As parents drag their children through the hallways to get their picture taken on Santa’s lap, jolly Christmas music plays in the background. Loved ones shop for gifts to go under the Christmas tree, but in recent years, this scene has changed to empty halls, closed down stores and faded memories from a once- popular spot.
Sikes Senter Mall will be shut down permanently. It is being demolished and rebuilt into multiple uses, including different stores, more restaurants and a new Midwestern State University football stadium. The city of Wichita Falls is purchasing the 60 acres of land.
“I wouldn’t really care if Sikes Senter Mall gets demolished because not many people have went in the recent years,” junior MaKaylee McCown said. “My favorite memory at the mall was when I would spend the day there with my grandma. But my least favorite memory was when I would spend all my hard earned money in one store.”
Sophomore Millie Mayo said she is upset her favorite store won’t be in Wichita Falls anymore.
“My favorite store to go to in the mall is Francesca’s because they have really cute clothes and jewelry,” Mayo said. “I am very sad the Francesca’s is closing where I live. I hope they build another one in Wichita.”
Both good and bad memoriesare in Addison Canada’s experience.

“I am very disappointed that the mall is getting demolished, because I have a lot of memories there from when I was little,” Canada said. “My favorite times at the mall are when I would go back-to-school shopping or when I would go to the movies with my friends and family.”
Freshman Landrie Schmidt said she doesn’t really care about the mall anyway because she has other places to shop. “I feel good about the mall getting demolished because they are going to be putting up new stores,” Schmidt said. “I love going shopping, so yes, I’m sad we won’t have a shopping center for a while, but there will be new ones soon.”
Eighth grader Maci Casillas said she’s a little upset but also doesn’t really care because there are other places to shop.
“I am a little sad that it is closing, but honestly, it doesn’t really bother me because I can shop online and at other little stores around Wichita Falls,” Casillas said. “My favorite store is Hibbett’s because I buy all my shoes from there. But I am sad it won’t be around me anymore.”
Junior Kaleb Good said it’s disappointing that the mall is getting shut down, but it will be used for a better field for MSU.
“It’s a bummer the mall is getting demolished, but it’s also good ‘cause Midwestern State University needs a new stadium,” Good said. “The mall getting demolished is a positive because Midwestern’s field right now is not very good, so this will be good for them.”
Seventh grader Raegen Rowe said there is both positives and negatives to the mall getting demolished.
“A positive for this happening is that Midwestern is getting a new stadium, and a new stadium and better stores and restaurants are getting built in place of it,” Rowe said. “Negatives of it are many people have memories there from when they were little so demolishing this mall could’ be sad for a lot of people.”