay as nothing lasts forever but with all the memories and fondness I had it was a bitter pill to swallow.
I went back to my old stomping grounds (Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights, etc.) a couple more times after that mainly Holiday's) and have not been back since. I ended up settling down in Southern California for my 20's before eventually moving to Atlanta where I have been ever since.
My dad sold our house a couple years after my last visit with the buyers being foreclosed on a few years later and now the house is empty another really sad fact that stings given all the memories I have from growing up their. =(
I also saw where they finally closed down Crestview Lanes late last year...another sad thing to read. Ton's of memories their as well.
Oh well, nothing lasts forever, right?
Edited by speedtoburn, 17 February 2011 - 09:00 PM.
