Longmont Times-Call
Editorial
Goodbye, Twin Peaks Mall; and thank you
POSTED: 07/20/2014 07:51:50 AM MDT | UPDATED: 9 DAYS AGO
(Longmont Times-Call File / The Photo Works)
RELATED
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Twin Peaks Mall
Jul 19:
Memories of Longmont's Twin Peaks Mall
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Jul 16:
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Jul 15:
Longmont movie theater, mall's last day is Sunday
Want a piece of Longmont retail history? Twin Peaks Mall auction is for you
An aerial photo of Twin Peaks Mall taken in 1987 reveals where the edge of town was when
the mall had opened two years earlier.
The Times-Call archive image, which shows a recently added but yet to open Sears store,
includes fields south of Ken Pratt Boulevard (then Florida Avenue) and west of Hover
Street. A farm house with outbuildings is nestled on the northwest corner of Hover and
what is now Clover Basin Drive, where Chili's now sits.
Studying the photo, a longtime resident might be amazed at how much this city has changed
since the mall opened. But it has been a generation since Twin Peaks Mall opened — a few
weeks shy of 29 years — and the world today is as different from 1985 as 1985 was from the
mid-1950s.
Neighborhoods now spill west and south of the mall, and shopping centers line the roads
across from Twin Peaks. As much as mall traffic has waned in recent years, shoppers have
flocked to those other stores, several of which — anecdotally — are among the best
performing in the state for sales. Even J.C. Penney, one of the original mall anchors, moved
across the street.
As a generation has passed, and as tastes and habits have changed, Twin Peaks mall has
slowly gone dark and quiet.
It wasn't always like that.
For years, Twin Peaks was the center of activity in Longmont, hosting concerts, art displays,
fashion shows, baseball card shows and blood drives — that is, in addition to being packed
with shoppers. As the aerial photo and other archive photos illustrate, hundreds of people
could be found at the mall on any given day, drawn by more than 70 retailers, fountains, the
food court, and even a carousel. During busy shopping seasons, thousands filled the massive
structure.
One might conclude that the neighboring shopping centers can thank Twin Peaks for their
success. For decades, the mall was the draw along South Hover Street. It helped move
Longmont south and west. It delivered the sales tax dollars that helped build a vibrant city.
Today, after the last afternoon showing at the mall theater, Twin Peaks Mall's doors will
close for the last time. In less than two weeks, machines will begin tearing down the walls
that were erected more than 29 years ago.
Longmont, take one last look at your mall, because it's about to give way to another
generation.
And be thankful for those who more than 30 years ago had the vision to build it, and to
those who for years have kept it operating.
Goodbye, Twin Peaks Mall.
Longmont's Twin Peaks Mall slated
for demo Aug. 1
Charity auction prizes include helicopter ride, a chance to
operate the 100-ton excavator
By Tony Kindelspire
Times-Call staff writer
POSTED: 07/17/2014 01:35:40 PM MDT
A large mural marks the ceremonial spot where the demolition will begin at Twin Peaks Mall in Longmont. (Matthew Jonas /
Longmont Times-Call)
Twenty-nine years to the month that dignitaries and fanfare celebrated the opening of
Longmont's Twin Peaks Mall, the walls will come tumbling down.
Twin Peaks Mall demolition event
When: 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1
Where: Northwest corner of the property off Bent Way
Who: NewMark Merrill representatives, city officials, I Have a Dream Foundation
representatives
More info: http://villageatthepeaks.com
NewMark Merrill Mountain States, owners of the mall, have announced that August 1 will
be Day One of the mall's demolition. The 100-ton excavator and claw will have a target as it
proceeds to tear into the building: a giant Gamma Acosta mural being painted on the former
Sears building, on the northwest corner of the mall.
"We've got the old (Twin Peaks Mall) logo going up, so it's representative of the old mall
going away," said Luke McFetridge, regional property manager for NewMark Merrill.
McFetridge said his connection with Acosta grew out of conversations he had been having
with Joanne Kirves, executive director of Longmont Council for the Arts. He said the two
have been talking about some ideas for how Village at the Peaks, the new center that
NewMark Merrill is building on the mall property, might be able to support the local artists'
community in Longmont.
"Kicking some ideas around with her, she referred some great local artists and one of those
was Gamma," said McFetridge, who added that he was very impressed with Acosta's work.
And the artist is no stranger to working with large canvases: one of his works of a couple
years ago, "Overflow," depicted what appeared to be giant gallons of paint dripping down
the side of the Longmont Museum & Cultural Center.
