For years, they were filled with shoppers, kids eagerly waiting to see Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, and more recently by those lining up to get COVID vaccines.

But now, there is almost nothing. All but one storefront is vacant. Even the small merry-go-round sits still and silent, no longer blaring its jingle to get youngsters’ attention.

The core area of the mall is now in its final days.

Signs on the door advise visitors that it will close for the final time at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

- Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Signs like this advise visitors to Crossroads Mall that the site will close for the final time on Tuesday. The last two businesses in the building, Hacienda Vieja and Shoe Sensation, will be relocating.

Shortly after that date, demolition crews will begin tearing it down as part of the redevelopment of the site into Corridor Plaza.

“We will begin abatement and demolition of the remaining portion of the mall in mid-September when both tenants have moved out completely,” said BJ Stokesbary, a spokesman for Crossroads Plaza Development LLC, the Ankeny firm that owns the property.

One of the tenants he referred to, a restaurant called Hacienda Vieja, is already completely moved out.

Signs posted on the restaurant’s doors indicate that it will reopen Friday in the former Buford’s location inside the Best Western Starlite Village Inn & Suites, 1518 Third Ave. N.W.

The other remaining tenant, Shoe Sensation, was open in the mall Wednesday, but a sign above the door reports that the store will be moving to 1513 Second Ave. N.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
The halls of Crossroads Mall are lined by vacant storefronts. The last two businesses in the building, Hacienda Vieja and Shoe Sensation, are moving out, and the building will be demolished later this month.

Stokesbary said the demolition job is expected to be finished this year.

The former Sears and JCPenney stores have already been demolished. The former Younkers store will remain standing. It will be renovated to house a handful of stores.

The mall is gradually being replaced by a multi-use development that will feature stores, restaurants, and a gathering space called the plaza and pavilion.

The first new entity on the site was the UnityPoint Health — Clinic Express located on a recently constructed section of Second Avenue South that goes through the property.

At the south end of the site, a new Discount Tire store was constructed.

- Messenger photo by Bill Shea
The merry-go-around that amused young children in Crossroads Mall for years is now still and silent. The mall will close for the last time on Tuesday and will be demolished later this month as the site is redeveloped into Corridor Plaza.

A new strip mall that houses Teriyaki Madness and Clean Laundry has debuted on the southeast end of the site. That strip mall has room for two or three more businesses.

A car wash called Tidal Wave Auto Spa is expected to open early next year on the northwest corner of the property.