It was interesting as a kid coming from the St Louis suburbs in the mid 80's, a time when our shopping mall-mid rivers mall had just opened, food courts, arcades, and escalators were the place to hang out, Chesterfield mall and Riverroads, as well as Northwest Plaza, and the Galleria were all doing well, and everytime we would go to Branson, there would be no "shopping" scene. The outdoor setting/ outlet mall offered a change from what we were used to. It had stairs, shops, overlooks, two floors, and a variety of stores. I remember thinking our toy sore at home had way more legos, but I still found things that my parents spent money on that I cannot remember what they were (I remember a small Lego kit that made a car).
I have plenty of memories of this place, it will be missed for what it was, not what it is, and since I have a penchant for abandoned places...odds are I'll be taking some photos here in the new year!