The Eastland mall opened in 1975. It occupied 90 acres of land in East Charlotte, bounded by Central Avenue, Sharon Amity Road, and Wilora Lake Road. It closed in 2010, and the City of Charlotte acquired the property and demolished the buildings. On May 18, 2017, the City invited residents to an informational meeting and party on the site of the old mall. Visitors made art on the parking lot surface, rode on free bicycles, and exchanged ideas and memories with representatives of city government and each other.   Thomas Hanchett, retired historian of the Levine Museum of the New South, conducted oral history interviews. He is pictured here interviewing Louise Woods, former Board of Education member and resident of the East side.