Westroads Mall

infobox shopping mall|shopping_mall_name = Westroads Mall Westroads Mall as it appeared in the late 1960s
location = Omaha, Nebraska, United States
coordinates = coord|41|15|59|N|96|4|6|W|type:landmark|region:US|display=inline,title
opening_date = August 1, 1968cite web|url=http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10202477|title=Westroads Mall a landmark in Omaha|accessdate=2007-12-06]
manager = General Growth Propertiescite web|url=http://www.westroadsmall.com/html/mallinfo.asp |title=Westroads Mall - About Us|accessdate=2007-12-05]
owner = General Growth Properties
developer = John Wiebecite web|url=http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10202477|title=Westroads Mall a landmark in Omaha|accessdate=2007-12-06]
architects =
building_costs = $25 Millioncite web|url=http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10202477|title=Westroads Mall a landmark in Omaha|accessdate=2007-12-06]
number_of_stores = 135
number_of_anchors = 4
floor_area = ft2 to m2|1200000|abbr=yes
floors = 3 of retail
parking = 5,106
website = [http://www.westroadsmall.com/ Westroads Mall]

Westroads Mall is an enclosed shopping mall with over 135 stores located in Omaha, Nebraska at the intersection of 100th and Dodge Streets. It is the largest mall in the state of NebraskaArdy Friedberg and Monica Davey, " [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/us/06cnd-shoot.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&hp Gunman at an Omaha Mall Kills 8 and Himself] ". New York Times, December 6, 2007. Retrieved on 12/6/2007.] , with 14.5 million customer visits annually.

Designed by real estate developer John Wiebe, Westroads cost $25 million to build, including $15 million for store inventories & fixtures. It opened to the public on August 1, 1968. It originally opened with 68 tenants, later expanding to approximately 120 at the end of its first full year.

During the mall's early years, it was home to a chapel as well as a heliport on the roof. In the 1970's, a dinner theatre occupied much of the mall's lower level.

Prudential Insurance Co. purchased the mall from Wiebe for $45 Million in 1977. In 1997, General Growth Properties bought the mall from Prudential and remains the owner.cite web|url=http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10202477|title=Westroads Mall a landmark in Omaha|accessdate=2007-12-06]

The mall has been renovated several times: in 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2003. Westroads is Nebraska's largest shopping mallcite web|url=http://www.ggp.com/Content/Data/mallfacts/Westroads%20Mall_mallfact.pdf|title=Westroads Mall facts|accessdate=2007-12-05] with a gross leasable area of 1.2 million square feet. [http://www.icsc.org/apps/dmmdisp.php?dispid=NE0200 Westroads Mall] , International Council of Shopping Centers. Accessed December 5, 2007.]

Anchors

Mall anchors include:
*Dick's Sporting Goods
*JCPenney
*Von Maur
*Younkers (in former Jones Store)
*Rave Motion Pictures Under construction, open Summer 2008

Past anchors have included:
*Brandeis
*The Jones Store (in former Montgomery Ward)
*Montgomery Ward

Movie theaters

The Mall was home to a small multiplex called the AMC Westroads 8 until December 1997 when AMC opened the Oak View Plaza 24 Theaters near Oak View Mall. However, in summer 2008 a new 14 screen multiplex operated by Rave Motion Picture Theaters will open. At 70,000-square-feet, the theater will use 18-inch risers for stadium seating and offer four feet of leg room between rows. The complex will anchor a 130,000- square-foot development on the north end of the Mall in the former Younkers location. [Keenan, J. [http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pag...&u_sid=2384359 "Movie theater coming to Westroads"] , "Omaha World-Herald." Retrieved 12/14/07.]

hooting

On December 5, 2007, a man later identified as Robert A. Hawkins entered the Von Maur anchor store with a rifle and began firing. One report indicated that at least 25 rounds had been fired. Nine people were killed (including the gunman), and five people injured, all within Von Maur. Westroads Security responded quickly and safely. [cite web|title=Westroads Mall Shooting 2007-12-05|url=http://www.startribune.com/12172796.html|accessdate=2007-12-05] [cite web|title=Man opens fire at Omaha Mall, Killing 8|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/12/05/national/a123302S72.DTL|accessdate=2007-12-05] The mall reopened on December 8, 2007, while anchor store Von Maur reopened December 20, 2007.

References