Arrowhead Towne Center
A super-regional shopping mall in Glendale, Arizona, serving the western Phoenix metropolitan area.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Arrowhead Towne Center is a super-regional shopping mall in Glendale, Arizona, at the intersection of Bell Road and 75th Avenue in the western Phoenix metropolitan area. Locally, it is also commonly called Arrowhead Mall. The center opened in October 1993 on land that had previously been used as an orange grove and was designed to serve the rapidly growing West Valley suburbs. The mall was originally developed and owned by Westcor and General Growth Properties. Westcor held a two-thirds interest and managed the property, while General Growth Properties held the remaining one-third. Omniplan Architects designed the complex, and The Weitz Company served as general contractor. Its original anchor lineup included Robinsons-May, Montgomery Ward, Mervyn's, JCPenney, and Dillard's, together with an additional unleased anchor pad. Arrowhead experienced several major tenant changes as the American department-store sector consolidated. Montgomery Ward closed its store after the retailer entered bankruptcy in 2000, and Sears subsequently took over the space, opening in spring 2002. Robinsons-May was converted to Macy's in 2006 after Macy's acquired the Robinsons-May business. Mervyn's closed in 2008, and Forever 21 opened in the former Mervyn's location in March 2009. Sears later closed its Arrowhead store in 2019. The property also changed ownership over time. Macerich acquired Westcor in 2002 and continued operating the mall. In 2011, General Growth Properties sold its one-third stake, leaving Macerich with full ownership at that point. Macerich later sold a 40 percent interest to GIC Private Limited in 2016. In May 2024, Macerich bought back GIC's interest, restoring Macerich's full ownership according to the available reference material. Beginning around 2007, Arrowhead pursued a more affluent and upscale tenant mix in addition to its established middle-income customer base. The center added the West Valley's first Sephora location, along with brands such as Swarovski and Coach. An Apple Store opened in summer 2008, giving shoppers in the western suburbs access to retailers that had previously been concentrated in areas such as Biltmore Fashion Park and Scottsdale Fashion Square. Dick's Sporting Goods also opened at the mall in 2008. The center's current entertainment and retail offer includes Macy's, Dillard's, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, a 14-screen AMC Theatres complex, and Round1. Arrowhead also functions as a Valley Metro bus transit center, reinforcing its role as a regional shopping, dining, entertainment, and transportation destination. Its business model is based on a broad tenant ecosystem rather than on a single branded product line, combining department stores, specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment, and public transit access.
History
Arrowhead Towne Center opened in October 1993 in Glendale, Arizona, on land formerly occupied by an orange grove. Its location at Bell Road and 75th Avenue placed it in a growing western suburban corridor of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The project was designed as a super-regional shopping center and was developed jointly by Westcor and General Growth Properties. Westcor owned two-thirds of the property and managed it, while General Growth Properties owned the remaining one-third. Omniplan Architects of Dallas designed the mall, and The Weitz Company was the general contractor. The original anchor lineup consisted of Robinsons-May, Montgomery Ward, Mervyn's, JCPenney, and Dillard's. A further anchor pad was initially unleased. The property later became part of the changing American department-store landscape. Montgomery Ward entered bankruptcy in December 2000 and closed its remaining stores, including the Arrowhead location. Sears announced that it would take over a number of former Montgomery Ward spaces and opened at Arrowhead in spring 2002. A major corporate transition occurred in 2002, when Macerich acquired Westcor. Macerich assumed responsibility for managing Arrowhead and became the mall's principal ownership partner. In 2006, Macy's acquired Robinsons-May, leading to the conversion of the Robinsons-May store at Arrowhead into Macy's. Mervyn's subsequently went out of business and closed its store in 2008. Forever 21 reopened that space on March 27, 2009. Dick's Sporting Goods also held its grand opening at the mall in 2008. During the late 2000s, Arrowhead began shifting its tenant strategy toward a more affluent and upscale shopper while retaining its established regional customer base. Sephora opened in 2007 as the West Valley's first location, and the center added brands such as Swarovski and Coach. The first Apple Store in the West Valley opened at Arrowhead in summer 2008. These additions broadened the mall's competitive position, offering western-suburban shoppers access to brands that had previously required travel to prominent eastern Phoenix retail destinations such as Biltmore Fashion Park and Scottsdale Fashion Square. Ownership continued to evolve. In 2011, General Growth Properties sold its one-third interest in Arrowhead, and Macerich assumed full ownership. Macerich later sold 40 percent of the property to GIC Private Limited in 2016. Sears closed its Arrowhead anchor store in 2019. In May 2024, Macerich repurchased the 40 percent interest held by GIC, returning the property to Macerich's full ownership according to the available reference material. Arrowhead remains an active retail and entertainment complex. Its named anchors and major attractions include Macy's, Dillard's, JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, a 14-screen AMC Theatres location, and Round1. The center also serves as a Valley Metro bus transit center. This combination of department stores, specialty retail, entertainment, and public transportation has allowed Arrowhead to function as a broader West Valley destination rather than solely as a traditional enclosed mall.
