Capital
Hill Mall
1600 11th Avenue
Helena's First Mall Opened in 1965
Demolished in 2019 After a Long Decline
First Plans Tainted by Fraud
"Helena Plaza" Never Built
| Walter A. Tschirgi (1916-1994) entered a "no defense" plea to mail fraud in the failed Helena Plaza deal in 1966. He was also involved in another shopping center real estate scheme in Boise, Idaho in 1961, and was sued by Daum Development Corp. |
Different Investors Build Capital Hill Mall, 1964-65
"The
Exciting Ease of Ready Access"
1965 Newspaper
Ad
Mall
Directory, 1965
Capital Hill Shopping Center store guide, Feb. 28 1965 |
| 1. Hennessy's
Store |
7. Hal Wheat
Real Estate and Insurance |
13. Beneficial
Finance |
19. Mildred-Hazel
Shop |
| 2. Hennessy's
Beauty Shop |
8. Trethewey's
Music Box |
14. Knox
Flowers
(later Tony's Lounge) |
20. Jorud's
Hallmark Shop |
| 3.
Three Sisters |
9.
Super Save Drug Center |
15.
The Penland Company |
21.
Leaf Lingerie |
| 4. K-G Men's
Store |
10. Capital
Hill Barber Shop |
16. Albertson's
Food Center |
22. Zale's
Jewelry |
| 5. A-B-C
Kiddies Shop |
11. Service
Cleaners |
17. Western
Auto Supply |
23. 4-B's
Cafeteria |
| 6.
Gamer's Shoes |
12.
Dr. L. L. Schneider, Dentist |
18.
Four Seasons Shop |
24. Schiff
Shoes & Al Svingen Insurance
|
Capital
Hill Mall from Prospect Ave., 1968
COURTESY OF SEAN LOGAN
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW
Capital
Hill Mall, 1976
COURTESY
OF JOHN and ROSIE CROCKER
Capital
Hill Mall Interior, circa 1980
PHOTO BY KENNON BAIRD
|
The Mall has seen several additions and a long parade of retailers
over the years. Hennessy's and the 4-B's Cafeteria and were
still operating when this photo was taken...
|
1971 newspaper
ad.
Mall
Entrance to Hennessey's, 1984
PHOTO
PROVIDED TO THE INDEPENDENT RECORD BY CAPITAL HILL MALL, 2/27/2010
• COLORIZED AND ENHANCED 2026
•
| Hennessy’s
became Dillard’s when that company bought Hennessy's parent
company, Mercantile Stores Co. Inc., in 1998. Dillard's announced
the closing of the Capital Hill Mall store in February of 2010.
|
Mall Entrance to Hennessey's / Dillard's, September 2011
PHOTO BY KENNON BAIRD
Vacant Stores in Capital Hill Mall, September 2011
|
PHOTO BY KENNON BAIRD
Aerial View of the Dead Mall
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW
Two View of Hennessy's/Dillard's Exterior
Courtesy of Eric Heidle
COURTESY OF ERIC HEIDLE • CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW
COURTESY OF ERIC HEIDLE • CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW
Demolition of the Mall, February 2019
THE INDEPENDENT RECORD • THOM BRIDGE
Leveled, June 2019
THE INDEPENDENT RECORD • THOM BRIDGE
Last Remnant of the Mall
January 27, 2022
Photograph by Tom Kilmer
