Community
Take a look back at Fall River’s Harbour Mall
FALL RIVER – While some predicted its demise before it was even completed, the SouthCoast Marketplace has been a popular destination to shop and dine in Fall River, and rightfully so. However, many of us still remember the heyday of its predecessor, the Harbour Mall.
Harbour Mall opened in 1971 on William S. Canning Blvd. with anchor tenants Bradlees and Grant City.
One of, if not the most popular, spot at the mall was the movie theater. While it became the butt of jokes in its later years, it is where I saw many of my first movies. To date myself, the Muppet movies were among them. I also saw the two “Break Dancing” movies there. Sadly, the family members that took me as a child have all passed away, but the memories remain. Back then, you could even win movie passes by hitting on some sports trivia on WALE radio.
If you were a child of the 80s in Fall River, while strolling through the mall corridor, you had to have asked your parents at least a few handful of times to stop in the arcade. It may have been my favorite place to go in the city. It wasn’t a huge arcade, and changed names a few times, but if you were a video game lover, it was the place to be.
If you were hungry, you could stop in for a pizza in Papa Ginos. While there, you could also play a song from the jukebox while sitting in a booth eating a slice or two. If pizza wasn’t your thing, you could grab a bite at the restaurant located inside of Kmart while waiting for a “blue light special”. If you wanted dessert, you could make a stop at Brigham’s.
Before its removal, the Harbour Mall fountain was a popular destination to throw in a penny and make a wish. Wishes that we may see as trivial as an older adult, but gave us hope.
Holidays at Harbour Mall were always fun as a child. Santa visited at Christmas time and the Easter Bunny at Easter which was always exciting. Citizens For Citizens also put on a big production near the end of the year to help raise money to provide toys for those who were less fortunate.
At its height, in addition to what has already been mentioned, you could also pick up your favorite toys at Kaybee or find the hottest music at the Music Store. You could even smell the candles while passing by the Hallmark store. When collecting sports cards were more popular, you could pick up the latest set of Topps trading cards at the sports memorabilia store at the front of the mall. I remember meeting former Boston Red Sox infielder Rico Petrocelli there and nabbing his autograph.
When the Bradlees retail chain closed, it looked like it may be the end for the mall, but Walmart came in and took its spot before moving to Quequechan Street and becoming a superstore in 2013.
With the movie theater, retailers and arcade gone, the mall closed for good in the beginning of 2016 finishing its days dark and relatively empty, but for those of us who still remember, it hasn’t left our hearts.
What are your fondest memories of Harbour Mall?
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Fed Up
March 19, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Lucky 13 was the arcade. First time I played Mortal Kombat was there. My brother and I saw Tombstone the day it opened. Took my son to see Batman in 1989.
Wayne
March 19, 2023 at 4:04 pm
Too many fond memories to count, I lived 2 streets away and spent a lot of time there. Being a kid in the 70s & 80s it was a great place for everything a kid could wish for, the Kay Bee supplied me with my Atari Mego and Star Wars toys while I got my first KISS record’s at I believe Midland records / paperback booksmith was the name of the place. Lucky 13, Radio Shack, Images Sight & Sound, Brighams Papa Gino’s, Bradlees and K Mart also got much of my paper route money.
I witnessed many transformations like a mini golf place, pet store where Papa Gino’s once was the round light up sign was now a window to view the puppies, and several other music stores came and went. The best change was when the movie theater opened I saw EVERYTHING there Red Dawn, Footloose, Rocky 3, Breakin, Nightmare on Elm St you name it.
How could I forget the t shirt shop nothing better than picking out your iron on transfer and pairing it with the shirt of your choice, I still remember the smell of it being made before your eyes.
It was very sad to see it go down hill and eventually close, it’s good to see the space thriving again but it will never be the same. Certainly a place I will NEVER forget.
Ruth Street Baller
March 19, 2023 at 7:04 pm
Bradlees
Brigham’s Ice Cream
KB Toys
Hallmark
Radio Shack
Lucky 13
Papa Ginos
BD’s
Paperback Booksmith
The Fountain
Namtasket Sound
K-Mart
NHD in the parking lot
Dave
March 19, 2023 at 8:01 pm
My fondest memory was every Christmas having the local TV station be in the center of the mall asking for donations with that very catchy song of the phone number to call. Not catchy enough i think it was 6775339 that’s the number to call.
Castle
March 20, 2023 at 1:24 pm
I agree with all of your comments I as just thinking about the mall resently it was always a great place to go . I really loved grants and Bradley’s a the stores you could spend an afternoon and eat shop and enjoy your day . Ah! The good old days sure miss them
Rosco17
March 20, 2023 at 3:32 pm
Yea, I remember the mall vividly. I still have a putter I purchased from K-Mart back in the day. I remember Bradleess had a tube tester in the corner near the business office where you could also cash checks. I even took my wife to the mall on our first date. Its good to see that the South Coast Market Place is doing so well. It was sad to see the mall at the end.
Kelly
March 21, 2023 at 9:38 am
When I was a kid we lived in Middletown, RI (and I still do). Every August my parents would take us to Bradlees for back-to-school clothes shopping; as a little kid I looked forward to it! It just wouldn’t have been the new school season without a trip to Bradlees.
Norm
March 22, 2023 at 7:07 pm
Ken,
Thank you for bringing back some great memories! I was the General Manager of Papa Gino’s during part of the 70’s. I loved my job because my employees in Fall River were outstanding! The customers were friendly as well as the people working in the neighboring stores. I worked in many Papa Gino’s but Fall River was my favorite.
Sue
August 14, 2023 at 9:15 am
One of my first jobs was at Paperback Booksmith. I had the best boss, coworkers, and customers. Many wonderful memories of the mall.
Tony Silvia
August 16, 2023 at 10:30 pm
Great article and wonderful memories. One of my favorite places was Paperback Booksmith. They also sold LP’s and I remember hearing John Fahey’s holiday album “The New Possibility” playing in the store, asked what it was and bought it on the spot. That was the great thing about stores where you could discover books or music that you’d never heard of before. Bradlees was also great. I still have a Seiko watch I bought there, on sale, back in the late 70’s! Fall River and the mall always has always been a special time for me, as I started out in radio at WSAR when it was a Top 40 station over 50 years ago and people in the city were always so kind when I did promotional appearances or live broadcasts from the city (WSAR was and, I believe still is) in Somerset. I even recall doing one from the Harbor Mall. Thanks for bringing back thoughts of some good times!
Brian
October 28, 2023 at 11:29 pm
Went to see The Three Amigos and Godzilla 1985 with my dad and we went to the parking lot after and somebody stole his Ford Granada. Some punk took it for a joy ride and totaled it. After that he didn’t take me to the movies anymore.
josh hansen
October 31, 2023 at 11:11 am
maybe a stop at Burger Chef on the way out?
Lisa
February 18, 2024 at 8:30 am
The arcade was the best. We used to walk from Lake Ave.