But that's not the only painting Acosta is going to be doing on the building before it goes
away.
"On the east side, he's going to basically get a blank palette," McFetridge said. "I think he's
got a full team he's planning to bring in."
The west entrance of Twin Peaks Mall is seen in this December 2006 photo.
Acosta's work on the east side will be visible from Kline Drive, east of the mall's ring road
and across from the theater, and also on the outside of the ring road near Taco Bell and
Burger King on the south side.
Though the closing of the UA Twin Peaks 10 on Sunday marks the official end of activity at
Twin Peaks Mall, demolition work already has begun on the interior.
First, representatives from Habitat for Humanity and Boulder's ReSource Yard were
allowed to come in and take out some of the furnishings. Wednesday night, members of the
public were invited to participate in Pacific Auction's sale, and Habitat and ReSource will be
allowed to come in once more and pick over what's left, McFetridge said.
Whatever remains will be reused, as much as possible, he said. Because the contractors will
install all new infrastructure underground, including electric, sewer and fiber optic lines, the
site will be completely ripped up. Plans are to reuse the brick as filler for the parking lots,
and the asphalt will also be ground up on-site.
"The theme is to recycle, reuse and repurpose as much of this existing building as possible,"
McFetridge said.
Late next week, after people who bought things at auction have had a chance to remove their
items, the Longmont Police SWAT team and Longmont Fire Department will be back in the
building doing more training. This time, the police and fire crews will have free rein to
destroy pretty much whatever they want to, he said.
"They have my permission to blow stuff up," McFetridge said with a chuckle. "In a perfect
world I would like them to drive a car through the front door, but I'm not sure they're going
to be able to pull that off."
Not only is NewMark Merrill providing local first responders with training and employing
local artists, it's also using the pending demolition to raise money for the I Have A Dream
Foundation.
NewMark Merrill is auctioning off three special VIP seats to the demolition, with the
winning bidders getting a guided helicopter tour of the project site with NewMark Merrill
and city officials. In addition, one member of the community attending the demolition event
will be chosen to take a turn operating the 100-ton excavator, as will the three VIP winners
of the auction.
Construction of Village at the Peaks will begin later this year, following demolition. The
majority of the center, which will be anchored by Whole Foods, Sam's Club and a new Regal
theater, should be open by the holiday shopping season in 2015.
For more information on the project or to bid to become one of the VIPs at the demolition,
visit villageatthepeaks.com.
Contact Times-Call staff writer Tony Kindelspire at 303-684-5291 or tkindelspire@timescall.com
Denver Post
Want a piece of Longmont retail history?
Twin Peaks Mall auction is for you
The sale isn't just at mall -- it is the mall
By Tony Kindelspire
Times-Call staff writer
POSTED: 07/15/2014 03:08:26 PM MDTADD A COMMENT | UPDATED: 14 DAYS AGO
1/5
From left: O.J. Pratt, owner of Pacific Auction Companies, talks with employee Lee McBride as they
prepare items for auction, Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at Twin Peaks Mall in Longmont. Items including
windows, doors, neon lighting, restaurant equipment and even the benches will be auctioned off on ......
Wednesday. Go to timescall.com for more photos of Twin Peaks Mall. ...... (Matthew Jonas/Longmont
Times-Call)
A bench and plants are seen marked for auction, Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at Twin Peaks Mall in
Longmont. Items including windows, doors, neon lighting, restaurant equipment and even the benches
will be auctioned off by Pacific Auction Companies on Wednesday. Go to timescall.com for more photos
of ...... Twin Peaks Mall. ...... (Matthew Jonas/Longmont Times-Call)
O.J. Pratt, owner of Pacific Auction Companies, looks over items to be auctioned, Tuesday, July 15,
2014, at Twin Peaks Mall in Longmont. Items including windows, doors, neon lighting, restaurant
equipment and even the benches will be auctioned off on Wednesday. Go to timescall.com for more
photos ...... of Twin Peaks Mall. ...... (Matthew Jonas/Longmont Times-Call)
The empty food court and storefronts are seen, Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at Twin Peaks Mall in Longmont.
Items including windows, doors, neon lighting, restaurant equipment and even the benches will be
auctioned off by Pacific Auction Companies on Wednesday. Go to timescall.com for more photos of Twin
...... Peaks Mall. ...... (Matthew Jonas/Longmont Times-Call)
See additional gallery images here.
