Picture of the Day: 11/15/2015

Here are some people standing on the Ice Chalet sometime in the 1980s.

Happy 38th Birthday

Carolina Circle Mall officially opened this day in 1976. Over the past 9 years of having this blog, I’ve said so many things about the mall that it seems like there might not be anything else to say.

However, I got to thinking awhile ago about the memories I have of going to Carolina Circle Mall as a child and how much I enjoyed the overall atmosphere, not just the Carousel. Compared to the other malls in the area at that time, and even nowadays, there was something different about Carolina Circle, but what was it?

I think that unlike other malls that were built strictly for business and retail, Carolina Circle Mall was designed to be not only retail, but for entertainment. It was the only mall in the area with a movie theater attached to it and most notably, it was the only mall in the area to ever have an Ice Chalet or a Carousel (however Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem now has a small Carousel). Even though Carolina Circle Mall failed financially, I will always remember it for the special features it had that set it apart from other malls but most importantly, the memories the mall gave me.

Picture of the Day: 12/10/2012

This is a picture of a Christmas magic show on the mall’s Ice Chalet in December 1980.

Picture of the Day: 5/23/2011

This is the Ice Chalet in 1988, the same year it was removed. You can see the renovation is in full force in this picture.

Picture of the Day: 5/18/2011

That’s the famous Carolina Circle Mall Ice Chalet in 1982!

Ice Chalet in 1988

This is a pretty low resolution picture, but from a January 2011 edition of the Greensboro News & Record comes this picture of the Carolina Circle Mall Ice Chalet in early 1988, during the mall’s renovation. Presumably, this was right before the Ice Chalet closed.

On the right side of the picture is the famous Ice Chalet “Overlook Window” at Annabelle’s.

Ice Chalet in 1982

From the January 14, 2011 edition of the Greensboro News & Record, here is a very interesting photo of the Carolina Circle Mall Ice Chalet in 1982. This is facing away from the main entrance.

Sam "The Magic Man" Billingsley Photo Collection

From frequent contributor Sam Billingsley, here are 4 photos of Carolina Circle Mall from the 1980s.

A Christmas ice show at the mall's Ice Chalet, circa 1980/1981.












Sam performing one of his first of many magic shows at the mall, outside The Melting Pot, across from Ivey’s, in 1984.










Sam's daughter Jennifer skating at the mall's Ice Chalet, circa 1987.











Sam’s daughter Jennifer standing beside a wooden version of her father, circa 1987.

Carolina Circle Begins Business (Newspaper Article from August 4, 1976)

I’ve had this article in my possession for the past 4 years. This article is from the Greensboro Daily News talking about the grand opening of Carolina Circle Mall dated August 4, 1976, aka “The Day Human Life Changed Forever”.

As you will see, this article gives a list of all 22 stores that were open that day, as well as a list of businesses that were planning to open near the mall, all of which did open the same year.

Somewhere amongst my junk, I have an article from the Greensboro Record (Greensboro’s evening newspaper) from the same day. It includes a badly library microfilm compressed picture of large balloons being lifted into the sky by the main entrance. If I ever find it, I’ll post it as well.

Also keep in mind that at this time, Circle Six Theatres and Piccadilly Cafeteria and not opened yet. Both didn’t come along until November 1976.

Here it is, in its full length. No challenge to copyright intended.

Carolina Circle Mall officially opens today, and both the shopping and entertainment aspects of the 750,000 square foot complex will be featured.

Twenty-two stores will be in operation when the mall opens at 10:00am. Among these are Belk Department Store and Montgomery Ward, both of which have been open for several months, and Ivey’s, which will be opening its first Greensboro store today.

These three stores together account for 428,000 square feet of the enclosed, two-tiered complex, which features natural sky lighting, interior landscaping with live trees and a climate-controlled environment.

Architecturally, the mall centers around a sunken ice rink, called the Ice Chalet, where free public skating will be scheduled this morning, in addition to two skating exhibitions.

