Southridge Mall (Iowa)

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Southridge Mall


image_width = 300
caption =
location = Des Moines, Iowa, United States
opening_date = October 15, 1975
developer = General Growth Properties
manager = The Macerich Company
owner = Simon Property Group and The Macerich Company (50% each)
number_of_stores = 76 (as of November 2007) [cite web|author=The Macerich Company|title=Southridge Mall: Store Directory|url=http://www.shopsouthridgemall.com/directory.asp|accessdate=2007-11-04]
number_of_anchors = 4
floor_area = convert|867673|sqft|m2|0|abbr=oncite web|author=The Macerich Company|title=Southridge Mall: Center Details|url=http://www.shopsouthridgemall.com/leasing.asp|accessdate=2007-11-04]
floors = 1
website = [http://www.shopsouthridgemall.com www.shopsouthridgemall.com]

Southridge Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa. It attracts roughly 3.5 million visitors per year, with a primary trade area consisting of most of the city of Des Moines and areas to its south and east.cite web|author=The Macerich Company|title=Southridge Mall: Market Profile|url=http://www.shopsouthridgemall.com/assets/shopsouthridgemall/Merchants%20First/Demographics/southridge.pdf|accessdate=2007-11-14|format=PDF]

As of November 2007, Southridge is anchored by JCPenney, Sears, Target, and Younkers. Tenants on the outparcels include Hy-Vee, PETCO, Toys "R" Us, and a 12-screen theater owned by Carmike Cinemas.

History

On March 6, 1972, General Growth Properties announced plans to build a new mall at the intersection of Southeast 14th Street and Army Post Road. [cite news|first=David|last=Eastman|title=Plan a Big Southeast Shop Center|work=Des Moines Tribune|date=1972-03-06|pages=1, 3] The mall was known as Army Post Plaza during the planning and construction stages, but it was renamed Southridge Mall shortly before construction was completed.

Southridge Mall opened on October 15, 1975, two months after Valley West Mall opened in West Des Moines. Younkers was the first anchor to open, with Sears following in 1977. An expansion in 1978 added Montgomery Ward as a third anchor, while a Richman Gordman department store became the mall's fourth anchor in 1982.cite news|first=Holli|last=Hartman|title=Two area malls turn 20 years old|work=The Des Moines Register|date=1995-08-07|pages=1B, 4B, 5B] Plans to add Dillard's to Southridge in 1987 were immediately opposed by Younkers, who claimed that the store's lease limited Southridge to four department stores. Younkers sued Southridge's management over this issue, but a federal magistrate ruled against Younkers in June 1990 even though Dillard's backed out of its plan to build at Southridge before the ruling. [cite news|first=Dale|last=Kasler|title=Younkers bid to limit mall stores fails|work=The Des Moines Register|date=1990-06-13|page=5S] After the failure to attract Dillard's, Target became the mall's fifth anchor in 1992 while the rest of the mall was renovated; the expansion increased Southridge's floor space to just over 1 million square feet (93,000 m²). Richman Gordman closed in 1992 after the chain declared bankruptcy, and JCPenney moved from downtown Des Moines to Southridge two years later to replace that anchor spot. Montgomery Ward closed its stores at Southridge and Merle Hay Malls during that chain's first round of bankruptcy in 1999, and Wards' 109,000-square foot (10,100 m²) space at Southridge remained vacant until it was demolished in April 2006.cite news|first=Patt|last=Johnson|title=Southridge plans facelift, new tenants|work=The Des Moines Register|date=2006-03-14|page=1D]

General Growth Properties, which was originally based in Des Moines, sold Southridge to the Equitable Life Assurance Society in 1984 as part of its real estate investment trust liquidation that year. General Growth continued to manage Southridge until a partnership of the Simon Property Group and The Macerich Company acquired the mall in March 1998 as part of a 12-mall deal. [cite news|author=The Macerich Company (press release)|title=The Macerich Company And Simon DeBartolo Group Close On Portfolio Acquisition|url=http://excite.ccbn.com/releasetext.asp?ticker=mac&coid=80539&client=excite&release=47780|date=1998-03-05|accessdate=2007-04-29] Macerich manages the mall as part of the deal.

The occupancy rate at Southridge has declined in recent years, as competition from Jordan Creek Town Center and other shopping areas has affected the mall's business. Occupancy was reported at 60 percent — the lowest of the area's four regional malls — in 2005 but rebounded to 77 percent a year later. Some of the empty storefronts at Southridge have been filled with tenants that are not usually associated with malls, such as churches, offices, and an animal shelter. [cite news|first=Erin|last=Morain|title=Can Southridge Mall bounce back?|work=Des Moines Business Record|date=2005-05-22] In October 2006, Macerich began work on a renovation plan that included the installation of a new children's play area in the food court, installation of Wi-Fi access, new seating areas, and remodeled restrooms. Macerich also plans to bring in a new "junior" anchor store and expand the existing Target store by more than 20,000 square feet. [cite news|first=Patt|last=Johnson|title=Mall's owner plans face-lift for struggling Southridge|work=The Des Moines Register|date=2006-10-12|page=1D] [cite news|first=Sharon|last=Baltes|title=Southridge future hinges on proposed deals|work=Des Moines Business Record|date=2007-01-28] Steve & Barry's opened a new 31,000-square foot store near JCPenney on October 24, 2007. [cite news|first=Patt|last=Johnson|title=Steve & Barry's to open at Southridge|url=http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071024/BUSINESS/710240354/-1/ENT06|work=The Des Moines Register|date=2007-10-24]

Anchors and majors

*JCPenney (63,517 sq. ft.)
*Sears (107,385 sq. ft.)
*Target (112,530 sq. ft.)
*Younkers (101,041 sq. ft.)

References

External links

* [http://www.shopsouthridgemall.com Southridge Mall's website]