Remembering These Awesome Stores No Longer in the Acadiana Mall in Lafayette, Louisiana

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) - Growing up in Lafayette meant we got to take many trips to the Acadiana Mall whether it was to buy electronics or go to a movie, there have been many landscapes in the mall that have changed over the years.

When Did the Acadiana Mall Open in Lafayette, Louisiana?

The Acadiana Mall opened on March 28, 1979, and one of the most mesmerizing features of the Mall was the giant waterfall in Center Court. One of my favorite things to do in the mall was to visit the fountain, especially to throw coins in and make wishes.

As a child, going to the Acadiana Mall was a huge experience because of the many stores there. The fountain and waterfall were also a big draw for kids and grownups alike.

Throughout the Mall's 40-plus-year history, there have been some fantastic stores that have come and gone, as well as many that are now open. One place that had every kid's attention for decades was Aladdin's Castle.

Whether you went to Aladdin's Castle to play a classic game or check out something new, it was such a haven for fun. And then there were playing games to win tickets to buy a prize at the end just for playing the games - was something amazing!

As you think about Aladdin's Castle, it reminds each of us about the other great stores in the Acadiana Mall that are no longer there. And we wanted some help with great memories. We asked listeners: What is the best store no longer in the Acadiana Mall?

It's amazing to see some of the stores with names we all remember and maybe even some we can't remember. The Acadiana Mall holds at least a piece of a memory from our lives growing up in and around Lafayette.

Do you remember these commercials featuring the Acadiana Mall from 1984?

One of the things I enjoyed the most in the Acadiana Mall as a kid was the puppet shows. Remember it had a little puppet show amphitheater.

Did you notice the sign for Wicks 'N' Sticks which featured hand-carved wooden candles and candle holders from all over the world?

How about the woman "shopping" at Merle Norman? Remember "try before you buy?"

I know I remember going to Merle Norman often with my mom so she could buy makeup. She loved their "new sales approach" that let customers try on products for free before buying them. It became very popular.

Another store that was mentioned by listeners was Sears. The store was closed recently in 2017. Fortunately, for those who still love Sears, their outlet store in Lafayette still offers great appliances.

Musicland/Sam Goody was another store mentioned as well - also known as "the record store." Life was much simpler a few decades ago. You couldn't hear music on your cell phone because we didn't have any. We had record stores, and they were such a part of our lives! As you can see in the photo of Jessica Simpson from 2004, Sam Goody in its heyday was a giant in the music industry.

Here are some of the other stores listeners pointed out:

One place that we used to visit in the mall was Orange Julius, but it was a real treat if we got to go there. Now all of the Orange Julius locations that were left were bought by Warren Buffet's company, Berkshire Hathaway, and they were all turned into Dairy Queen locations.

So many amazing stores made their mark in the Acadiana Mall. And while some stores are no longer with us, we will always have the memories of them that will forever live on with us.

Being able to stay for hours at the mall was a staple of our childhoods from a bygone era.