Awhhhhh, indoor Malls. Those vacant places just sitting there like dead beacons in the desert for vultures to pick apart reminding us of our past, "Glory Days" as the boss would say. If Stephen King has not used a vacant mall for a setting in one of horror stories yet he should get right on that. Ha! So I messed up a movie time and date at the Harkins today and decided with the drive time already under my belt I would just run in and see how the mall is doing these days. I remember it being one of my favs back in the day since it was smaller, not as overwhelming as the three story or large other malls in town, and always pretty with cool decor. I remember when they used to have a sandcastle and the best holiday tree in town. I also remember, and will never forget, the time on a first date my date went into a diabetic coma at the Harkins top floor. This was when the old Harkins was located inside the mall and it had an upper level to the movies only. That was remodeled years ago. The Harkins has moved at least twice since then and is now located right outside the south mall door entrances off of Bethany Home. So pretty much the mall is vacant but not 100 percent though. No one was there but me and maybe five other folks. However, potential is there. I am not sure what they have planned for the closed up shops but not every business is closed. In fact, i was surprised it has as much as it does. The stores open are pretty specialized though so maybe go in with an open mind and not a specific need. There were two or three shoe stores, a few non brand clothing places for the young and hip female shopper, a few treats and eateries, a whole wall dedicated to, "Five Below" but i never saw where the door or store was. Future store or maybe outside? No info on the wall either. Maybe it was there before and closed? Not sure. There is also an American Furniture store where the old Costco was, a Wetzels Pretzels, and Charlies Steaks are old time patrons. Shockingly Charlies is still there after all this time. They also have a few of those kiosk pop up vendors in the middle of the mall selling cell phones and jewelry and such, which seem a must have at any mall. But thank God no pressure or shout outs by any of them. I appreciated that. The other eateries seem to have closed or changed over. Not sure how they stay open with such small crowds. There is also an accessory type of place similar to Claires. Walmart of course is the staple store located adjacent but it does have an indoor access door to the east. Outdoor straight to the parking lot too. As far as the building space itself. I love the space and vintage feel of this mall. They have historic old school photos on the inside walls. Photos that show what the mall was like in the 1960s when it first opened. So cool! I loved that. I wish every wall had photos like this on it but it seemed they were mostly at the north east entrance by Walmart. It was a fast walk back and forth since like I mentioned it is not a large mall. They do have an open area mall located on the corner off of 19th Ave that is not part of the inside mall but a strip mall that is part of the large land space known as Spectrum mall. Far better choices for shopping and food. The main staple stores outside are Ross and Target. The smaller places keep changing so I wont list them but I noticed a dollar store and sporting store at least. A lof of the smaller places have changed over the past few years so call ahead. I am guessing the Target and Ross are not going anywhere soon since they have been there for a few years. There is also a Chase bank at the old, "Elephant Bar" space south east corner of 19th Ave and Bethany Home more or less. I noticed a few more eateries have gone in recently. I think a Naughty Tacos is one I saw as I drove by. Inside the mall they also had this really cool space looking place with tacos as the food choice. It looked like you walked into a tunnel to the counter. Fun redesign of a space. So if you want tacos you have choices. Shopping for needs not wants you are probably better outside for full service stores and variety but the inside mall is still cool for a trip down memory lane. Maybe they can get some more shops to open in there soon. Bonus if it relates to your needs- you are right on the light rail . read more

I depend on this mall for all of my shopping. It's easy to get here via the use of the light rail. Please don't close it. Being disabled and elderly ,see, I need this mall. It's close to my residence. read more

Me and my friends were walking around and security told us that we were loitering and if we wouldn't leave, they would call Phoenix PD. It's a shame that they have to worry about people walking around the mall because it brings back old memories rather than focusing on the security measures happening outside... We were escorted out and the security was super uptight. Never coming again. read more

