Places of the Past: The early years of Valley View Mall
From the Places of the past: An alphabetical look back at La Crosse area history series
Valley View Mall opened its doors at 9:30 a.m. July 31, 1980, in La Crosse. Here’s a look back at the early years of the city’s biggest shopping destination.
Valley View Mall: Construction underway
Construction workers prepare the site for Valley View Mall, at the corner of Hwys. 16 and 157. The mall opened in the summer of 1980.
Valley View Mall: View from the early 1980s
This photo, taken in the early 1980s, shows the area around Hwys. 16 and 157.
Valley View Mall: 1985 list of stores
This list of stores was published in a special section of the La Crosse Tribune that marked Valley View Mall's fifth anniversary.
Valley View Mall: Sears courtyard
This photo taken in 1985 shows a seating area outside the Sears department store.
Valley View Mall: Skylights
This photo, taken before the mall's 1980 opening, shows one of the seating areas in the mall. Skylights and trees were installed in seating areas throughout the mall.
Valley View Mall: Sears
Manager David McDowell stock merchandise in the boys department before the store opened in 1980 at the Valley View Mall.
Valley View Mall: Kinney Shoes
Scaffolding and plastic block the entrance to Kinney Shoes before it opens its doors in 1980 at Valley View Mall.
Valley View Mall: Kids toy store
Mary Jane Hefti of La Crosse demonstrates a Miss Piggy hand puppet for Cheri Wittenberg of Winona, Minn., at Kids, a toy store than opened in 1980 at Valley View Mall.
Valley View Mall: 1980 list of stores
Valley View Mall opened at 9:30 a.m. July 31, 1980. This list of stores was published in the La Crosse Tribune before the mall's opening.
Valley View Mall: Stevensons
This full-page ad for Stevensons was published in a special section of the La Crosse Tribune in 1980 before the opening of Valley View Mall.
Valley View Mall: Doerflinger's
This full-page ad for Doerflinger's was published in a special section of the La Crosse Tribune in 1980 before the opening of Valley View Mall.
Valley View Mall: Dayton's
This full-page ad for Dayton's was published in a special section of the La Crosse Tribune in 1980 before the opening of Valley View Mall.
Valley View Mall: Musicland
This full-page ad for Musicland was published in 1985 in a special section of the La Crosse Tribune marking the fifth anniversary of Valley View Mall.
As featured on
The La Crosse Public Library and Pediment Publishing are offering the community a chance to …
The excursion steamboat Capitol at the Dresbach Lock and Dam during the late 1930s. From 192…
Of the thousands of stories we posted at lacrossetribune.com during June, these 10 proved to…
Post a comment as
Report
Watch this discussion.
(3) comments
I worked at Leithold's from 1972 to 1978, then went to the Staats Company from 1978 to 1982. During that Staats time, La Crosse watched as downtown withered and even the Caledonia Street Shopping Center (now Oldtown north) got zapped. Interesting that in more recent history, downtown is coming back and the mall is having problems. Who knows? Maybe on-line shopping will replace both of them. I still like walking into a store where people know what they're doing, I can try the shirt or shoes on to make sure they fit and feel comfortable.
This is a great series of photos. I remember back in the 70's when highway 16 was a two lane road with farms. The only reason to drive highway 16 past La Crosse Street was to get to West Salem and it was all 2 lanes.
I was 17 when the mall opened and I remember I visited it 3 time in the first 4 days. I later worked at the mall for several years .. from 1986 to 2004. Then it became a workplace and not so much a place to spend your free time
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.