The Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth will be demolished to make way for a logistics center. The mall opened in 1976 was a popular retail destination but had been in decline for more than a decade like many malls throughout the country. From left, an entrance to the Rigmar Mall on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Center, the food court of Ridgmar Mall stands mostly empty and dimly lit. Right, dark corridors surround one of the escalators of the Ridgmar Mall.

The Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth will be demolished to make way for a logistics center. The mall opened in 1976 was a popular retail destination but had been in decline for more than a decade like many malls throughout the country. From left, an entrance to the Rigmar Mall on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Center, the food court of Ridgmar Mall stands mostly empty and dimly lit. Right, dark corridors surround one of the escalators of the Ridgmar Mall.

Amanda McCoy

FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

On a dreary Thursday in October, Fort Worth’s Ridgmar Mall almost felt like an abandoned building. Almost.

A nail salon. A few clothing businesses. A custom T-Shirt shop. A truck driving school.

Rhianna’s “We Found Love” strained tinnily through ancient speakers as people walked up and down the mall’s cavernous corridor and past its few still open businesses. Escalators were mostly out of order. A yellow “CLOSING” banner was draped over the exterior of the mall’s J.C. Penney, set to close in November.

The Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth will be demolished to make way for a logistics center. The mall opened in 1976 was a popular retail destination but had been in decline for more than a decade like many malls throughout the country. The Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth will be demolished to make way for a logistics center. The mall opened in 1976 was a popular retail destination but had been in decline for more than a decade like many malls throughout the country. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM A shopper waits for JCPenney to open at the Ridgmar Mall on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. JCPenney is one of the few stores still open at the mall. It is set to close in November. A shopper waits for JCPenney to open at the Ridgmar Mall on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. JCPenney is one of the few stores still open at the mall. It is set to close in November. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

In the corner of the mall occupied by the Cinemark Rave movie theater, the smell of butter wafted into a lobby with another dry fountain. Movie showtimes were lit up in red above the ticket window. Signs of life — but just barely.

American malls have been in decline for over a decade. It’s a phenomenon some call the “retail apocalypse.” In 2017 alone, dozens of retailers including Macy’s and Sears closed 9,000 stores.

Community members walk the corridors closed storefronts at Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. will be demolished to make way for a logistics center. Community members walk the corridors closed storefronts at Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. will be demolished to make way for a logistics center. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

Between 2001 and 2024, according to Census Bureau data analyzed by CNBC, retail sales at U.S. department stores have dropped by nearly $10 billion.

In early August, Dallas-based Ramrock Real Estate announced the purchase of the Ridgmar Mall to develop it into the Ridgmar 30 Logistics Crossing, a six-building development at the northeast corner of Interstate 30 and Alta Mere Drive.

Fifty years after the Ridgmar Mall opened, the Star-Telegram took a look at the mall’s past — and its future.

$100 million redevelopment

The demolition of the mall and the construction of the logistics center is expected to cost over $100 million and create hundreds of jobs, said Tony Creme, a partner with KBC Advisors, one of the companies involved in the redevelopment

But what is a logistics center?

It might sound like another term for a data center — Creme clarified that a data center is not planned for the site.

Logistics centers can be a lot of things, but very generally, they are industrial facilities that manage the flow of goods through the supply chain.

As online shopping has become an economic behemoth — Amazon reported over $716 billion in profits in 2025 — logistics centers have become a key component of their success, said Ellie Falcone, a professor of supply chain management at TCU.

Tony Creme, a partner with KBC Advisors, is photographed inside Ridgmar Mall on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. KBC Advisors is one of the companies involved in the redevelopment of the property. The mall will be demolished to make way for Ridgmar 30 Logistics Crossing. Tony Creme, a partner with KBC Advisors, is photographed inside Ridgmar Mall on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. KBC Advisors is one of the companies involved in the redevelopment of the property. The mall will be demolished to make way for Ridgmar 30 Logistics Crossing. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

As online shopping has become an economic behemoth — Amazon reported over $716 billion in profits in 2025 — logistics centers have become a key component of their success, said Ellie Falcone, a professor of supply chain management at TCU.

“I think eventually, a combination of both retail stores and logistic centers altogether will be the trend,” Falcone said. “It’s not the logistic centers replacing shopping malls; it’s how people shop.”

Distribution centers, Falcone said, help get goods to consumers faster and more directly.

Military base restrictions

A logistics center, Creme explained, is an ideal use of the land because of land use restrictions related to the nearby Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.

Carswell Air Force Base (now the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base) and the Ridgmar Mall, aerial photograph in April 1991. Carswell Air Force Base (now the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base) and the Ridgmar Mall, aerial photograph in April 1991. Fort Worth Star-Telegram University of Texas at Arlington Special Collections/Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection

The mall is inside one of six “safety zones” designated on each side of the base by the Department of Defense. There are three zones to the north and south of the base — the Clear Zone, “Accident Prone Zone I” and “Accident Prone Zone II.” The Clear Zone has the highest potential for accidents.

The western half of the mall is inside the Accident Prone Zone closest to the base.

Inside the zones, new homes, schools, “places of public assembly,” and “outdoor recreation use” are prohibited. In 2021, a Navy aircraft crashed into a Lake Worth residential area north of the base.

A Star-Telegram investigation found that hundreds of people lived inside those crash zones.