Christown Spectrum mall has existed since the early 60's. It started out as Christown Mall, and extends from 15th Ave to 19th Ave along Bethany Home Road. During its early years it was considered one of the first indoor malls, where customers could shop inside in comfort. There were department store such as the Broadway, J.C. Penny, and Montgomery Wards, and plus the smaller stores and restaurants. As the big stores left, the west part of the mall was demolished. I don't recall what year the west portion was demolished. Later on Walmart built its store but, I believe it was about that time the company that leases the spaces decided to change the name to Spectrum Mall. Later on the west part of the mall was rebuilt. J.C. Penny returned and others stores like Target and Ross came in as did other stores. It was renamed to Christown Spectrum Mall as it is referred to now. Costco built its store and connected it to the mall. This mall is doing very well and it is a good thing. We mostly shop at Costco now and sometimes will go into the J.C. Penny to do some shopping. When I mentioned the original stores, the Broadway, J.C. Penny, and Montgomery Wards, those stores were hug. All three had upper levels plus J.C. Penny also had a basement. Many people shop here and because the surrounding area is close to central part of Phoenix, it will continue to do well. I do miss the long stretch of the indoor shopping but, progress doesn't see it that way. Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention the theaters that are part of this mall, this brings in the customers as well. I still refer to it as Christown Mall but, that's just me. Hope you enjoyed my version of the history. read more

In my opinion this is the best Wal-Mart in the metropolitan Phoenix area. Stephanie the greeter is always welcoming and has a nice word for all her customers. The recent interior renovations are bright and welcoming. read more

I was in dire need of new jeans. When jeans have holes that aren't there for the style, then they need to go. Doing some digging, I found this place. With so many stars and good reviews, it was worth a shot. Soon as I walked in I was greeted by Sarah who took me on a tour of the jeans section. Didn't think it was possible but I was instantly drawn to these comfy, well worn boyfriend jeans-holes not included. For $25, it was a steal! I'll admit, I wanted to browse the rest of the store, and could, for hours. Full of unique finds and bargains, I'm impressed that they're able to stay fully stocked! Necesitaba urgentemente unos vaqueros nuevos. Cuando los vaqueros tienen agujeros que no están ahí para el estilo, entonces tienen que irse. Haciendo algunas excavas, encontré este lugar. Con tantas estrellas y buenas críticas, valió la pena intentarlo. Tan pronto como entré, me recibió Sarah, quien me llevó a un recorrido por la sección de vaqueros. No pensé que fuera posible, pero al instante me sentí atraído por estos vaqueros de novio cómodos y bien usados que no están incluidos. ¡Por 25 dólares, fue una ganga! Admito que quería navegar por el resto de la tienda, y podría, durante horas. Lleno de hallazgos únicos y gangas, ¡me impresiona que puedan mantenerse completamente abastecidos! read more

Christown Mall At one time was the premier shopping mall in Phoenix. Within the last 10 years has struggled to attract people to the mall. The first rebuilding move was bringing in Costco and then Walmart and then the Super Target. The Costco food court is part of the mall where you do not need a Costco membership to eat at. The surrounding neighborhood has changed to more of minority population . Overall the mall has revitalized very well but not too the prime mall that it used to be read more

Best shopping place in town ...u have so many outlets in the mall...saves time n energy ...th y have a Costco,Walmart and target in here. So all shopping under one roof ...they have Ross dollar tree,carter's,bath and body works and also many many other stops..there is a wingstop in here and KFC is also nearby same complex . Parking is spacious and value for money There is a good court and for movie lovers there is a harkins theatre in here .so overall 4/5 read more

Went in to mall to go to furniture store entered the mall at 9:57 and was waiting for furniture store to open at 10:00 it was 9:58 might of even been 9:59 when a security guard about in his 60s came up and said i had to leave and had to wait outside as he was kicking us out another couple entered the mall and he had no problem with them I get they deal with a lot of homeless but I'm clean cut and went to buy furniture and got kicked out for being 2 minutes early? He was very aggressive and made sure to follow me out making empty threats because I pointed out the fact that he was just looking for a problem. Mall has been in a steady downfall for years just thought the stores should at least know your security is chasing off actual customers. read more

It's a blast from the past. Costco in a location I'm sure you've never seen a Costco. That's what makes it interesting. I'm happy to see the location thriving and making money and providing jobs. read more

Christown Spectrum - Shopping Centers Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Don't let the lazy narrative of "Cripstown" drive you away, Christown Spectrum is a great shopping center in a prime location. Everything from Costco to Harkins Theaters plus a Ross and a Target, Christown has it all. Are there teenagers hanging around? You bet. It's a mall -- and mallrats come standard. Does it have a Bath and Body Works? Absolutely. It's a mall -- every mall has a B&BW. Is there adequate parking? More than plus light rail access. My tip for you? Park on the north side always. The mall isn't very large so you can easily walk to Harkins/Costco/JCPenny's and the parking lot traffic situation on the south side of the building is much more a challenge than to the north. read more

