Waiting to get a mall, 43 years ago

In 1974, you could see a big sign along Mormon Coulee Road, promoting a new shopping center to be built soon near the Holy Cross Seminary.  Kraus Anderson of Minneapolis hadn’t built anything yet, and Arlen Shopping Centers of Tennessee bought land for a proposed ‘Riverside’ Mall…which would have three nationally-known department stores, plus 60 smaller stores, and parking for 3000 cars.  Some people opposed the Arlen plan because there were also ideas for a mall downtown, where the La Crosse Center is now.  Arlen eventually got involved with developing Valley View Mall…and the ‘Riverside’ land became Shelby Mall in the late 70’s.  
 
During the last week of July in ’74, the House Judiciary Committee in Washington approved three articles of impeachment against President Nixon, charging him with obstruction of justice and abuse of power in allegedly covering up the Watergate scandal.  The full House never got to vote on impeachment, because Nixon resigned in early August, after releasing a White House tape recording which showed he was part of the cover-up.
 
The week that Nixon resigned, the original “Death Wish” with Charles Bronson was the number 1 movie in America.  It ended a five-week run in first-place by “Chinatown,” starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.  Forget it, Jake, it’s Chinatown…in 1974, yesterday in La Crosse.