Initially named Wood Green Shopping City it is now known as The Mall Wood Green. The Mall Wood Green is a major shopping destination. It also serves as a residential complex in Wood Green, north London.
Did you know The Mall Wood Green was built in the 1970s? It stands on the site of the former Noel Park and Wood Green railway station. The Mall Wood Green officially opened on May 13 1981. Queen Elizabeth II herself inaugurated it.
One of the unique features of The Mall Wood Green is the A105 road. It runs directly through the complex. This allows many stores to have entrances right on the street. The two halves of the mall are linked by bridges. These bridges are located on the first and second floor.
The centre has six storeys. Only the lower two floors are for shops. The upper floors are a housing complex called Sky City.
In 2006 a tragic discovery was made in Sky City. The badly decomposed body of Joyce Vincent was found. She had died over two years prior. Her life was later chronicled in a documentary called Dreams of a Life.
The early 1990s were tough on The Mall Wood Green. Many established shops closed due to recession. They were replaced by pound shops and charity shops. In 1992 the centre was targeted in a bomb attack. Civilians and police officers were injured.
In 2002 The Mall Fund bought the centre. It was renamed The Mall Wood Green. However the old Shopping City signage remained until 2012. The new owners invested in a major rebuilding programme. This involved altering the shop layout. A 12-screen cinema was also added. The market hall was expanded. It included specialist retailers catering to diverse ethnic groups.
An expansion was planned in 2007. It was a three-storey extension on a petrol station site. This expansion aimed to increase the mall size and retail units. Concerns about flooding from the River Moselle were raised. A Debenhams store was planned for the extension. But it did not go ahead. Instead a large Primark store occupied the space.
The Mall Wood Green hosts a craft fair four times a year. It provides a space for local artisans.
The Mall Wood Green has its own dedicated police team. This is unusual for a shopping centre. The scheme began as Operation Partnership. It was later renamed the Retail Protection Unit in 1998.
The areas around The Mall Wood Green faced issues with street-drinking. Anti-drinking legislation was introduced in 2005. Police were given powers to confiscate alcohol and disperse crowds.
In 2006 The Mall Wood Green was the site of a violent crime. A shoplifter attacked Rudy Takkou a Designer Outlet supervisor. Takkou was repeatedly stabbed. He narrowly survived.
The Mall Wood Green is well-connected by public transport. It sits on the site of a former railway station. Wood Green and Turnpike Lane tube stations are nearby. Buses can be caught directly outside the shops due to the location on Wood Green High Road. Alexandra Palace railway station is also a short distance away.
Today The Mall Wood Green remains a vital commercial hub. It serves the borough of Haringey and its surrounding areas. Its history reflects both challenges and resilience. It overcame recession a bomb attack and other issues. The Mall Wood Green continues to evolve. It adapts to the needs of its diverse community.