Christown Spectrum - Shopping Centers Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Spectrum is one of those places that you love to hate. Go here for the Costco, the Target, the Harkins movie theater. You'll find most of these shops without having to enter the actual mall, with the one exception being Costco. Wal-Mart, JCPenny's, and Ross are here also, but I generally don't shop there but every 'once in a while'. Walking through the mall, you'll find random clothing shops, a game stop, a few shoe stores, and some other unimportant make-up and perfume shops. If it weren't for Costco or the Harkins, I would likely never stop here. For all you light railers, this is the last stop on your way north. If you're public transit bound, this is an ok place to get your shopping done - as long as you're conveniently located next to a rail stop. Happy Yelping Phoenix. read more

Spectrum...Chris Town...which is it? Either way, calling it a "mall" is really an insult to malls. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that the strip mall, which includes a sporting goods store and a Petsmart, is part of this place. The interior is small, like depressingly small. Is this really the go-to place for people living in the crappier part of downtown to shop? I feel sorry for them. There's a BBB Fashion if you're into overpriced urban clothing that won't last. There are also an assortment of booths that change every time I walk in. Personally, I still go out of my way for one thing: The Costco. Because I don't have a minivan full of kids to feed, having a membership is pointless for me. But damn, am I addicted to their cafeteria food. What makes this one different is the dining area is open to the public, meaning yours truly can be spotted here stuffing his face with pizza, churros, and chicken bakes. That's why it earns a second star. read more

What can I say about this shopping center? It's a shopping center!! Located right on 19th and Bethany Home Road, this location is very easy to find and get to. Maneuvering in and out could be tricky though as it gets very busy here especially during the weekend. Came here this past Sunday and it was a madhouse with cars and people all over the place. This shopping center features some good places like Costco, Target, Big 5, Walmart, Ross, PetSmart, Bath & Body Works, Famous Footwear, GameStop, JCPenney, Taco Bell, WingStop, KFC, Carl's Jr and much more! There is something for everyone here. Even though this shopping center offers many of the stores that I would shop at, after my visit last weekend, I'd probably not choose to come to this one just cause of the craziness here. Too many people in such a small area. The stores here all seem smaller than they are in other locations. If you live in the area, this is a convenient spot, but for me, it's out of my way for the most part. read more

Christown Spectrum - Shopping Centers Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I really like this mall even though I put 3 stars the only 2 reasons why is because there are hobos outside the mall EVERYWHERE and they got rid of Costco the best store there but other than that this is a great mall and I recommend going there. read more

Sigh... I wanted this to have more stars, but 3 is really pushing it. There are some great things about this place but then there are some.... not so great ones. This is like the little mall that could in many ways. I remember coming here as a kid to get my picture with Santa and to see the gigantic sand castles that they would have on display every year. (Different times of year.) I remember thinking how cool it was to take the escalator up to the movie theater. So here's where we are now. Really good things: - Where else are you going to shop? There is SO little good shopping when you live in/near this area. - There is a Costco. This brings up the status level of just about anywhere, let's be honest. This was my MAIN Costco for a long time. - The Chinese food restaurant is pretty cool. - I love the old school deli! It totally feels 1975 when I go there. - They haven't tried to overly modernize. Sound like a dubious "good thing" but I love the old school brick work walk ways and planters. - New shops like Ross and Petsmart have really helped the place! Not so good things: - This was the nastiest Wal-Mart I've ever been in. I'm already not a Wal-Mart fan, but there were a few times when I needed something fast and well, it was there. Walking through there during Christmas for freaking ornament hangers was one of my worst experiences ever. - Can you call this a food court? It's almost hidden and for good reason. There aren't many reasons to eat there, and there are many reasons not to. It's not ghetto. It's old school. Know what to expect going in (lots of shoe and accessory stores and nothing in the way of high fashion) and it can be an oasis of shopping in the middle of a shopping desert. read more

Christown Spectrum - One of the main walk ways - you can see both the Bath and Bodyworks AND the Army Recruiting station. - Shopping Centers Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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After shopping at Walmart Super Store they lock the mall and you can't go thru the mall to get to the parking lot by Harkins Movie Theatre. I asked mall security to escort me thru the mall which is a very short distance from the north entrance to the south entrance to get to my car with the 10 bags of merchandise I purchased at Walmart, he said sorry I can't. I asked security inside the mall for help thru the glass doors he said sorry I can't. A security supervisor pulled up in a golf cart I asked him he said he couldn't. I asked for a ride on his cart to my car he said sorry I can't . So I walked around the mall which each a big mall. Late at night after 10:30pm and no one could help me with my 10bags. It's a shame when humans only see black and white. I understand the protocols in place are for security of the mall but the security officers preferred I walk in the dark with my merchandise around the mall to get to my car when they could if es otter me thru the mall a sort distance to the other entrance or given me a ride in the golf cart. It was my first time shopping at Christown Mall and my last. It's not safe and security doesn't care about the people late at night. They didn't even offer to walk with me to make sure I wouldn't get mugged. Security at this mall wouldn't know what to do if something terrible happen at Christown, they get perplexed and don't know what to do in trying to a person what will they do in real times of need. They will run and hide. I'm sure if that. read more