Creme said that it’s because of those restrictions that a logistics center emerged as a future use for the land.

The Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth will be demolished to make way for a logistics center. The mall opened in 1976 was a popular retail destination but had been in decline for more than a decade like many malls throughout the country. The Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth will be demolished to make way for a logistics center. The mall opened in 1976 was a popular retail destination but had been in decline for more than a decade like many malls throughout the country. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

“A lot of people that have heard about this would prefer it be more retail, a mixed use, or a grocery store, or some other type of use besides the business park,” Creme said. “It’s important that everyone understands that’s the highest and best use that’s allowed because of the adjacency to the base and the restrictions on the site. From day one, this has been a job preservation and base preservation initiative.”

There’s no exact timeline for the development, Creme said. Demolition is expected in the next 12 to 18 months. The Cinemark will operate for the next few years, through the end of its lease.

Ramrock does not own the Dillard’s store at the mall, or the CubeSmart Self-Storage in the southeast corner of the mall. Creme said the logistics center can move forward without those buildings.

An America lost to time, remembered in photos

The mall’s future is now determined — and its past reveals a version of America perhaps long gone.

The mall opened in 1976, with a ceremony photographed by the Star-Telegram.

An ceremony was held on Oct. 21, 1976 to commemorate the grand opening of the Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth. An ceremony was held on Oct. 21, 1976 to commemorate the grand opening of the Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth. Fort Worth Star-Telegram University of Texas at Arlington Special Collections/Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection A group of fathers and their children competing in the March of Dimes "Father-Baby Olympics" at Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth. The fathers can be seen downing the contents of a baby bottle during a competition. Kenneth Blount and his daughter Karyn Blount, 15 months old, are seen at left. [FWST photographer Rodger Mallison] A group of fathers and their children competing in the March of Dimes “Father-Baby Olympics” at Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth. The fathers can be seen downing the contents of a baby bottle during a competition. Kenneth Blount and his daughter Karyn Blount, 15 months old, are seen at left. [FWST photographer Rodger Mallison] Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collect

In the late 1990s, the mall got a $70 million facelift, with over 100 new stores and new artwork. A water fountain surrounded by giant statues of turtles still stands today.

The Ridgmar Mall got a major facelift in the late 1990s – photographed here in December 1997 – costing $70 million. More than 100 new stores and new artwork was added. The Ridgmar Mall got a major facelift in the late 1990s – photographed here in December 1997 – costing $70 million. More than 100 new stores and new artwork was added. ALLISON V. SMITH Fort Worth Star-Telegram Anthony Lopez, 2 of FW, throws coins into the new fountain at Ridgmar called 'Turtle Creek' outside the entrance of JCPenney in July 2000. Anthony Lopez, 2 of FW, throws coins into the new fountain at Ridgmar called ‘Turtle Creek’ outside the entrance of JCPenney in July 2000. Allison Woodworth Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Over its lifetime, families came to the Ridgmar Mall to meet Santa Claus, get flu shots, splurge on shoes at department stores, and parade their children around at fashion shows — the minutae of American life inside the kind of place that doesn’t quite exist anymore.

In August 1995, Kelly Bronson held Kyle Bronson while he received a vaccine at the Ridgmar Mall. In August 1995, Kelly Bronson held Kyle Bronson while he received a vaccine at the Ridgmar Mall. Pilates instructor Kerry Kreiman of Dancescape Studio, in Fort Worth, taught a free pilates mat class at the RIdgmar Mall in 2001. Pilates instructor Kerry Kreiman of Dancescape Studio, in Fort Worth, taught a free pilates mat class at the RIdgmar Mall in 2001. Carolyn Mary Bauman Star-Telegram In August 2001, nineteen-month-old Reyna Ramirez kissed her dad Steve as she participated in a children’s fashion show at the Ridgmar Mall in August 2001. In August 2001, nineteen-month-old Reyna Ramirez kissed her dad Steve as she participated in a children’s fashion show at the Ridgmar Mall in August 2001. Sharon M. Steinman Fort Worth Star-Telegram Terry Stevens tries on Gucci shoes at the Ridgmar Mall’s Neiman Marcus store in 1996. Terry Stevens tries on Gucci shoes at the Ridgmar Mall’s Neiman Marcus store in 1996. Fort Worth Star-Telegram University of Texas at Arlington Special Collections/Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection ‘It’s part of the fabric of the community’

Tony Creme, the KBC Advisors broker, sat at a table outside a long-abandoned children’s play area inside the mall as he spoke about the future of the mall.

“I’ve been in the business for almost 30 years,” Creme said. “This has been probably one of the most rewarding building educational projects I’ve ever worked on. This is not just ‘we’re going to knock the building down and build what the zoning allows’ — it’s part of the fabric of the community.”

Light from skylights create shadows in the mostly empty Ridgmar Mall on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Fort Worth. Light from skylights create shadows in the mostly empty Ridgmar Mall on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM An escalator at Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. An escalator at Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM A chain locks the glass doors of a former storefront at Ridgmar Mall on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Fort Worth. A chain locks the glass doors of a former storefront at Ridgmar Mall on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Fort Worth. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM A nonworking fountain greets patrons at one of the entrances of the The Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. A nonworking fountain greets patrons at one of the entrances of the The Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

This story was originally published October 11, 2026 at 5:00 AM.


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Emily Holshouser

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Emily Holshouser is a local news reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.