Alton Square Mall
A regional enclosed shopping mall in Alton, Illinois, anchored by JCPenney and NCG Cinemas.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Alton Square Mall is an enclosed shopping center in Alton, Illinois, serving the city and surrounding communities in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The property contains approximately 634,181 square feet, or 58,917 square meters, of retail and entertainment space. Its current anchor configuration includes a JCPenney department store and an eight-screen NCG Cinemas location created from a former Sears department-store building. The mall formerly had a third department-store anchor, Macy's, but that structure was closed and demolished in 2017. The mall was developed by The May Department Stores Company, with construction beginning in 1976. Its first operating component was a Famous-Barr department store, a May division, which opened on October 16, 1978. The remainder of the center, including its J. C. Penney store, opened on November 15, 1978. The property subsequently passed through several ownership and development entities, including May Centers, CenterMark Properties, Melvin Simon and Associates, Simon Property Group, Coyote Management, NorthMarq Capital, and Hull Property Group. Alton Square underwent a series of changes as department-store retail and enclosed malls faced increasing competition from discount retailers, power centers, e-commerce, and changing consumer habits. A Sears building was added during a 1997 renovation, while the original Famous-Barr store was converted to Macy's in 2006. Simon Property Group sold the property to Coyote Management in 2007. Coyote later sold it to NorthMarq Capital in 2010, and NorthMarq sold it to Hull Property Group in 2015. The mall's tenant mix was repeatedly revised during the 2010s. Ross Dress for Less and Hibbett Sports were added in 2015. Sears closed in June 2012, and its former space was briefly occupied by Illinois Wholesale Furniture before that retailer also closed. Macy's shut its Alton Square location in 2017, after which the building was demolished. Hull Property Group announced a redevelopment concept intended to relocate smaller second-level tenants to the ground floor and create space for as many as five anchor uses. The former Sears building was ultimately converted into an eight-screen NCG Cinemas venue, which opened in April 2021. The property has continued to operate, although the closure of individual tenants has reflected the broader pressures affecting traditional regional malls.
History
Alton Square Mall was developed in Alton, Illinois, by The May Department Stores Company. Groundbreaking began in 1976, and the center was designed as a conventional regional enclosed mall with department stores serving as major traffic generators. The first part to open was a Famous-Barr department store, a May-owned division, on October 16, 1978. The rest of the mall, including its J. C. Penney anchor, opened on November 15 of the same year. After opening, ownership and management passed through several property companies. The mall was later held by May Centers, the development arm of May Department Stores, before being sold to CenterMark Properties of St. Louis. Melvin Simon and Associates, later associated with Simon Property Group, acquired the center in February 1993. During a 1997 renovation, the property gained a Sears department-store anchor. In 2006, Famous-Barr was converted to Macy's as part of the broader consolidation and rebranding of May department stores after the May Department Stores Company was acquired by Federated Department Stores. Simon Property Group sold Alton Square Mall to Coyote Management of Texas in 2007. Coyote Management subsequently sold the property to NorthMarq Capital in 2010. Department-store contraction became increasingly visible during this period. Sears announced in April 2012 that its Alton Square store would close on June 3. The former Sears space was occupied for a time by Illinois Wholesale Furniture, but that use also ended. NorthMarq sold the mall to Hull Property Group in 2015. That year, the property added Ross Dress for Less and Hibbett Sports, reflecting an effort to broaden its tenant mix beyond traditional department stores. In 2017, Family Christian Stores closed, Macy's also left the center, and Macy's building was demolished. Hull announced a redevelopment concept that would move smaller tenants from the second level to the first level and create room for additional anchor-scale uses. Other specialty tenants, including Hallmark, Things Remembered, and Vitamin World, were also reported as closing during 2017. A proposed ten-screen Premiere Cinemas project announced in 2009 had not opened. The former Sears building eventually received a new entertainment use. NCG Cinemas opened an eight-screen theater there in April 2021, making it one of the mall's principal anchor destinations alongside JCPenney. The mall has continued operating with a smaller and more varied tenant base, although repeated store closures illustrate the structural challenges faced by many older regional malls. In December 2024, The Cookie Factory closed after 46 years of operation at the property.
- 2024
The Cookie Factory closes
[1]The Cookie Factory closes its mall location after 46 years of operation.
- 2021
NCG Cinemas opens
[1]An eight-screen NCG Cinemas theater opens in the former Sears space.
- 2017
Macy's building demolished
[1]Macy's closes and its former anchor structure is demolished as part of the property's redevelopment period.
- 2015
Hull Property Group acquires the mall
[1]NorthMarq sells the property to Hull Property Group; Ross Dress for Less and Hibbett Sports are added.
- 2010
NorthMarq Capital becomes owner
[1]Coyote Management sells the mall to NorthMarq Capital.
- 2007
Ownership changes to Coyote Management
[1]Simon Property Group sells the mall to Coyote Management of Texas.
- 2006
Famous-Barr becomes Macy's
[1]The original Famous-Barr anchor is converted to Macy's.
- 1997
Sears anchor added
[1]A Sears department-store building is added during a mall renovation.
- 1993
Acquired by Melvin Simon and Associates
[1]Melvin Simon and Associates acquires the mall in February.
- 1978
Famous-Barr opens
[1]The Famous-Barr anchor opens on October 16.
Products and positioning
Regional enclosed shopping center serving Alton and nearby communities through a mix of department-store, discount, specialty-retail, dining, and entertainment tenants.
Department store · 1978
JCPenney
JCPenney is one of the mall's principal surviving anchors. Its department-store assortment traditionally spans apparel, footwear, accessories, home merchandise, beauty products, and seasonal goods, giving the property a broad everyday-shopping component.
Cinema and entertainment · 2021
NCG Cinemas
NCG Cinemas operates an eight-screen movie theater in the building formerly occupied by Sears. The theater provides a major entertainment destination and functions as an anchor-scale attraction within the redeveloped mall.
Off-price retail · 2015
Ross Dress for Less
Ross Dress for Less was added in 2015 as part of an effort to diversify the mall's tenant mix. Its off-price apparel, footwear, accessories, and home-goods model provides a value-oriented shopping option distinct from traditional department stores.
Sporting goods · 2015
Hibbett Sports
Hibbett Sports joined the mall in 2015, adding athletic footwear, sports apparel, equipment, and related merchandise to the center's retail offering.
Brand decisions
2021
Conversion of former Sears space into NCG CinemasProduct launchBackground
The mall needed a new anchor-scale use after Sears closed in 2012 and the interim Illinois Wholesale Furniture tenancy ended.
Action taken
An eight-screen NCG Cinemas location opened in the former Sears building.
Aftermath
The cinema became a principal anchor alongside JCPenney and expanded the mall's entertainment offering.
2017
Redevelopment following anchor-store closuresStrategyBackground
The mall faced the loss of Macy's, Family Christian Stores, and other tenants, while the former Sears building remained available for reuse.
Action taken
Hull Property Group announced a plan to relocate smaller second-level tenants to the first level and create room for as many as five anchor uses, including a proposed cinema in the former Sears space.
Aftermath
The Macy's structure was demolished, and the former Sears space was eventually converted into an eight-screen NCG Cinemas theater that opened in 2021.
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