This was an interesting mall! It certainly is more run down than I had expected, but regardless it still attracts a ton of people. I came by on a Sunday and it was a little difficult to park in front of the mall (although there is plenty of parking if you drive around). I was very surprised to see a Costco inside! Another surprising thing is that the Walmart had both an optical and a nail salon inside. There are certain stores that you have to access from the outside (no inside access) so you have to walk around. It is a little sketchy walking around the outside, as it isn't the NICEST mall......but I would give this mall a solid three stars based on the stores inside and convenience of shopping in one location. read more

Ok, so I shop at Christown mall sometimes. Or is it Spectrum mall? Does it really matter? I admit, I've heard a lot of different things about this place, but it wasn't until I actually moved North of this place that I started coming here on a regular basis to run errands and get stuff done. Lets be honest, of course there's other places to shop in town, but I think it's also fair to say that this place will never be Scottsdale Fashion Square, but then again, not everything will be. The pros: I think their trying to make this place better. There's a really nice Target, movie theatre, Costco and a few other shops that seem to have brought a cleaner, nicer environment to being here and a few places to eat in and out of the mall that are a okay. There's nothing fancy about this place, but there's enough of a draw that I find myself here weekly running errands. Yes, it's a weird mall, (and I really don't consider it a mall, as more of a shopping center, but hey, that's just me) The Cons: I think the weakness is the few stores inside the mall that seem chinsy and the dirty wall mart that make it sad. Like I said, its all about perspective here. (never gonna be a Scottsdale fashion square) but its a heck of a lot better then shopping at Metro Center. (and their trying to bring business back in, at least in the outer circle not the inside of the mall itself. It's not that I'm to good for some places, but it's a real weak stream of small places that seem more geared to a crowd of teenagers, but hey, that's just me. I know s this mall only has so much potential, but I feel like some of the random stores between Costco and Wal-Mart really don't appeal to most people. I still come here for the big box stores and a few others, but this place is a solid 2 stars, sometimes 3 depending on what kind of experience I have that day. I also like that the Costco food court is open to anyone and located outside of the store in the food court area versus inside the store where you have to be a member to eat there. Big bonus points for that alone..... read more

I actually planned on going into the mall today to use various 10 dollar off, buy one get one free, and rewards coupons as part of my holiday shopping spree. Well, I would have never expected a mall in this day in age to close at 7:00pm on a Saturday. Seriously, the mall closes at 7pm sharp. What in rural town hell kinda of bull shit is this?!!! It's 23 days till CHRISTMAS...did y'all not get the memo. read more

Terrible mall. Outdated and with low quality stores remaining. However. There is a remodeling plan for the next 20-30 years or so in place. YEARS! Haha. First phase is to add new apartments to the south east lot. We will watch to see if anything actually starts. There is no actual timeline though, the builders stated it will activate as the market permits. And then the market dropped. Fast. Sooooo. Great. The exterior shops are adding new faces though, Ulta and Bath and Body Works moved to the outside spaces. read more

If i could leave 0 stars I definitely would. Recently went to this "mall" and it was so hot. Definitely feels like the air conditioning was not on. Talked to multiple workers from several different stores and all told me that they have no control over the temperature of their stores. Absolutely outrageous. Many of the workers have said they've been dealing with this for weeks now. And with temperatures outside rising, it means the temperatures inside the mall are only going to get worse. Upon my visit I also witnessed a few different stores getting "swamp coolers" installed with visible pipes from the ceiling. I don't think I need to expand upon this. Worst mall in Phoenix. read more

