After being purchased by a new owner, renovation has started on the section on the east side of May.

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That’s great to see. In the top photo on the right is where Humpty Dumpty used to be IIRC. The bottom photo Is where Otasco was.

Any idea of what it will look like when finished?

Any idea of what it will look like when finished?

I talked to the owners and they said there will be a major overhaul.

The demolition shown in the photos is mainly exploratory so they can figure out what they are dealing with.

I have the strong feeling the few tenants -- other than Michael's and Steinmart -- will not be sticking around.

They also said they plan to replant trees and do extensively landscaping.

Thanks Pete.

Steinmart is closing.

Steinmart is closing.
Yes, liquidating all its 279 stores.

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Noticed that there is some exterior work going on next door to Michael's. Any idea what's going on here?

Noticed that there is some exterior work going on next door to Michael's. Any idea what's going on here?

The UPS store is relocating from their spot facing 50th.

This would be a great location for a World Market!! That was a really nice Stein Mart that was in there. Some cool locally owned Bistro's or Latin food establishment.

Will there be any tenants left after this overhaul?

They are keeping pretty much everyone who is there currently and actively working on some new tenants.

Looks like work has started on the SW corner (where Ron’s is) in the same fashion as the rest of the work. Looks like Ron’s is left in tact though.

I live close by, I noticed on the southwest side they have gone down to the original roof, Ron's Burgers are the only one still there, then ALDI's, then two-three stores vacant then Union Bank, CVS is a stand alone , I heard where the gas station was on the east side might be a 7-11 gas station take up that whole corner some of the new ones I see are as big as a OnCue

The southwest part of the center will look different than the rest of the renovation.

They've kicked out all the tenants including Ron's and hope to get some nice replacements.

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^^^ Nice, that's the way to go!

Unfortunately, the rest of the center will keep that big, pitched facade but will be significantly upgraded.

All but the southwest section had a very different facade to start, so it won't look like this cool mid-century section.

I'm not sure what they plan to do with the old service station on the southeast corner of May & 50th. It's actually attached to part of the center and it's a very small parcel compared to the modern OnCue's and 7-11's. But whatever happens it will be a huge improvement over the current eyesore.


On the northwest corner of 50th & May, they are preparing to raze the old Presbyterian church and replace it with some sort of commercial development. No demo permits yet, but they've been going through that place getting it ready for demolition.

It's owned by the same group that now owns Mayfair.

Ron's is gone? That's unfortunate.

i really hope ron's opens back up somewhere... it was a weekly lunch spot for me pre-covid as it is just down from my office...

The southwest part of the center will look different than the rest of the renovation.

They've kicked out all the tenants including Ron's and hope to get some nice replacements.

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I drive by this twice a day and it currently looks atrocious. Good to see the renderings make it look a lot better. I was starting to think that tearing it down would be better. Glad I was wrong.

Incredibly disappointed to find out there was a Ron's so close to me after it's already closed.

They have a lot of space to lease.

Michael's is still there as is the UPS Store. But other than that there is only a small tailor shop, a nail place and a barber.

The southwest section has now been completely cleared out (as discussed above); the southeast section is 100% vacant after Steinmart closed and the Mexican restaurant pulled out. The section on the west side of May next to the bank is also 100% vacant.

You can see from the one drone shot that other than the southwest section, the rest of the space is very deep which means you need large tenants.

My understanding is the entire center will be renovated and then they'll fix up the parking lot and add landscaping. Sure hope that brings in more businesses because not only the development an eyesore which is being addressed, it's incredibly depressing. It's a good thing Aldi took a chunk of the old center and brought something new and vibrant to the immediate area.

They started on the SE corner first and it still looks the same. Any idea what is going on there?

Since that section is vacant, they pulled off some of the facade to see what was behind.

Was it a plant store next to Ron's?

Was it a plant store next to Ron's?

Yes, but they moved out some time ago.

Yes, but they moved out some time ago.

