Steve M.

Although this post is made many years after the bulk of activity on this thread occurred, I am posting this now in order to correct several errors found in the original postings, and to (in some cases) give a somewhat complete history of the store under discussion. I feel this is necessary because the thread / article is one of the few on this topic to be found on the internet, and therefore – many people still read and make reference to it. History of the Bon Marche Store Space in the Asheville Mall In 1973, Bon Marche moved from its downtown Asheville location on Haywood Street to the Asheville Mall. It was located “in front of” (a few steps north, but directly on the main corridor of the Mall) where Dillard's Men's is today (2020). It was never located in the Ivey's/Dillard's space. Ivey’s has never owned or had any connection (to) Bon Marche. Bon Marche was sold to the Myers-Arnold Co. in 1979; the organization would eliminate the Bon Marché name from BM storefronts in 1980. The Bon Marche store at the Asheville Mall changed to Myers-Arnold in 1980. In 1987, Uptons acquired 14 stores from Meyers-Arnold of Greenville, South Carolina. Uptons was a department store based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The chain operated primarily in the Southeastern United States, with locations in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The chain was closed in 1999. The Meyers-Arnold store at the Asheville Mall changed to Uptons in 1987, and closed in early 1993. In later 1993 and into 1994, the former Upton’s unit and the nearby former Woolworth’s units were demolished. In part of the area of the former Uptons store (and also “behind” the former Uptons), a new two level (95,000 square foot) store was built for Montgomery Ward to occupy. This new unit was indented from the original straight line of mall stores; it had its own “hallway”. Montgomery Ward opened in the fall of 1994 and closed in 2000, just before the entire Ward corporation closed and went into bankruptcy. The store sat vacant for approximately two years. In 2002, the empty unit became Dillard’s North / Men & Home store – which it remains today (2020), A very useful article on the complete history of Bon Marche: https://mountainx.com/news/asheville-archives-the-many-locations-of-bon-marche-1889-1980/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Innsbruck Mall (Originally named “the Tunnel Road Shopping Center”) Mason’s “Department Store” was the original main “anchor” store; it was where Big Lots and Office Depot are today (2020). Winn Dixie Grocery was the other anchor at the far end of the center; where Plasma Biological Services is today (2020). Mason’s was there at the shopping center’s opening in 1966 and remained until it went out of business in 1975. Winn Dixie also left in 1975, moving to a new location at the Kmart Shopping Center, across the street from the Asheville Mall. Shortly thereafter, Ingles’s Grocery moved into the former Winn Dixie location, and remained there until 2006. Sky City did not replace Masons. Sky City has never been at the Innsbruck Mall. There were only two Sky City stores to have existed in the Buncombe County area: the original one on Patton Ave. (approximately where Sav-Mor Foods is today [2020]), and the other on Hendersonville Road, where the Ingles Shopping Center is today (2020). Brendle's Catalog Showroom moved into the Mason’s building. It remained at the mall until the chain folded in 1996. Big Lots and Office Depot then moved in and split the former Brendle’s building, and both remain there today (2020). There were only ever two Brendle's Catalog Showrooms to have existed in the Buncombe County area: the one just referenced at the Innsbruck Mall, and the second was located in the West Ridge Shopping Center in Candler. JCPenney was never been at the Innsbruck Mall. JCPenney was located in downtown Asheville on Battery Park Ave. until 1989, when it moved to the Asheville Mall. Radio Shack was never been at the Innsbruck Mall. However, Lafayette Radio Electronics / Baker Electronics was there from approximately 1968 to 1975, when it moved to a new location at the Kmart Shopping Center, across the street from the Asheville Mall. While at Innsbruck, Lafayette was located in the back portion of the upper mall (2nd floor), near the NC DMV License Plate / Tag Agency. Question and comments may be sent to Steve M. at: [email protected]