Empty corridors and storefronts are seen, Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at Twin Peaks Mall in Longmont. Items
including windows, doors, neon lighting, restaurant equipment and even the benches will be auctioned off
by Pacific Auction Companies on Wednesday. Go to timescall.com for more photos of Twin ...... Peaks
Mall. ...... (Matthew Jonas/Longmont Times-Call)
‹›
Vaulted ceilings in your living room? How would you like a 20-foot indoor tree? You'll just
have to figure a way to get it out of the building.
Or how about some maple hardwood flooring — enough to fill an entire store? Or maybe
you're in the market for an ice machine for the garage?
Pacific Auction Companies on Wednesday evening will host a liquidation sale of everything
that's left at Twin Peaks Mall. Owner O.J. Pratt had his crew riding through the mall on
bicycles Tuesday, making sure everything was tagged and photographed appropriately.
"They're the nicest park benches you've ever seen," Pratt said, pointing to the wooden
benches in the middle of the mall's aisles that have played host to countless keisters over the
years. "They've been in here 20 years — they look brand new."
Want to take home a piece of Longmont's retail history? Come down Wednesday evening
and bid on a bench or two.
"Some of them are lotted individually, some are in groups of two or three," Pratt said. "We'll
mix it up."
Twin Peaks Mall liquidation auction
Where: Go in the west entrance to Penny's (follow the signs to get safely into the parking
lot). The auction will also be taking place online.
When: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 16
What will be for sale: 500,000 square feet of equipment, fixtures, building materials,
restaurant equipment, neon tubing and much more
More info: Go to pacificauction.com
All that's left in the interiors of the stores is what the retailers chose not to bring with them.
For example, one retailer had taken all the brackets and shelving out of its store but had left
the metal the shelving attaches to on the wall. The sinks and chairs from the hair salons
were left behind, as was a bunch of the restaurant equipment in the food court. All will be up
for auction.
A bench and potted plants are some of the items marked for auction at Twin Peaks Mall. Pacific Auction Companies will host
the auction beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tuesday until 5 p.m. and noon on Wednesday are the auction's preview
times. (Matthew Jonas / Longmont Times-Call)
The structural glass at the entrance to many of the stores was expensive to install, Pratt said,
but likely bring won't bring much at auction because of the exact sizing of each panel.
"There's some fun things like this," Pratt said, showing a closet-sized, walk-in safe in the
back of one store. "If you need a safe, here's your chance."
Also included in the auction will be the building's HVAC units, four commercial-size trash
compactors, dozens of drinking fountains, thousands of lineal feet of neon tubing and
hundreds of sheets of 1/2-inch plywood — which lined the hallways that were off limits to
the general public but were used by retailers to haul merchandise and furnishings through.
Pratt said the mall's owners, NewMark Merrill Mountain States, will give auction buyers
about two weeks to remove what they buy at auction before demolition on the mall begins.
The United Artists Theater is the only business left operating, and there's been no closing
date announced for it yet.
The mall — except for the east-side Dillard's building — will be demolished to make room
for Village at the Peaks, a nearly $90 million redevelopment of the property into an open-air
shopping center anchored by Whole Foods, Sam's Club and a Regal theater. The majority of
Village at the Peaks is slated to be open by the holiday shopping season of 2015.
Contact Times-Call staff writer Tony Kindelspire at 303-684-5291 or tkindelspire@timescall.com
Longmont
Moviegoers say goodbye to Longmont's
Twin Peaks theater
By Amy Bounds
Daily Camera staff writer
POSTED: 07/20/2014 09:06:29 PM MDT | UPDATED: 9 DAYS AGO
http://www.timescall.com/News/ci_26185907/Moviegoers-say-goodbye-to-Longmonts-Twin-Peakstheater
<div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div>
Longmont's John Davis said goodbye Sunday to Longmont's Twin Peaks movie theater,
watching "Tammy," the last movie, with his wife and a neighbor.
"It's a piece of Longmont," he said about the 17-year-old theater — the final business to close
inside Twin Peaks Mall, which is slated for demolition and redevelopment. "I have good
memories of this theater."
About 1,200 people watched movies on closing day at the UA Twin Peaks 10 theater, with
showings of "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" selling out. As the last movies ended, people
went to the concession stand for final popcorn refills, played video games and took pictures
of movie murals painted on the walls.
Susan George, left, Brooke Walker and her son, Jack, buy tickets for the latest "Transformers" movie on Sunday. Scores of
people came Sunday to the Twin Peaks Mall in Longmont to see the last movies shown at the theater before it closed. (Cliff
Grassmick / Daily Camera)
Kayla Benbrook and Amanda Saunders said they grew up going to the Twin Peaks theater
and went almost every Sunday.