Since I never knew if it was CHRIStown Mall or CHRISTown Mall, I'm all for the name change to Spectrum. Though by the time you finish this review I will have yet another new name for this mall. Honestly. It's like their PR people blanketed the worst trailer park in Phoenix with fliers saying "Hey, don't shower, bring at least 7 children with you and be sure to tell them to run around with greasy slabs of pizza in their hands." I'm thankful for Target. And I even find some threads at Ross. And I have to say Harkins has upped their theaters and I don't find as many garbage bags covering theater seats. How gross is that? I'm not a Costco shopper but I know most folks are. So that's probably a good thing. Needless to say whenever I return home, and frankly I'm grateful to make it home alive and unscathed by some unruly teenager carrying a shank in his long white tube socks, I need a Silkwood shower. That's right. Just blast that grime and skanky ass smell off me! So two stars. Oh. The name change. Sorry. But to me it forever will be Rectum Mall. Cuz that's how stanky it is! read more

Actually the name has changed again. It is now Cript-Town Spectrum Mall. The glory days of Chris-Town Mall. Retro. The Phoenix area of the 1960s was a vastly smaller and more intimate community than the sprawling and ungainly megalopolis that now overruns the Valley of the Sun. Up until Park Central, then Chris-Town all shopping was Down-Town. Del Webb Corporation built Chris-Town on eighty acres of farm land east of 19th Ave. and south of Bethany Home Rd. The first indoor air-conditioned mall in Arizona. Chris Harri, was the Swiss born farmer who sold Del Webb the land for Chris-Town in 1955 and for whom the mall was named. He died in 1971 at the age of 94. Chris-Town opened its doors for the first time at 10:00am on August 24, 1961. An estimated 130,000 visitors arrived in the 11 hours between opening and closing that day. KUPD did a three day broadcast from Bill's Records. El Rancho grocers opened up and gave away S & H Green Stamps. The Broadway. Korricks. Montgomery Wards. Guggy's Coffee Shop. Penney's. Piccadilly Cafeteria. Miracle Mile Deli. Are but a few business I went in. Robert Kennedy made an appearance and spoke on March 30, 1968. "We Want Bobby" My Mom was GOP Ha! The Fountain Court in the center of the mall was the scene of many special events over the years, and was frequented in the '60s and early '70s by a very popular organ grinder and his monkey. I gave money to that monkey. Orange Julius and Pizza D'Amore. MMM 5*'s baby~ read more

Spectrum Mall is where your dignity goes to die. Just walk in there and see your soul implode like Sauron's when Gollum fell into the lava with the ring. This is one sad mall. Can you really argue against this point? A shopping mall whose two main anchor stores are Costco and Wal-Mart? WTF? The food court of this mall? It's Costco's $1 dogs and pizza! What should be inside Costco is now food for the unmembered masses. The Costco itself deserves an extra star since it's conveniently on my way home, and I see a Target ready to open soon, but that just means this is a mall made up of big box stores, a Big 5 sporting goods store where a paranoid employee is eyeballing everyone as a potential shoplifter, recruiting stations for all the armed services, a JC Penny's which doesn't really count as much of anything and the saddest merchant islands I've ever seen. You think I'm kidding about these sad merchant islands. Just walk from one end of the mall to the other. The cell phone guy? He's sad. The Indian lady selling cheap jewelry? She's sad. The guy hawking life insurance? He's sad. The two army recruiters? Hell, even they look sad. What a glum-ass place to be. Had there not been a Costco, I'd have no reason to ever set foot in here. It seriously is competing with MetroCenter as the ghetto-est mall in Phoenix (although a buddy of mine who grew up here tells me the ghetto-est of all lies on Thomas way out in the west side somewhere, but I'm not so sure about that, because I saw three different ladies come from outside the mall with 64 oz Big Gulp cups, walk up to the Costco food court soda fountain, help themselves to 64 more ounces of high fructose corn syrup, and walk right back out. Seems pretty ghetto to me.) 2 stars. read more

