Lansing Mall

Lansing Mall is an enclosed shopping mall located in Delta Charter Township, Michigan, United States, just outside Lansing, the state capital of Michigan. Opened in July 1969, the mall comprises 830,052 square feet (77,114.4 m²) of gross leasable area,^[1] with more than 100 stores and restaurants, as well as a food court. Anchor stores include T.J. Maxx, JCPenney, Macy's, and Younkers. Lansing Mall is managed and owned by Rouse Properties, one of the largest mall owners in the United States.

History

The Lansing Mall was built in the western suburb of Delta Township along M-43 (Saginaw Highway), and opened to the public on July 31, 1969.^[2] Originally, it included three anchor stores: Montgomery Ward at the eastern end, Detroit-based Federal's at the western end, and Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Wurzburg's in the middle.^[3] Other major tenants at opening included Cunningham Drug, Schensul's Cafeteria, and McCrory Stores.^[4] Federal's closed its store in 1972,^[5] and Wurzburg's was converted to J.W. Knapp Company which then closed and was later occupied by JCPenney,where it still stands today.

The former Federal's store briefly operated as Robert Hall Village^[6] before it was supplanted in 1979 by an extension of the mall's western wing, with a Hudson's department store being added at the end of the westerly expansion.^[2] A northern wing, completed in 1987, added Mervyns and a food court.^[2]

1990s and 2000s

Lansing Mall was purchased in 1997 by General Growth Properties, who soon embarked on a $30 million renovation of the entire property. The food court was remodeled to include more seating for customers, and new restroom facilities were added.^[7] Several new tenants were also added, including Barnes & Noble and Old Navy.^[7]

In May 2001 Montgomery Ward had bankruptcy and closed all its stores. Later that same year, Hudsons became Marshall Field's. The eastern anchor remained vacant until 2002, when Younkers opened its first Lansing-area store in the space vacated by Montgomery Ward.^[8][9] Dunham's Sports was added next to Old Navy in 2004.^[10]

Marshall Field's was one of several nameplates to be converted to Macy's in 2006. The same year, Mervyns closed all of its Michigan operations. Steve & Barry's opened in the former Mervyns space in 2007, although it closed one year later due to the chain's bankruptcy. TJ Maxx was eventually added as well, relocating from across the street. Old Navy closed in 2009.^[11]

In January 2013 the addition of a 50,000 square feet (4,645 m²) 12-screen cinema at the mall was announced, operated by Regal Entertainment Group. It is located on the site of the former Mervyns/Steve & Barry's.^[12] The new theater opened in July 2014. A Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill began construction in the former Mervyns wing in 2013, but construction was never completed due to payment disputes with workers,^[13] and Rouse terminated the lease in May 2015.^[14] It was announced in November 2015 that the space would become a different bar called Tequila Cowboy.^[15]

Possible redevelopment

In December 2007 the township board of Delta Charter Township reviewed proposals for the creation of a "downtown district" in the township. Under this plan, Lansing Mall would be renamed Delta Town Center, and redeveloped as an open-air center.^[16] As of 2013, nothing has come of these plans.

Photo gallery

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  Lansing Mall main entrance from south side

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  Lansing Mall entrance from south side

References

External links

• Lansing Mall Official web site

Coordinates: 42°44′31″N 84°37′37″W / 42.74203°N 84.62704°W / 42.74203; -84.62704