"This is our date day," Benbrook said.
United Artists first opened its 10-screen theater in the mall in 1997, 12 years after Twin
Peaks Mall opened. Regal Entertainment Group and UA later merged following a
bankruptcy in 2001.
Longmont's Denise Neal took her 15-year-old twins, Ryan and Shonn, to see "Edge of
Tomorrow" and said she's sad to see the theater close.
"We came here to say goodbye to one of the things that made Longmont better," she said.
"But we're excited to see when it comes back bigger and better."
Plans for redevelopment, dubbed Village at the Peaks, include a Regal theater as one of the
anchors, along with Whole Foods and Sam's Club.
The new theater, which is being built by property owners NewMark Merrill Mountain
States, will be a 12-screen, state-of-the-art facility with plush recliner seats and footrests in
all 12 auditoriums.
Brooke Walker and her son, Jack, take a moment to look at the artwork on the theater walls before going inside. Scores of
people came Sunday to the Twin Peaks Mall in Longmont to see the last movies shown at the theater before it closed. (Cliff
Grassmick / Daily Camera)
One of the 12 rooms will offer moviegoers what the company calls the "Regal Premium
Experience," which will feature an extra-large screen. That will be only the second RPX
concept screen in the state, with the other located in south Denver near Hampden
Boulevard and Interstate 25.
The new cinema is projected to open in time for the holiday shopping season of 2015.
Frances Norman said she once was a regular Twin Peaks moviegoer, but started going to the
theater at Broomfield's FlatIron Crossing for its reclining seats — and is excited that
reclining seats are planned for the new Longmont theater.
Still, she came back Sunday for one last movie. Friend Collette Sellers noted that it's "the
end of an era."
Longmont's Cassidy Precht said she welcomes a more modern theater, but came Sunday to
watch "How to Train your Dragon 2" so she could remember the original theater.
"It's not going to be like it was," she said.
With the theater shuttered, Twin Peaks Mall's owners have announced an Aug. 1 demolition
date. Everything on the property, with the exception of the former Dillard's building, will be
torn down to make room for Village at the Peaks.
The demolition event, with speeches and helicopter tours planned, is scheduled from 3 to 5
p.m.
Times-Call staff writer Tony Kindelspire contributed to this report.
1/5
The lines were long to see the last movies to be shown at the mall. Scores of people came to the Twin
Peaks Mall in Longmont to see the last movies shown at the United Artists theater on Sunday. For more
ph
Longmont Daily Times-Call
Memories of Longmont's Twin Peaks Mall
Locals remember Longmont's Twin Peaks Mall as the owners prepare for
demolition
By Whitney Bryen
Times-Call community reporter
POSTED: 07/19/2014 05:58:09 PM MDT | UPDATED: 9 DAYS AGO
Exterior demolition of Longmont's Twin Peaks Mall will begin Aug. 1.
As the mall's owners prepare to tear down the structure, locals share some of their favorite
memories at the mall.
"That mall was basically our life story. So watching it disappear is very bittersweet. I have a
million memories of the Twin Peaks Mall. It is where my family had our restaurant Tacos
Etc. for 14 years. It is where I met my husband during the construction in 1985. It is where
my two kids had at least 5,000 tacos and several birthday parties, including taking dozens of
classmates and friends to the theaters. I saw every new movie for 20-some years there. I also
bought four of my puppies at the pet store that was once there. I am very sad about the
demise of this mall. But time marches on and change is inevitable."
- Paula Manning Fagre
"It was my first job out of high school, and I am glad that I got to spend that summer there
along with the fellow cast members (employees). The theater always felt like a big
welcoming family, and after being born and raised in Longmont it was really the first,
major theatres I saw some of the most memorable movies in. No, it wasn't the best looking
theaters and was run-down. But it was surely one of the few places a lot of us have some
precious memories in. I remember when my mother and father weren't fighting and were
finally talking again. Even after 4 years of divorce, they were able to stop fighting long
enough to take me, together as a family, to see the "Hulk" movie. Something I will
remember for the rest of my life — the first time my parents were semi-together as a
family again. Thank you Twin Peaks."
- Nathanael Reinsmith
"(I remember) waiting for a movie and a shoplifting incident was going on nearby and we
helped apprehend the thief; Also, seeing Gamma Acosta's murals in the lobby; And $5
movie tickets, which will probably never come back once the theater is upgraded. (I am)
looking forward to better seating."
- Brigette Reed Rodriguez
Contact Times-Call community reporter Whitney Bryen at 303-684-5274 or
wbryen@times-call.com