Other activities scheduled for the next three days at the mall are concerts by an Eastern Music Festival and “Bluegrass Experience,” visits by characters from Alice’s Wonderland and a hot air balloon exhibition, weather permitting.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10:00am today with Mayor Jim Melvin and Bob Alpert, president and chief executive officer of the mall’s development firm, Alpert Corporation, officiating.

Built over a two-year period, the $25 million-plus mall is the first phase in the full development of the 220-acre tract located on US-29 at Cone Boulevard, north of downtown Greensboro. The properties surrounding the mall are available for commercial and residential development.

Among the business establishments already slated for construction on this peripheral property are a Kmart, Weiner King, and Shoney’s.

Access to the enclosed mall, which is expected to attract shoppers from 10 North Carolina and Virginia counties in addition to Guilford, is by US-29, 16th Street, or Cone Boulevard. Parking for more than 4,000 cars is available.

The mall will generate more than 1,000 jobs and sales of more than $50 million annually are projected.

In addition to the three department stores which anchor the mall, stores open for business today include three fast food restaurants- Chick-Fil-A, the Karmel-Korn Shoppe, and Orange Julius of America; three jewelry stores- Kay Jewelers, Gordon’s Jewelers, and Carlyle & Company; three shoe stores- Kinney Shoe Corporation, Thom McAn, and Butler’s Shoe Corporation and two clothing shops- County Seat and Foxmoor.

Other stores opening include Radio Shack, a stereo equipment and electronics store; Camelot Music Store, Ridgeway Optical Company, the General Nutrition Center (a health food store), K&K Toys, Waldenbook Company, and Champs (a sporting goods store).

Electronic America, a family entertainment center featuring electronic arcade games, is located on the lower level near the ice rink and will also be open.

Some 21 businesses are scheduled to open in the mall during the coming months. Total occupancy of the mall is 76 stores.

Sam the Magic Man Ad June 1987

This is from a June 1987 edition of the Greensboro News & Record.

New Ice Rink Discovery

I was going through the Google news archives this evening and I came across some interesting information regarding the closure of the Ice Chalet.

First, let’s backtrack to August of 2009. That was when I finally discovered that the month the Carousel Era began was November 1988. That was good in itself, but that still didn’t tell me when the Ice Chalet closed.

Well this evening, I found a newspaper article from Burlington’s Times News from I believe March 1988 which included a story regarding someone recently skating at Carolina Circle Mall’s ice rink.

Thus, that finally partly answered my question. Obviously, the Ice Chalet closed in 1988. It had to have been between March 1988 and November 26, 1988 (the date the Carousel opened). The only question remaining is when in 1988. I’m led to believe it was before June 1988, because I have a newspaper ad from that month which used the Carousel Era Circle Crescent emblem.

Just some random deep thinking. But at least I now know that the Ice Chalet closed in 1988. Still hurts that I missed the Ice Chalet by only a year.

Ice Rink Era Computer Wallpaper

I made this back in February and it has been simply sitting on my external Seagate hard drive since then doing nothing. I figured I should go ahead and upload it.

Expect a Carousel Era wallpaper and a Pyramids Village wallpaper once I find the time to do make them.

Ice Chalet Halloween Party 1976

From the same guy who brought you the Alice in Wonderland video comes this really cool video of Carolina Circle Mall's Ice Chalet Halloween Party in 1976, when the mall was only 2 months old.

Also notice the mall's Cheshire Cat emblem on the wall at the beginning of the video.

Alice in Wonderland Show Circa 1977

Back in January, a nice person sent me a DVD with old films that he took of Carolina Circle Mall's Ice Chalet in the '70s. Apparently, he is now in the process of uploading the same videos to YouTube.

This particular video is a good example of how Carolina Circle Mall would use Alice in Wonderland for their shows and ads during its early Ice Rink Era years.

When I first watched these videos, I had to keep reminding myself that that was indeed Carolina Circle Mall. The reason is because I'm so used to the Carousel Era that whenever I see anything pretaining to the Ice Rink Era, it seems foreign to me. In a good way though!