If you're like me, you're reading reviews not to make a decision whether to visit, but only to check in on poor old Chris-Town, like you would an elderly relative. Sure enough, most of the commenters grew up with Chris-Town and are at least a little saddened by this withered husk, this pathetic, atrociously-named sad sack of a former mall that is Phoenix Spectrum. Oh, I remember the good times, too. Chris-Town was probably the first mall I ever went to, back when malls were a relatively new idea, I suppose. (Come to think of it, I probably saw some of my first movies at the old UA theater out front, before it became a better place to watch gangbangers make out with their underage girlfriends.) I remember going to Dillard's with my grandmother, hiding in the circular clothing racks, running my hand along rows of impossibly silky blouses. I remember Santa Claus, and the sand castles, and the excellent pastrami at the Miracle Mile deli. I remember how it used to smell when the doors would whoosh open and you'd walk in out of the heat -- like a combination of clean tile floors and cool breeze and birthday cake. Miracle Mile beat its retreat long ago, of course. The once-mighty Dillard's became Dillard's Outlet, a gigantic, disheveled storage shed for hundreds of piles of failed clothing, which was picked over by masses of morbidly obese, ThirstBuster-clutching vultures, and then eventually went the way of the sand castles. And the smell? It's closer to gym socks, fryer grease and despair. And desperate is exactly how I would categorize most Chris-Town shoppers these days. The clientele, along with the facade, has aged disgracefully. This new, sweaty mob of bargain hunters barges ahead blindly, wielding their strollers like cow catchers, each accompanied by an entourage of saggy-diapered, Kool Aid-mouthed gremlins. Which is hardly a surprise: with Wal-Mart, CostCo and, more recently, Super Target as its chief ballast, it stands to reason that Chris-Town's main loyalty would be among those looking to spend as little as possible on the greatest possible quantity, and there is plenty of that to be found in the poverty-line neighborhoods nearby. It's senseless to compare, as some have done, Chris-Town with Scottsdale Fashion Square, or even Metrocenter. Those are still malls. Chris-Town is just the bones of a giant -- a concisely depressing reminder that one can never go home again. read more

Oh, how the great have fallen. What once was a beautiful and multi-faceted mall has now become a Meh-all. If you were born within the last few decades leading up to 2K and lived in the central Phoenix area, then you remember both Christown and Metrocenter. Well, lets first dive into "Spectrum" Mall....or whatever they call it these days. ~What to Do~ Despite the lack of shops, this place still has a lot of things to do. You can go clothes/item shopping, just like any other mall. You can go grocery shopping at Costco. You can even go see a movie at the seemingly like-new Harkins they put up here a decade or so ago. ~The Good~ They do have a lot to do. You can get a number of things done while here. Unlike any other malls out here, the Costco is built directly into the place. That's pretty cool, if you ask me. Instead of having a stand-alone building you have to drive to, its just there. The movie theater isn't half bad, and crowds are a bit less than other Harkins' in town. Some of the shops fill your needs for goodies, although there aren't many. Overall, its a unique center that fills needs for many local residents in the area. ~The Bad~ Sigh. Where do you start? The place lost its luster in the mid/late 90's. Tenants left, and so did patrons. The aforementioned built-in Costco was nice and helped traffic, but still, the lack of stores is depressing. Just the sheer lack of oversight by the facility's ownership makes the mall that much worse. How can you let a good location go down so quickly? They had some amazing shops, had awesome card-shows, really fun movie theater within the place you could go up the escalator to. This place is a shell of itself, and has really turned into "Phoenix-Spectrum-Costco, featuring a Harkins!" ~The Down Low~ Two stars go to the site for the two major tenants. That is it. Much like Metro, this place has really fallen off the map, and no one had oversight to try to stop it in enough time. Metro's is worse, in my eyes...but this is a close second. Go here for the Costco, a movie, and maybe stop by Ross to get a handkerchief to cry in when remembering how good the 90's really were. read more

Christown went through a phase of cute and appealing revival a couple years back. It was fully tenanted, and it was a fun, if quirky, working-class discount mall with diverse customers and the convenience of having both a Walmart and a Target AND being on the light rail line. It has now become a cesspit. Vacancies are up, and stores are being replaced by more obscure stores. It's now considered okay for the teenage shop clerks to heckle passing grown-up shoppers, and mall security thinks this is funny. Adding to the ambiance of decay, the air conditioning wasn't keeping up with the traffic, so it was at least 85 degrees in the mall interior. If you're west of Central and want a mall, Metro Center is cleaner, neater, and politer, while Desert Sky has a far better selection of Hispanic-themed stores (and is also cleaner, neater, and politer). Either also has a parking lot with a less kill-or-be-killed layout. read more

2.5 stars Good news for the previous posters - the company that owns this mall is tacking the "Chris-Town" back onto the mall's name. Not that this will class the place up any, but it'll make things right again. The name "Spectrum Mall" always seemed like they were trying to make it sound futuristic in a '50s kind of way. I can't say that I've ventured into the mall beyond the Costco in the last few years. Quite honestly, that Wal-Mart scares me. It seems seedier than other Wal-Marts, which is saying a lot. I did enjoy the little store that sold XI clothing though. It was always good for a disposable trendy outfit, if you could handle the fact that a real-world size small is an XI size large. Ah, Chris-Town. Once upon a time you had a Gap and a Dillard's and were the cool place to go. A shooting or two later and look what you've become. read more

