There are many shopping centers and malls in America. Some are well known whereas others often are missed unless people live in the area or happen to be passing through. One shopping center no one wanted to miss in the 70s was the Antioch Shopping Center in Kansas City, Mo. Located on Antioch Road, this was one place everyone wanted to spend the day. It was like the place to be, where everything was "happening". It was the place where every young teenager loved to go on their day off, much like the kids of today that spend their spare time at the mall.
In those days, the shoppers had the pleasures of browsing through an open-air mall, which we don't see much of today. Some of the great oldie stores that captivated the crowds were stores like House of Flowers, Adlers, Topsy's Popcorn, Bakers Shoes, Zales Jewelers and more.
After awhile, people got tired of shopping in all sorts of weather and elements and vocalized their feelings. Antioch, in an attempt to satisfy and keep their customers, put a roof on the Antioch Shopping Center so the shoppers would stay dry and warm. This did no accomplish all that they wanted, as many people were just coming to the shopping center and walking through it as a form of exercise, rather than shopping there. When newer and larger shopping centers and strip malls began being built, Antioch got less and less business until it almost all died.
In 2003, the people in charge attempted to revamp the shopping center with a new, once again, open air construction. They felt with some of the newer highways being built, they had hopes that the shopping center would be a huge success. Unfortunately, things have not happened as they've planned and the directors are attempting to rebuild and revamp once again to try to keep this great piece of history alive.
