Brookdale Parking Lot Animals (below)
To non-Minnesota folks who are bemused by the animal illustrations below:
Brookdale was a shopping mall in Brooklyn Center, a 1st-ring suburb of Minneapolis. Built in the early 60s — 62 I think? — Brookdale was the third (if I’m not mistaken) indoor shopping mall in the country, and part of the four “Dales” (Southdale, Ridgedale, Rosedale and Brookdale) in the various Minneapolis suburbs.
Brookdale was more than just a mall. For one thing, it was a brilliant example of mid-century architecture. For years, mid-century buildings were much maligned — they were “your grandma’s buildings,” out of date and out of style and frequently up for razing — tragically. Now we see mid-century theaters, houses and office buildings as worth saving and celebrating, but malls are always the poorest cousins architecturally.
Secondly, it was absolutely a suburban cultural hub. Laugh if you will (and you probably will, if you’re older or younger or from a non-cold state!) but Brookdale was our central square. As a kid growing up in the 70s, it was an awesome place to hang — there were girls! There were shops! Restaurants! Hobby stores! There was stuff to do! Places to go! People to see! I spent so much time there it was ridiculous. Heck, my first job was there, at the Record Shop.
Sadly, Brookdale went under the wrecking ball recently. Having underwent a remodel in the 80s, it was no longer the atomic-age marvel it was in the 60s and 70s — and now it’s making way for a “lifestyle mall” — why people think an outdoor mall is a good idea in Minnesota I’ll never know, but there you go.
These colorful animals once adorned the Brookdale parking lots. Their aim? To remind you where you parked. It was so much easier to remember “Alligator Lot” than it was to remember “Section C row 234.” Their illustration style is bright and breezy. Anybody who grew up in the Western suburbs remembers them.
I’m hoping that by making this stuff available, it keeps the memory of both these illustrations and Brookdale mall itself in front of the general public. I’m hoping somebody displays these signs in a public place at some point in the future — are you listening, “lifestyle mall?” People still need to know where they parked.
