‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ mall demolition begins [Video]

PHOENIX — The demolition of Phoenix’s historic MetroCenter Mall began this week, marking the end of a 50-year landmark that shaped local culture for generations. 

The long-shuttered mall will become home to “The Metropolitan,” a mixed-use development. The project features an outdoor retail complex called “The Loop,” surrounded by townhomes at various price points, from starter homes to luxury residences.

Phoenix City Councilwoman Ann O’Brien took the first shift in an excavator Monday morning and knocked down the first section of the old Dillard’s department store, clearing the way for a long-awaited redevelopment. 

“It’s a little bit bittersweet,” O’Brien admitted, “but this community has been waiting for so long for this to be rejuvenated.” 

When MetroCenter opened its doors in 1973, it made history as Arizona’s first indoor, two-story, air-conditioned mall. Though the mall closed in 2020, it still has …