So Christown mall i used to work there i have to say if not for Costco this mall would close down. Costco is the only thing keeping this mall going and bringing people in. Not to say that Walmart and Jc penny's do not attract people its just you do not need to go into the mall to get there but with Costco you do need to enter the mall. Things this mall needs for one a food court. for two more name brand stores not mom and pop shops. The area this mall is in is not the best but not the worst some of these Reviews are going over bored with the ghetto and cheap slanders yes its not in the best area but its not the worst you want to talk about a bad mall talk about metro center that is a bad mall but back to Christown mall its okay not the best not the worst its just OK!!! To sum this up Christown mall is a get in do what you need to do and get out mall. Is okay try and try and it might be better then ok one day. read more

This place depresses me. Yes, they have made efforts to "fix it up", but it's really just a sad has-been. If you need to run an errand to a very specific store, you'll be OK. But this is NOT the mall where you want to slowly window shop. If you head over here, it'll likely be for the Costco, movie theatre (NICE), or the SuperTarget. Warning: Unless you go before 10am, the WalMart is frightful. read more

I should have read the reviews before going. It was recommended by the concierge as a good mall on the light rail. The other reviewer, Chad, had it completely right - it's a dive. It was dark, dingy, and overall a bit sketchy. Walking to it from the light rail was a longer walk than I was led to believe. One has to trek through a huge parking lot and it feels like over a block or two walk. The "food court" includes an O'Charley's sandwich shop and the food from the Costco. While a $1.50 hot dog & drink is a good deal, I was hoping for something a bit healthier. Advice: If you're a tourist, find a different mall to visit. read more

This is my update about their 1960s-themed 55th birthday bash I attended yesterday, that I mentioned I'd write about. Chris Town Mall turned 55 actually on August 24, so I imagine they planned the celebration for this month because it's cooler to get around. I appreciate that- how thoughtful ;) First, I rarely accept invites (especially in cheap Arizona), unless I know the folks who are throwing a party or event know what they're doing and make it my worthwhile off my busy schedule to attend. With that said, I made an exception to go to Christown Spectrum's birthday celebration that was worthy to go to if you were located/lived around the area, and were part of history. The 'party planners' (who dressed in 1960s regalia) were a bit rushy, especially. the petite blond when I asked if I could take a photo of her outfit but she was unnecessarily in a mad rush to get the cakes out when i'ts a bit early with plenty of time. Must be from the influence of being in the ghetto environment. While you have a party, relax and enjoy your fun and not run around with your head cut off. I eventually got a shot of her with 2 other planners. They had store-bought refrigerated sheet cakes (from nearby Costco?) (choice of white or chocolate- I had a very small slice of each) on non-descript styrofoam plate with a plastic fork. There were no tables or chairs so you'd end up standing or finding a table at front of Costco. No drinks either. There weren't enough cakes (looks like they only brought out a total of 6?), so if you weren't there earlier, you didn't get your slice. The free photo op with a "Love/Peace" backdrop was a nice thought, and the guy was very nice and polite- was not overwhelmed. I loved the hand-made 1960s fashion display throughout the mall and out front, where the mannequins were provided by JCPenney. I especially loved the enlarged photo wall displays located at two ends of the mall featuring the mall of yesterday- so nicely done, like the photos/titles/descriptions were 'painted' on. Each booth had vendors promoting their themed trade: balloon twister who made animal shapes (she was so talkative & slow that there was a long line waiting to take home her animal-shaped balloons), flower-power artists painting on faces, flower-power sticker tattoos on faces, hula hoop contest, psychedelic pixel painting, arts/crafts. The band, The Rove, played '60s songs. I like that they had a band instead of a DJ. There were 2 VW Love Bugs, one green, the other blue on display inside. There was a VW Bus parked out front where you could look inside. There were getaway prizes where you could sign up for. In concluding, it was hard to meander about in the mall with all these welfare ghettos. The decade was def big fun- I was 5 in 1969 but I remember well! Happy 55th Chris Town Mall, and may you live another 55. Thanks for the fun :) From their official newsletter http://www.co-opweb.com/emails/christown/newsletters/july-2016/consumer-index.html: "Fifty-Five years ago, in 1961, Christown Spectrum Shopping Center, as it is called today, was opened with enormous fanfare! At the time, the greater Phoenix area had never seen a shopping center quite like Chris-Town Mall, as it was called then. The exterior architecture looked much as it does today but the interior had various design elements that would be considered eccentric in today's world. There was a Court of Flowers garden area filled with exotic plants and flowers, a Court of Fountains area had an array of fountains and artwork created by a famous artist of the time. The third area, the Court of Birds, housed live birds in colorful pop art hanging birdcages throughout the courtyard, all accented with lighting fixtures designed by the famous designer, George Nelson. The era when Christown opened was also the time for many societal and cultural changes -hippies, bell bottom pants, the Beatles, psychedelic colors and flower power designs, VW Bugs and Buses, Barbie, the Hula Hoop, and more. Many became enormous crazes and several thrive to this day! Over the last 55 years, while many things have changed - socio-economic times have gone up and down, retailers and restaurants have come and gone, one thing remains a constant, Christown Spectrum is a Phoenix shopping icon and continues to be a popular family shopping center. Join in our Celebration on September 24, 2016 when the nostalgia of the 60's comes to life! Celebrate Christown Spectrum's 55th in 1960's Style! Saturday, September 24, 2016 12 pm To 3 pm Live Music featuring 60's music Free Photos with Psychedelic Backdrop and Props Hula Hoop Contest Free Music Classes On the Magical Music Bus Flower Power Arts & Crafts Balloon Twisting Classes Huge Birthday Balloon Cake Pixel Paint Artist Wall Flower Power Face Painting & Faux Tattoo Artists Enter To Win Drawings to Local Family Attractions & Giveaways And FREE Pieces of the 55th Anniversary Cake to Everyone at the Event! (while supplies last)" read more