Plant Wisdom, and the last names of the co-owners really are Plant and Wisdom. We shopped there a lot.

They started on the SE corner first and it still looks the same. Any idea what is going on there?

Since that section is vacant, they pulled off some of the facade to see what was behind.

This is not a smart aleck answer....paragraph 2 is the answer to paragraph 1.

Sometime within the last year IIRC, the late Mark Ruffin discussed with me some of the property history and his ownership groups ideas for the future. All of this is from memory, so take it with a grain of salt.

When current ownership bought Mayfair it was essentially the left overs from a large real estate package that had been foreclosed on and sold off. The parcels that made up CVS and Aldi had value and were stripped out of the property sold to Ruffin and partners. What they bought was, for the most part, salvage. I think a description of the purchase was something like value of raw land, minus the cost to scrape off existing buildings. New owners, being all local, had good memories of Mayfair, and decided to take a chance.

The southeast corner, being vacant, gave them the best chance to to a partial demo and learn the true condition of what they bought. I think the short term pain of what we see now will help them keep the property vibrant for another 60 years.

This is not a smart aleck answer....paragraph 2 is the answer to paragraph 1.

Sometime within the last year IIRC, the late Mark Ruffin discussed with me some of the property history and his ownership groups ideas for the future. All of this is from memory, so take it with a grain of salt.

When current ownership bought Mayfair it was essentially the left overs from a large real estate package that had been foreclosed on and sold off. The parcels that made up CVS and Aldi had value and were stripped out of the property sold to Ruffin and partners. What they bought was, for the most part, salvage. I think a description of the purchase was something like value of raw land, minus the cost to scrape off existing buildings. New owners, being all local, had good memories of Mayfair, and decided to take a chance.

The southeast corner, being vacant, gave them the best chance to to a partial demo and learn the true condition of what they bought. I think the short term pain of what we see now will help them keep the property vibrant for another 60 years.

I would love Mayfair to be vibrant again. I have great memories of riding my bike up to a bunch of the stores up there as a kid, whether it was Otasco, or Langsam Drug, etc. It used to be a pretty nice shopping center, and I really hope the new owners are successful.

Remember French Market Mall. I remember going to a movie there. Early 80s.

Remember French Market Mall. I remember going to a movie there. Early 80s.

I'm almost certain my parents took us to see The Right Stuff at that movie theatre, and there was smoking allowed in the theatre, maybe in the balcony?

I'm almost certain my parents took us to see The Right Stuff at that movie theatre, and there was smoking allowed in the theatre, maybe in the balcony?

Sorry about the tangent, but saw Andy Warhol's Dracula and Frankenstein in 3-D at French Market, those were a trip...

I'm almost certain my parents took us to see The Right Stuff at that movie theatre, and there was smoking allowed in the theatre, maybe in the balcony?

Heck, back in those days you could smoke anywhere. Even a hospital room.

TBH, I don't think the French Market Mall Cinema 2 (?) had a balcony.

TBH, I don't think the French Market Mall Cinema 2 (?) had a balcony.

No, it didn't have a balcony.

Just a small twin theater.

No, it didn't have a balcony.

Just a small twin theater.

Well it was a long time ago!

Sorry about the tangent, but saw Andy Warhol's Dracula and Frankenstein in 3-D at French Market, those were a trip...

Killer.

I remember living and working a block or 2 away from Mayfair Village back in the early 1980's to 1985. There was a lot going on there, busy area, and I clearly remember patronizing Langsam Drug and the Stone's IGA the most, and I did patronize the other retailers in the Mayfair Village.

This is not a smart aleck answer....paragraph 2 is the answer to paragraph 1.

Sometime within the last year IIRC, the late Mark Ruffin discussed with me some of the property history and his ownership groups ideas for the future. All of this is from memory, so take it with a grain of salt.

