The idea for the mall was first started in 1971 as part of the Model Cities Program. The project's ideal result was to create a suburban shopping mall in the heart of the city. The project was pushed by neighborhood activists on city planners.[1] Construction of the mall was completed in 1978 with the mall losing money from 1979 to 1989.[2] In 1987 there were plans to move a nightclub and restaurant to the mall.[3] The mall was owned and operated by Kraus-Anderson in 1988.[4] The anchor of the store in 1989 was the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Store.[5] Plans were brought up in 1989 to do a $6.3 million renovation so the mall could host "United Noodles Oriental Food Inc., a drug store, a food court, and several specialty shops."[6][7]
A 1989 report on the surrounding neighborhood described the mall has a failure and noted the mall's perennial problem of finding suitable tenants. The tenants, such as a welfare office were not the type originally intended.[1] The mall was described as nearly empty 1992 article detailing the problems the surrounding community faced.[8] The mall appeared to be faring better in 2000 when the vice-president of Kraus-Anderson described the mall as fully leased.[9] The mall has hosted a farmers' market on weekends in the parking lot since 1998.[10]
The Saint Paul Public Schools district had plans to purchase the property to host adult literacy education and multicultural programs.[11][12][13] The Saint Paul Area Learning Center moved to Unidale Mall on February 1, 1991.[14] Those programs eventually moved out of the mall and became Gordon Parks High School.
^Thomas J., Collins (December 8, 1989). "UNIDALE MALL REHABILITATION IS PROPOSED". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
^Staff writer (August 13, 1987). "Plans delayed for St. Paul nightclub". Star Tribune.
^Meryhew, Richard (December 1, 1988). "As Belmont closes, St. Paul looks to rehabilitation". Star Tribune.
^Kelly, Sean T. (March 8, 1989). "THRIFT STORE'S BARGAINS BENEFIT POOR, VETERANS". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
^Kelly, Sean T. (December 13, 1989). "UNIVERSITY AVENUE REBIRTH IS ENVISIONED BY JOINT PLAN". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
^Collins, Thomas J (January 4, 1990). "DEVELOPERS HOPE MALL SIGNALS NEW BEGINNING IN DALE-UNIVERSITY AREA". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
^Baker, Ann (January 29, 1992). "PROPOSAL ENVISIONS REBIRTH OF FROGTOWN CORNER". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
^Duchschere, Kevin (April 4, 2000). "Plans by Penumbra, others perk up hopes for University-Dale - With porn theaters, strip joint gone, developments take root". Star Tribune.
^Melo, Frederick (September 7, 2013). "Farmers only, please - Sun Foods was ordered by St. Paul to stop selling its products at the popular farmers market located in the store's own parking lot; not all markets are held to the same standards, however". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
^Livingston, Nancy (March 28, 1989). "SCHOOL BOARD SETS HEARINGS ON EXPANSION PLAN". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
^Livingston, Nancy (April 17, 1989). "SCHOOL EXPANSION PLANS ARE DETAILED". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
^Collins, Thomas J. (January 17, 1990). "GROUP GIVING FACELIFT TO BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOOD". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
^Livingston, Nancy (December 19, 1990). "SCHOOL BOARD OKS DROPOUT ALTERNATIVE". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.