PHOENIX — The demolition of Phoenix's historic MetroCenter Mall began this week, marking the end of a 50-year landmark that shaped local culture for generations. The long-shuttered mall will become home to "The Metropolitan," a mixed-use development. The project features an outdoor retail complex called "The Loop," surrounded by townhomes at various price points, from starter homes to luxury residences.
RELATED: One last party held at Phoenix mall made famous by 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure' Phoenix City Councilwoman Ann O'Brien took the first shift in an excavator Monday morning and knocked down the first section of the old Dillard's department store, clearing the way for a long-awaited redevelopment. "It's a little bit bittersweet," O'Brien admitted, "but this community has been waiting for so long for this to be rejuvenated." When MetroCenter opened its doors in 1973, it made history as Arizona's first air-conditioned mall.
Though the mall closed in 2020, it still has legions of fans who remember spending time shopping there including O'Brien. "Shopping, my first credit card, one of my first jobs, sitting on Santa's lap," O'Brien said, "so yeah, a lot of memories here." Millions know the mall from shopping, but its most famous role was as itself in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure , starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winters.
The movie is about two high school slackers failing history class until a time traveler from the future comes to their rescue for the good of ma.