Raw & Real Reflections: Retail, Roadtripping, & Ramblings: IS LIFE STILL A LARK AT WILLOW GROVE PARK? - THE TWO LIVES OF WILLOW GROVE PARK

WILLOW GROVE PARK is my local mall. As such, I've spent many hours roaming its concourses, eating in the food court, spending money, gazing dreamily at the gorgeous fountain, and staring wistfully up at the carousel mobile above it. Locals know, and understand, to what this feature is a callback.

On the grounds where the mall is situated, for many years, was a well-loved, family-oriented amusement park. Summer afternoons were spent together, picnicking, going on the many rides and attractions, and listening to music, quite often the sound of Sousa marches, filling the air with energy and an old time air of unabashed patriotism.

PICTURE POSTCARD OF WGP - BACK IN THE DAY.

The park opened in 1896, the concept coming from The People's Traction Co., constructor of trolley lines at the time, as a means by which to promote travel on the lines from the city, to the neighboring county, and the amusement park that would come to be. This and similar parks around the country would become known as "trolley parks". Featuring attractions, concerts & dances, picnicking, and a wide array of amusements, these parks became a popular weekend travel destination for families and all types of pleasure seekers. Think of places like Coney Island... you get the idea.

Times were definitely simpler back then, and such a destination was more than sufficient to entertain and delight Philadelphia suburbanites looking for some fun and frivolity to add enchantment to summer days. With easy access via the trolley lines, during the times leading up to the turn of the century, and up until 1958, when streetcar service was suspended, due to the right-of-way of their lines being ceded for the construction of PA. Rt. 309 through the area, the park would flourish during the first half of the century, and beyond.

SOUSA MARCHES TO GREATNESS

The addition of the music pavilion proved to be a popular one, and the famous John Philip Sousa had a standing gig between the years of 1901-1926. In fact, the Carillon Clock suspended from the ceiling nearby the food court was placed in memory of Sousa.

Imagine being in a bustling amusement park with the familiar oompah-pah of a march tune adding to the festive atmosphere, with not a care in the world. As a popular documentary title about the park might say... "Life Was A Lark At Willow Grove Park".

LIFE WAS A LARK AT WILLOW GROVE PARK

The band pavilion wouldn't remain, being demolished in 1959... and the streetcar service would turn over to SEPTA lines... into the 80s, well after the park itself was no more. 1975 would sadly be the final full season of the amusement park, having seen 80 years of visitors, and providing them with memories for a lifetime. The announcement for closing the park was made in April of 1976, and the park would sadly be vacant for a while.

Eventually, the land would be cleared, taking with it the structures, but not the memory, of Willow Grove Amusement Park. One need only talk to locals in the Greater Philadelphia area who were around to see the park's heyday, to see the wistful looks and the stories to follow about just how great the place was. Life, indeed, was a lark, at the former Willow Grove Park.

The year 1978 would bring news that the former site would not remain vacant any longer. A collaboration between Federated Dapartment Stores & the Rubin Organization would bring a brand new shopping mall to the site, at a price tag of a cool $25M. Abington Township would greenlight the project in 1979, but brought the proposed five anchors down to three amid residents' resistance to the potential size, and likely resulting disruptions, of a major mall.

1982 would see the mall open, with design elements that would give a not so subtle nod to the history of the amusement park that had come before. The original anchors were Abraham & Straus, B. Altman & Co., and Bloomingdales. The Bloomingdales was a replacement for their standalone store which had previously been located in nearby Jenkintown.

Opening as an upscale mall, that would not continue to be the case, when Federated would sell its share in 1984, only two years after the mall opened. B. Altman would close, not long after in 1986, and would be replaced by Sears, which relocated there, from its original location in Abington. Two short years later, in 1988, A&S would shutter and become the famous Strawbridge & Clothier, which moved there from its ornate previous location in Jenkintown.

The mall would hum along through the 90s until its acquisition by the PREIT (Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust) and an interesting partnership with the Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System. The sale would come in at a whopping $140M, and eventually would usher in a round of renovations and additions. The Macy's anchor store was added, as well as a sizable parking garage, and... as a decided nod to its former place in history, a beautiful carousel in the wing opposite the food court.

Many other artistic and aesthetic improvements would come, as well as other shakeups in ownership and organization. 2006 would see the closure of Strawbridge's, and the upper floor space would be co-opted by a Cheesecake Factory restaurant. Boscov's had intended to move into the lower 2 floors (as Willow Grove is a 3-level mall), but sadly, due to their bankruptcy filing in 2008 which forced them to downsize operations, that was not meant to be.

2011 would bring better news, as JCPenney decided to open a location in the remaining 2 floors of Strawbridge's former space. That Penney's opened in 2012. A Bravo Italian restaurant & Nordstrom Rack opened adjacent not too long after. Sears would downsize in early 2015, leasing out their undesired space to Irish firm, Primark. It had its grand opening in the summer of 2016.

Earlier, in the spring of 2016, JCPenney was served the bad news that as part of a company downsizing, they would be closing as of late July that year.

The JCP space would sit vacant for 2 years, before it was announced that a Studio Movie Grill, a theater chain serving meals while watching movies, and boasting 11 screens, and a full service bar, would be constructed in the former JCP.

NEW ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTION

Late 2019 would see the vacant Bravo location transform into a Yard House restaurant.

Sadly, the year 2020 is upon us, and the Studio Movie Grill was intended to have its grand opening in the early stages of this year. We all know, with the current COVID-19 health crisis, that has been delayed. Not only has it been delayed, but the fate of movie theaters as a concept is hanging in question with how to seat and serve patrons while maintaining social distancing and health precautions in the future.

Malls themselves are reckoning with multiple store chain closings and being restricted from opening at all in states that view such "entertainment" venues as being nonessential, as mall owners attempt to introduce mitigation efforts to hasten their re-opening requests. It's a mess and one that owners, tenants, and patrons could not have imagined coming. Only time will tell how WGP, and other shopping malls will weather this crisis.

For now, we hope you have enjoyed this dive into the history of a property that has had not only one, but two lives as places where people could congregate, as families and friends, to have fun and create memories. I know that I, personally, have spent my share of time within its corridors. We held our wedding dinner in the Bravo restaurant there, as a matter of fact.

Sitting by the fountain, eating a pretzel from the now closed pretzel place adjacent... staring up at that mesmerizing carousel mobile feature above... walking purposely in through the carousel entrance just to get a glimpse of the carousel opposite the food court... buying the cell phone I take my mall & retail pictures with from the Sprint store... stocking up on Bath & Body Works supplies... eating a pleasant & simple meal at the food court or at the Cheesecake Factory... then walking off dinner by strolling around the vast 3-story structure, people-watching, taking a few photos here & there, and just generally enjoying the wonderful atmosphere.