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Anyone remember Valley West Mall on 50th Ave & Northern right before it closed? That's what Chris-town Spectrum Mall feels like.. My aunt worked here when I was a kid and that was back in the 80s when the mall was thriving with business and there were always a ton of great people walking around. The food court wasn't there just yet, but when that opened it gave it an even greater feel. but now.. Chris-Town... or face it.. lets just call it Spectrum Mall, is nothing but a ghetto run down store with a bunch of jewelry and urban clothing stores. I'm shocked that they even have a nail shop inside... I dont mean an upper class one, I mean the ones you see in a strip mall. The only stores that are recognizable are GNC, Bath & Body Works and shockingly... Wing Stop.. why the hell would they put a Wing Stop in there? wow.. Big 5 Sports is pretty decent I guess too.. I give this two stars because what was once a great mall is now nothing. In my honest opinion, they should shut down the remaining mall section and just rebuild it as more big stores.. The only reason people go here now is Harkins, Wal-Mart, Target and JC Penny's.. oh and Costco. think about it... What mall has all those outside stores attached to them? None that I can think of.. unless they're hurting. RIP Chris-Town read more

I like it here. I've checked into this place more than a few times because it has the Costco, Target, Walmart and Ross all in the same place. The plaza is super ratchet, no doubt, but where else are you going find all these stores in one spot? If you can get past the gang of pigeons eating a thrown out hot dog bun in the parking lot, then check this mall out some time. read more

"Not Scottsdale Fashion Square or Biltmore Fashion Park, but not bad either" I've been to this mall several times and though it is not a place I go leisurely strolling and window shopping, it does have a lot of basic needs. Costco, Wal-mart, Target, Petsmart, movie theater and banks on the outside. Though the decor can be more updated, the selection in shops is pretty good. If you want to hang out or go window shopping, I know there are other malls that may be better, but for your basic shopping needs, this is not bad. Find this useful, cool, or funny, please check below. read more

It's definitely not a fashion mall, so it's not competing with anywhere with Macy's or Nordstrom as an anchor. Still, it has Costco and JC Penney, along with the no-mall-entrance Target, PetSmart, and more. The stars are mostly for the ease of being able to get in and out of the Costco and Costco gas station though. This is a much better layout than Paradise Valley's awful ring road, and nowhere near as crowded as Chandler's Costco across from their mall. read more

So its not the greatest mall... but not the worst. There's a Costco Walmart Target Jc Penny a bunch of shoe stores and a couple of food places in the mall or parking lot. It is decent if you just need a few things but I prefer Metrocenter read more

Yeah, this place is a total dive and I wouldn't want to be there during certain times of day but it does have a few gems in spite of being dead. I like it. I go. But only for certain thing. read more

I go to costco therefor I will go inside this mall. It's okay there's a payless, bath and body works and this cool store that's like forever 21 called wave. I would go here out of convenience since theres parking and the light rail is right there but if your looking for amazing go to scottsdale fashion square. read more