However, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, several deadly shootings and a rash of robberies occurred on or near the mall's parking lots.

The mall underwent an extensive renovation shortly before it closed, in an unsuccessful attempt to attract new business.

Although new tenants opened, the full renovation was never completed, which would have included a face lift and a name change to Memphis Park Galleria.

This meant that when the mall was closed and demolished, many of its features, such as benches, railings, elevators and interior decor, were still in new condition, having seldom been used.

By April 2007, a newspaper report by The Commercial Appeal stated that Wal-Mart planned to build a 176,000 square-foot Supercenter location on a portion of the site.