Remembering Lawton’s Central Mall: Photos From The Mall’s Final Days

Not a day goes by that Lawton residents don't think about their favorite restaurants or businesses that have come and gone. We recently came across an old album from 2010 on the Central Plaza Facebook page and it was filled with pictures from the mall's final glory days.

Like many millennials in southwest Oklahoma, I grew up going to Central Mall. It's where my mom would take us for back-to-school shopping, a simple trip out of the house, or a day of shopping and movies with my friends. I can remember the days when Central Mall featured a big fountain in the middle, and I can remember the day it went away.

Today, Central Mall is now called Central Plaza and houses FISTA. The mall rarely sees visitors, and when people drive by the old Central Mall, it makes them sad. The parking lot is empty, and the golden brick has been painted a millennial grey. All that's left of Central Mall is the memories Lawton citizens share.

What happened to Lawton Central Mall?

Central Mall had so many eras. Some more iconic than others. Unfortunately, right before the COVID-19 pandemic, malls started struggling. Most strategists chalk it up to the boom in online shopping. Then once the pandemic hit, it was a catalyst for the decay of America's malls, and Lawton's Central Mall wasn't spared.

Once Dillard's announced it was closing its department store in 2020, it really started to look like the end for Central Mall. Sears had closed in 2017. And after Dillard's closed, Central Mall was left with one anchoring department store, JCPenney.

TSM Lawton: Critter

Why was Lawton Central Mall renamed Central Plaza?

After the departure of Dillard's, it was announced that the City of Lawton was considering purchasing Central Mall. The City of Lawton eventually purchased the mall for $14.6 million dollars. The reasoning for the purchase was twofold - to establish FISTA (the FIRES Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator) and to try to save the businesses inside the mall and recruit new ones.

In 2021, the City of Lawton contracted Freestyle Creative, a marketing firm from Oklahoma City, to revamp Central Mall. This was when Central Mall was renamed to Central Plaza, and the City of Lawton had big plans to revive the mall as a modern entertainment district.

It's been five years since the renaming and the projected future plans for Central Plaza were unveiled, and yet more stores closed in the mall and there hasn't been any construction done on the plaza. The only advancements that have been made on Central Plaza have been for the benefit of FISTA, including multiple remodeling projects, the repainting of the entire mall and the $10-million dollar addition of two sound-proof rooms, i.e. anechoic chambers.

Jeri Anderson

See what Lawton's Central Mall looked like 16 years ago.

Lawton residents may never see a revived Central Mall. It wouldn't be a surprise if Central Plaza is lost forever as well and the entire building is engulfed by the FISTA. But instead of dwelling on the present and what we won't benefit from in the future, let's look back at Central Mall's former glory days.

Check out the old Central Mall Facebook album from 2010 and be reminded of the life Central Mall used to have. See the photos below.

READ MORE: Remembering Central Mall: A Look Back At Lawton's Youth Hub