- 2024
Macerich buys back GIC's interest
[1]Macerich repurchases GIC's 40 percent interest in May, restoring full ownership.
- 2019
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor store closes after operating in the former Montgomery Ward space.
- 2016
GIC acquires a 40 percent interest
[1]Macerich sells a 40 percent stake in the mall to GIC Private Limited.
- 2011
Macerich assumes full ownership
[1]General Growth Properties sells its one-third interest, leaving Macerich with full ownership.
- 2009
Forever 21 opens in former Mervyn's space
[1]Forever 21 opens on March 27 in the anchor space vacated by Mervyn's.
- 2008
Apple and Dick's Sporting Goods arrive
[1]The center adds the West Valley's first Apple Store and holds the grand opening of Dick's Sporting Goods.
- 2007
Upscale tenant repositioning begins
[1]The mall begins adding more affluent-oriented retailers, including the West Valley's first Sephora.
- 2006
Robinsons-May becomes Macy's
[1]The Robinsons-May anchor is converted into a Macy's store after Macy's acquisition of Robinsons-May.
- 2002
Sears opens in former Montgomery Ward space
[1]Sears opens its Arrowhead store in spring 2002 after acquiring the former Montgomery Ward location.
- 2002
Macerich acquires Westcor
[1]Macerich acquires Westcor and becomes the mall's managing company.
Products and positioning
A large West Valley regional shopping and entertainment destination that combines department stores, specialty retail, dining, cinema, gaming, and transit access, with a tenant strategy that has increasingly included more upscale national brands.
Retail · 1993
Department-store retail
Arrowhead's department-store offer has historically included Robinsons-May, Montgomery Ward, Sears, Mervyn's, Macy's, JCPenney, and Dillard's. The surviving department-store anchors provide apparel, accessories, beauty products, home merchandise, and other general retail categories.
Fashion and beauty · 2007
Specialty fashion and beauty retail
The center's specialty tenant mix includes fashion, accessories, jewelry, and beauty brands. Its upscale repositioning added retailers such as Sephora, Swarovski, and Coach, helping broaden the mall's appeal beyond its original middle-income regional customer base.
Sporting goods · 2008
Sporting goods
Dick's Sporting Goods adds a large-format sporting-goods component, covering equipment, apparel, footwear, and outdoor-related merchandise within the center's broader retail mix.
Entertainment
Entertainment
The mall includes a 14-screen AMC Theatres complex and Round1, providing cinema, arcade, and other leisure activities that complement its shopping and dining uses.
Brand decisions
2024
Macerich restores full ownershipM&ABackground
GIC Private Limited had acquired a 40 percent interest in Arrowhead Towne Center from Macerich in 2016.
Action taken
Macerich bought back GIC's remaining 40 percent interest in May 2024.
Aftermath
Macerich again became the mall's sole owner according to the available reference material.
2007
Repositioning toward a more upscale tenant mixStrategyBackground
Arrowhead was traditionally oriented toward a middle-income regional customer base, while shoppers seeking more upscale national brands often traveled to retail centers elsewhere in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Action taken
The mall added higher-end or premium-oriented tenants, including Sephora, Swarovski, Coach, and later an Apple Store, while retaining its department-store and broad-market foundation.
Aftermath
The repositioning strengthened Arrowhead's role as a major West Valley shopping destination and expanded its appeal across customer segments.
Recent events
- 2024
Macerich regains full ownership[1]
M&A
In May 2024, Macerich bought back GIC Private Limited's 40 percent interest in the property.
- 2019
Sears closes its Arrowhead anchor store[1]
Other
The Sears location at Arrowhead Towne Center closed after occupying the former Montgomery Ward space since 2002.
- 2016
GIC acquires a minority interest in Arrowhead Towne Center[1]
M&A
Macerich sold a 40 percent interest in the mall to GIC Private Limited.
- 2009
Mervyn's space reopens as Forever 21[1]
Product launch
Forever 21 opened in the former Mervyn's anchor space on March 27, following Mervyn's closure in 2008.
- 2008
Apple Store opens at Arrowhead[1]
Product launch
Apple opened the West Valley's first Apple Store at the center during summer 2008.
- 2007
Arrowhead expands its upscale retail mix[1]
Other
The mall began a longer-term repositioning toward a more affluent customer base, adding brands including Sephora, Swarovski, Coach, and later Apple.
- 2006
Macy's conversion follows Robinsons-May acquisition[1]
M&A · Product generation
The Robinsons-May department store at Arrowhead was converted to a Macy's location after Macy's acquired Robinsons-May.
- 2002
Sears replaces Montgomery Ward as an anchor[1]
Other
After Montgomery Ward closed following its bankruptcy, Sears acquired the former anchor space and opened there in spring 2002.
- 1993
Arrowhead Towne Center opens in Glendale[1]
Other
The new super-regional mall opened in October on the site of a former orange grove at Bell Road and 75th Avenue.
Sources2 sources
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