When current ownership bought Mayfair it was essentially the left overs from a large real estate package that had been foreclosed on and sold off. The parcels that made up CVS and Aldi had value and were stripped out of the property sold to Ruffin and partners. What they bought was, for the most part, salvage. I think a description of the purchase was something like value of raw land, minus the cost to scrape off existing buildings. New owners, being all local, had good memories of Mayfair, and decided to take a chance.

The southeast corner, being vacant, gave them the best chance to to a partial demo and learn the true condition of what they bought. I think the short term pain of what we see now will help them keep the property vibrant for another 60 years.

Not to go off topic, but I had no idea Mark died. He and his late parents were former neighbors and just the greatest people. I'm just heartbroken to see this news.

Remember French Market Mall. I remember going to a movie there. Early 80s.

French Market was a bit further north than Mayfair, it was on NW 63rd.

French Market was a bit further north than Mayfair, it was on NW 63rd.

Still is

Still is

[rim shot]

This is a rendering of the rest of the renovated center.

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Hope they add a bunch of landscaping and trees to the parking lot. Would go a long way to making it seem like an inviting place to go shop.

Very nice upgrade! Sort of a Mountain Chalet vibe.

This rendering shows the intention to remove the part of the center that faces NW 50th; not sure of the plans for the former service station on the SE corner of 50th & May.

Also looks like they plan to redo the facade for Interbank to match the rest of the renovation.

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I think that looks fabulous and will most certainly help rejuvenate the area.

Do we trust that rendering? It shows those faux roof window things still but they're actually being removed.

Do we trust that rendering? It shows those faux roof window things still but they're actually being removed.

Those dormers are being replaced; the new ones are already at the site.

I see

Hope they add a bunch of landscaping and trees to the parking lot. Would go a long way to making it seem like an inviting place to go shop.

I second and third this! I am sure they will add some to soften the sea of parking between the buildings and May Ave.

I confirmed they will be demolishing the old service station and adjoining retail space (shown in red). The existing tailor and barber shop will be relocated elsewhere in the center.

I believe they may also demo the section shown in blue and then redevelop this entire area; the UPS store is moving next to Michaels. I suspect they are trying to find a fast food place for the corner.

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When a gas station closes this way, are they required to remove the underground tanks?

When a gas station closes this way, are they required to remove the underground tanks?

Not certain about removal, but I bet it is all but impossible to build a non-gas station on the site until they are removed. Probably won't loan on the site unless tanks removed.

Interesting. Hopefully will be something good - but I can't think of a fast food restaurant that doesn't already exist within like .75 miles of this location. Lamees Tailor Shop is the best - good to hear it sounds like she's not going far. Our office is behind the Central Presbyterian Church and we've been joking that an OnCue is probably due for one of these corners - which I supposed wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. (Edit: Just read the other thread stating an OnCue is going in just north of here - so I guess not. Will be interesting to see what happens.)

^

OnCue could always sell that old Founders Bank parcel as they prefer hard corners.

But that would also put them closer to their 36th & May location and they may not want that.


I live nearby and it's sad to see the church go but only 30 people were left in that congregation. Whatever comes next will at least have the possibility of me using it.

I'm sure that cool SW section of Mayfair will get at least one good restaurant due to the planned patio. It's frustrating to live in the middle of one of the densest areas of the city and have zero places to walk to. The Oak would change all that but that is going to take a long time I'm afraid.

Someone on twitter said they heard it could be a walgreens, maybe they'll build new across the street and sell the old lot... which still leaves a corner open for something else here. Who knows if true.

There’s been some stone installed that looks different than the renderings.
16882

^

Yes, I think they had to make some tweaks on the fly once they dug into the structure.

Harbor Freight will be taking all the space directly south of the bank:

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I like that addition. Harbor Freight has some surprisingly good stuff. Now you've got Lowe's, Harbor Freight, and Home Depot all within a 2 mile stretch of May Ave. Not to mention Westlake Ace Hardware over on 23rd and Penn.