Please enjoy this groovy trip back to the '70s. I'll add more if he puts the other videos on YouTube.

A Closer Look at the Carousel Controversy

Today, I thought we would take a closer look at the Ice Rink Vs. Carousel issue and try to make some sense out of all this.

As you all know, Sunshine Properties bought Carolina Circle Mall in August 1986 and hired Strouse Greenberg to renovate the mall in 1987. June of 1988 brought the unveiling of the new Carolina Circle Mall which included a new color scheme, brighter lighting, the famous Circle Crescent Emblem, and most importantly, a new Carousel.

You also probably know that the new Carousel and Food Court required the removal of the Ice Chalet.

And this is where the problem occurs. You see; a lot of people came to the mall for the rink. People loved to watch people ice skate, catch an ice show, and even participate in the skating. From what I've heard, it was pretty awesome.

Carolina Circle Mall's Ice Rink at the time was the only rink in Greensboro. And when the rink was removed in 1988 and replaced with the Carousel, people simply boycotted this new situation.

In television terms, people have decided that this is the point in the mall's history where it "jumped the shark".

People who know me know that I have always preferred the Carousel Era over the Ice Rink Era. However, I try to show respect for the Ice Rink Era as well. The main reason why I prefer the Carousel Era is because it's the era I grew up in. I missed the Ice Rink by about a year and a half.

I believe that the Carousel Era had as much luster as the Ice Rink Era did, but in its own special way.

According to my research at the library and the Internet, many special events occurred during the Carousel Era that could have passed during the Ice Rink Era. Famous people such as Dale Earnhardt, Richard Simmons, and The Muppets visited the mall during the Carousel Era during the 1990s.

Also, other special events during the 1990s included Santa Claus parachuting to the mall in 1993, at least one 4th of July fireworks show in 1994, sports card shows, and Halloween Trick or Treat parties that occurred until at least 1995.

In conclusion, I simply believe the Carousel Era doesn't get the respect it deserves. Don't get me wrong though. The Ice Rink Era was pretty awesome from videos, pictures, and stories I've seen. Gotta love that Cheshire Cat. Any opinions?

Carolina Circle Worldwide

You probably think that Carolina Circle Mall is only known in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. Wrong. It's actually known as far as England.

First of all, according to an old friend of mine from Pendle Hill, Carolina Circle Mall was once featured in a skateboarding magazine.

A few weeks ago, I got online and noticed that the mall was also featured in another skateboard magazine in England. This is mainly for skateboarding, but it's still neat.

Ice Rink Picture

My friend Vann Massey emailed me this picture of the ice rink in 1976. He was one of the developers of Carolina Circle Mall.

Looking at this picture, I can see a world of difference from the carousel version. That area looks totally different.

Thanks Vann for this interesting picture.

Ice Matters

I've never ice skated before. I've always wanted to ice skate on the Carolina Circle Mall Ice Rink. However, I have roller skated at SkateLand in 5th grade once. Of course, I fell more than I did tricks.

From what I've heard, the ice rink area of Carolina Circle Mall (Same location as the carousel/food court) included a few scattered tables and chairs. The Chic Fil' A was there, an Annabelle's was overlooking the ice rink, and a Hardee's was across from the area. The ice rink was located at the back of the future food court (toward's Future Monk's & Future Deli). The video arcade was in 2 different locations. It moved across the food court once the carousel moved in. I think there might have been an ice rink gift shop, but I don't know.

I've always said that the carousel Carolina Circle was better than the ice rink Carolina Circle, but maybe it wasn't. The reason I like the carousel version so much was because that carousel was a big thing for me. If it wasn't for that rotating horse simulator, I wouldn't like Carolina Circle as much. But in order for me to like ice rink version the best, I'd have to skate on it. But until I get a hold of a flux capacitor to send me back to the 70's or 80's, I'll have to settle for word of mouth.

If anyone has a picture of the ice rink, send it to me and I'll post it here.