Sadly, this is the end of the line for our journey through Reidsville’s (I’m out of unique ways to say dead) Pennrose Mall. We’ve just got a few more things to look at before we head through the exit doors. Let’s wrap this PhotoCentral series up with Part #7.
Here’s the links to the first four articles in this series: Part #1 – Part #2 – Part #3 – Part #4 – Part #5 – Part #6
The end is near.
The pretty-close-to-destroyed drop ceiling reminds me of a Rorschach test. I can imagine a psychiatrist showing somebody this photo and asking “Tell me what you see in this.”
The Belk end of Pennrose Mall is significantly lower than the rest of Pennrose Mall, so they have steps and a quite long handicapped ramp. I’m going to hell for this, but the placement of the Bucket Bonanza makes it look like a runaway wheelchair has cleared the right lane out here. Wheeeeee!
Strader’s show store continues to be popular because they are the exclusive dealer for Stride Rite shoes. Some of our Facebook commenters have said that they’ve made the trip to Reidsville just for that brand. There were two customers in Strader’s when I took this photo.
Taking a wide angle look, you can see a (probably fake) security camera dome in the ceiling. Note that only 8 of the 44 fluorescent light fixtures in the main mall hallway are working. I also need to add a few to the Bucket Bonanza count because there’s one beside the kiddie ride and one hidden behind the bench.
Strader’s shoe store has a nice roll-out display for some of their merchandise and it looks very nice. It took until the end to find something to compliment here at Pennrose Mall, but this was deserving.
“EPOSIT YOUR O RE REID V LLE N CLU PRO ECT” was “DEPOSIT YOUR OLD EYEGLASSES HERE REIDSVILLE LIONS CLUB PROJECT” a long time ago. this was an old USPS relay mailbox where mail carriers dropped off sacks of mail for other mail carriers to pick up. This type of mailbox was sealed up and only postal workers had keys to them. The Reidsville Lions Club cut the the slot in this one. I have to wonder what is actually inside this box now.
Goodbye, Pennrose Mall. Of course, nobody would know it was Pennrose Mall from this view because there’s no signage. Strader’s shoe store had to make their own sign. But hey, you can get a Greensboro News & Record here!
If you wanted to go into Belk, here’s the side entrance that is now the only entrance. It’s about 150 feet from the mall entrance, so it’s not very convenient. And to totally complete our surreal journey… even though the parking lot had 83 open spaces in the two rows in front of the Belk entrance (Yes, I had to count them), this guy had to park right in front of the door to go in and obstructed the handicapped ramp. Yes, we’ve got ourselves a Parking Jerk of the Day.
Isn’t finding a Parking Jerk of the Day a perfect way to end this PhotoCentral series? There you have it folks. Seven articles chronicling the demise of Reidsville’s Pennrose Mall. I hope that this series will get something started to help rehabilitate this place, because Pennrose Mall deserves a more fitting end than this.
Yes sir the African American parking jerk lard have murcy!
I walked from roses all the way through this misery to Belk. When I saw the closed up entrance I just shook my head, turned around and went back. Not worth the trouble.
I actually have a plan that could revitalize this mall. From Marketing to design.
Does it still smell funny? I thought Strader’s closed?
I’m disappointed that you offered no hint of investigating who the current owner is or why the owner has allowed the mall to deteriorate as it has.
Jeez. Hang on, I’m just getting home. Yes, I’ve started that process.
I know I’m a few years late on this article, but I’m not from the area, I just like dead malls. Thanks for all the detailed photos! Your commentary is so funny. It’s a wonder this place is still open given the state of it. It’s a shame the remaining tenants seem like nice stores. I wonder how many are still there as of this comment.
Same stores are still there. I’ve moved back since August and funny enough I hit up Roses and abelks quite often. Mainly because of convenience and savings. Even during the snowpacalypse…Roses was fully stocked! Sure wish someone would do something to fix it up again.