The Ultimate Dirt Mall: Inside What Remains of the Old Belz Factory Outlet in Allen

By Robert Wilonsky Wed., Apr. 1 2009 at 2:58 PM

Categories: Things We Like

Justin Cozart

Inside what remains of the old Belz Factory Outlet Mall in Allen

The Collin Central Appraisal District still lists Memphis, Tennessee-based Belz Factory Outlet Mall as the owner of some 43 acres on Shelby Road in Allen, near the intersection of State Highway 121 and U.S. 75. So too do county deed records and the county's latest tax assessment. The only one disputing ownership is Belz: "We do not own it," said a woman who answered the phone at the Tennessee HQ. "I don't know why they haven't updated it in their system, but we sold it many years ago." To whom? She had no idea, before hanging up.

Right. So why the sudden interest? Well, it's due to our old pal Justin Cozart, who has posted some photos he grabbed from inside the mysterious, decrepit joint over the weekend. Says Justin of the old mall, which was open from 1983 till '87, "It's very exciting, actually. But I left because, ya know, the police will arrest you if they find you on the property," which records indicate was boarded up on January 1, 1989. (A January 1, 2007, reassessment found the mall "in poor shape.")

Cozart decided to visit the old Belz Factory Outlet Mall because rumor is it's being used by Allen Police Department's SWAT Unit for training purposes, which an officer in the Allen PD confirmed to Unfair Park today before suggesting we really confirm that with the tactical unit's commanding officers, who weren't available this afternoon. Word was the property was supposed to be sold and turned into a mixed-use development in 2004. But if no one else has any other ideas, seems like it'd make one hell of a post-apocalyptic movie set.

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im sad to inform you that this mall has been demolished. went there with some friends a few times, but when we checked around spring break there was nothing but field
Oops. Link didn't format in previous post. http://notstockphotography.smugmug.com/Cars/Mitch-Henderson-Designs/6257464_puUGB#P-3-20
< href="http://notstockphotography.smugmug.com/Cars/Mitch-Henderson-Designs/6257464_puUGB#P-3-20">Here</a> is a website for NotStockPhotography that did a photo shoot there for some custom cars. If you flip through the pages you can see some nice shots in the courtyard area. It peaked my intrest looking at them and lead me here trying to find out more about the mall.
I actually worked at this mall in 1986-1988...it was open well into 1988, which I believe I read it closed in 1987...most everything else was closed by 88 but Allentown Pottery which took over an entire wing of the mall (I believe the NORTH wing), was still up and running. I've seen photos from someone who has gone thru the mall in the last few years and it makes me sad to know that over 20 yrs. later no one has ever done anything with it. I was just a young 19 yr old when I started there, but I enjoyed my job at Allentown so much! And it isn't Beals..it WAS definitely called the "BELZ" mall!
It was in a bad sp[ot geographicly. If you were coming north on 75, you'd have to exit on Eldorado, turn back south along the frontage road merge onto 121 the turn onto Shelby. I was in there about a month ago. pretty bright in the main walkways and large stores but it gets creepy in the back areas I started the thread linked as "the mysterious, decrepit joint" in the article. What I'd really like to see are pictures from when it was open.
Been here multiple times. Very creepy. Lots of gang signs. At the giant hole in the wall and fence there is a big swastika spray painted onto the ground. There are potholes everywhere driving up. All the light poles have sunk into the ground and lean crooked in the grass.
What's up with the dog? Is it Justin's, is it a SWAT dog, or a stray? Hey, Justin, just curious - when you went to the food court, were the hot dogs still 'edible'? I've heard stories... Maybe they'll find "Mrs. Field" there. I heard she disappeared with her fortune a while back. Cool photos - someone break in to the West End some time and find out what happened to the stuff on the top floor.
HAHAHAHA! Lakewooder, you are just too funny!! HA!
@Robert Do you have any old pictures on West-Cliff Mall.This picture brings back mental images of the old West-Cliff Mall in OC. I'm not sure but I think I remember a cage with a monkey in it at that mall. It was right where the dog is in this picture.
Living in McKinney, I pass this place daily. I agree with the previous poster that it feels so invisible. Great photos. Add an escalator and you've got the mall from the original Dawn of the Dead!
Seeing photos like this makes me sad, too. I remember seeing Fast Times at Ridgemont High as a kid so about 20 years ago I went out to the Sherman Oaks Galleria and visited it. I have recently learned it was pretty much torn down several years ago and nothing is left of the original mall. Also seeing the Forum Mall in Arlington torn down back at the end of 2007. The fun times I spent walking in that mall, looking for cute guys, going to the Forum Theatre on Friday nights in the 1970's. I saw my first rated R movie at that mall. Again, sad to see these shopping areas die. Next on the dead malls list: Gainesville Factory Outlet Mall.
Cool photos! I've wondered what it looks like inside. I vaguely remember going there with my mom and grandma when it opened, but it didn't make that much of an impression on me. At one time, Blockbuster Video was using part of that mall. I'm not certain if it was just storage, or if people were working out there before the McKinney facility was built. As for fixing it up, GeorgeT, it has asbestos, so no one would want to rehab it. I had heard they were going to demolish it, but I'm sure the asbestos has made potential buyers think twice.
The thing is that I live near there and I only learned of the mall years after it closed. It really was invisible. It just seems strange that they built another outlet mall less than a mile away instead of fixing up that one.
So, let me get this straight... Justin hears that the Allen SWAT Team is going to be running around the property doing who knows what (firing off live rounds, launching TASER darts, throwing smoke grenades, etc.) so he decides to <i>sneak in there at the same time to see what's going on?</i> Justin--- I'm so telling your mom on you!
ThingFish says: Life Day! Renew! ****** I don't know what's scarier--that UP readers keep using movie quotes that I recognize, or the realization I'm waaaay past the official Logan's Run lifespan.
Life Day! Renew!
I may have toured (allegedly trespassed) the mall back when I was a teen. Not much of a mall even in 1980's standards. Go there at night and you will be thinking you might be on the set of Bladerunner. (I may know where the red 'O' is from the FASTFOOD sign if any memorabilia seekers are willing to shell out a few bucks...)
I'm too distracted to read the article, but I always thought this was called the Beals Outlet Mall. Did we change it for the phonetically stupid?
If nobody wants it, I'll take it.
Fabulous! I'm sure someone's already contacted DeadMalls.com. (???) I don't remember ever reading about a mall listed at the DeadMalls site as being used as a SWAT team training ground, but I can't imagine that's a first? Despite living in Dallas during these years, I honestly don't think I ever set foot in this place (now I would though).
That would make a great paintball park
Was it Central Park Mall? Man that place was depressing given the east corners of that intersection (410 & San Pedro) were in decent enough shape.
I did some work at an abandoned mall in San Antonio a couple years back. For some reason I can't explain, photos like this make me really really sad.
I'd say Red Bird Mall except it looks too upscale...
I'll be honest. Though it would take, like, 10 minutes for the words "Valley View" to show up in the comments.
Robert, "mysterious, decrepit joint"... you sure that's not an artist's rendering of the convention center hotel in the year 2020?
Wow, it's got a coyote and everything.