Centerpointe Mall

Infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Centerpointe Mall


image_width =
caption =
location = Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
coordinates =
opening_date = 1967
closing_date =
developer =
manager = General Growth Properties
owner = Lormax Stern
number_of_stores = 40
number_of_anchors = 9
floor_area =
floors = 1
parking =
website = http://centerpointemall.com

Centerpointe Mall is an enclosed shopping mall located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. It opened in 1967 as Eastbrook Mall, a year before the larger Woodland Mall opened across the street. Centerpointe Mall comprises more than thirty stores, including the anchor stores DSW Shoe Warehouse, Modern Skate & Surf, Dunham's Sports, Nordstrom Rack, Steve & Barry's, Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Golf Galaxy and Menards. Centerpointe Mall is managed by General Growth Properties, and owned by Lormax Stern.

Because the mall is largely vacant, it has been slated for demolition. Original plans called for everything but the anchor stores to be demolished in 2007.cite web |url=http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/grmetro_article.aspx?storyid=75844 |title=Makeover planned for Centerpointe Mall |accessdate=2007-08-20 |date=2007-05-29 |format=html |work=wzzm.com] As of late 2008, however, the mall remains open.

History

Eastbrook Mall opened in 1967. At the time, it featured approximately 50 stores, with three anchor stores: discount department store chain Woolco anchored the eastern end, while local department stores Wurzburg's and Steketee's anchored the western and northern ends, respectively.Fact|date=August 2007 When Eastbrook Mall opened, a second, larger mall was being built across the street — Woodland Mall, which featured JCPenney, Sears, and Kresge as its anchor stores when it opened in 1967.

Wurzburg's closed in 1979 and was replaced that same year by local furniture retailer Klingman's Furniture. Woolco closed all United States operations in early 1983; the large Woolco store was split into smaller stores, with Burlington Coat Factory taking the majority of the space.Fact|date=November 2007 Also in the 1980s, local catalog showroom chain Witmark opened in the west wing, and discount retailer TJ Maxx was added in the east wing. Later in the 1980s, Hills would be added as an additional anchor tenant next to Burlington Coat Factory.Fact|date=August 2007 Hills closed its Michigan stores in the early 1990s, and the Eastbrook store was converted to Menards, a home-improvement chain.

Renovations

In the 1980s and 1990s, Eastbrook Mall saw the majority of its tenants close, including two of its anchors: Witmark in 1997,cite web |url=http://www.slushfactory.com/witmark/landlords.htm |title=Witmark closings surprise landlords |accessdate=2007-08-20 |last=Weiker |first=Jim |date=1997-04-12 |format=html |work=Grand Rapids Press] followed by Steketee's three years later.cite web |url=http://www.skyview.iserv.net/newsroomarchive00.html |title=Skyview Local Summary 2000 |accessdate=2007-08-20 |format=html |work=Skyview.iserv.net] Lormax Stern acquired the mall from Visser Brothers in 2000, renovating the center and re-naming it Centerpointe Mall. New stores, including Steve & Barry's, Lane Bryant, and Dunham's Sports, were added. Also Burlington Coat Factory re-located outside the mall, with the former Burlington Coat Factory space being converted to Linens 'n Things. A skate park called Modern Skate & Surf opened in the former Witmark, while Steketee's was demolished for Nordstrom Rack and two new mall entrances. Throughout 2004 and 2005, Old Navy, DSW Shoe Warehouse, and David's Bridal opened as well, taking up space formerly occupied by smaller tenants. In 2006, General Growth Properties assumed leasing of management of the mall, with Lormax Stern retaining ownership.

Redevelopment

Although several new stores were added under Lormax Stern's ownership, the majority of the mall itself is still largely vacant. Because of its low occupancy rate, it was slated in mid-2007 to be re-developed as a new shopping center with outdoor, pedestrian-friendly structures.cite web |url=http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6580965 |title=Centerpointe Mall to be demolished, replaced |accessdate=2007-08-20 |last=Ruiz |first=Rachel |date=2007-05-31 |format=html |work=WOOD TV.com] Nordstrom Rack, Menards, Steve & Barry's and Dunham's Sports would have remained in their existing locations, while remaining stores would have received new locations within the center. Redevelopment was to have been completed in 2009. As of 2008, however, it was announced that the plans for renovation would be put on hold; Klingman's also announced its relocation to a property outside the mall. In May 2008, Linens 'n Things closed nine of its Michigan stores, including the anchor at Centerpointe Mall. [cite web |url=http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2008/05/linens_n_things_to_close_its_t.html |title=Linens 'n Things to close 9 Michigan stores |accessdate=2008-05-28 |date=2008-05-02 |work=Mlive.com |publisher=Grand Rapids Press]

References

External links

* [http://centerpointemall.com Official website]