Phoenix’s oldest shopping center to reopen after three-year remodel
Jan 27, 2018, 7:00 AM
(Facebook photo/Uptown Plaza)
PHOENIX – The city of Phoenix’s oldest shopping center will reopen for the first time in three years on Saturday after undergoing a restoration project.
Uptown Plaza was built in 1955 and opened as the Valley’s first-ever suburban shopping center. In the heart of Phoenix, the plaza underwent a three-year revitalization project to give the once-thriving shopping center life again.
According to a release, the plaza’s stucco walls were chipped away to reveal the original brick on the buildings and traditional 1950’s-era details were preserved in the restoration.
Walter Crutchfield, a principal at Vintage Partners, the Arizona-based commercial real estate development and investment company who oversaw the restoration project, said that it was important to retain the historical features of the buildings.
“As a Phoenix native, who grew up shopping at Uptown Plaza, our goal has always been to restore this neighborhood hub back to Del Webb’s original vision in the 1950’s,” Crutchfield said in the release.
“Aside from scraping away decades of stucco and other ‘improvements’ to reveal the original brick-lined mid-century look, we consulted with nearby neighborhood organizations and people such as Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona to ensure we also restored Uptown Plaza’s unique mix of local, regional and national tenants.”
The plaza will hold a day long festival in honor of the reopening on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors of the plaza will have be able to enjoy free food tastings, live music and exclusive deals at the shops and restaurants within the plaza.
Shoppers also have the opportunity to enter into a contest to win a $1,000 shopping spree, and the first 500 to arrive will also receive a free Uptown Plaza branded tote bag.
The plaza is home to numerous restaurants, including Shake Shack, Chipotle and more. The plaza also houses new shops and the Sweatshop fitness center.
Uptown Plaza is located at the intersection of Central Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix.
Visit the plaza’s website for more information on the shops, restaurants and a list of the events for the grand reopening.