Cascade Mall
A former enclosed shopping mall in Burlington, Washington, later redeveloped and rebranded as Burlington Gallery.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Cascade Mall was a shopping center in Burlington, Washington, serving communities in Skagit County and the surrounding northwestern Washington region. Developed by Winmar Company, it opened in November 1989 with a conventional enclosed-mall format and four principal anchor tenants: JCPenney, The Bon Marché, Troutman's Emporium, and Sears. Winmar also developed the adjacent Cross Court strip center, which included a Target store. The mall's arrival strengthened Burlington as a regional retail destination and affected nearby retail activity, including store closures in Anacortes. The property experienced the anchor-store turnover typical of many American shopping malls. Troutman's Emporium was converted into a second Bon Marché location, and both Bon Marché stores were later rebranded as Macy's. In 2012, management removed the food court and used the space for a TJ Maxx store, reflecting a shift away from traditional mall dining and toward additional discount-oriented retail. Sears announced in October 2014 that its Cascade Mall location would close in January 2015. JCPenney closed in 2018, leaving the complex with fewer traditional department-store anchors. Macerich owned the mall before selling it to Merlone Geier Partners in January 2017 for $25 million. The property also became the site of a deadly shooting on September 23, 2016, when five people were killed. The event was a major part of the mall's public history and generated extensive regional and national news coverage. By January 2020, Macy's had announced that both of its Cascade Mall stores would close as part of a nationwide store-closure program. This left AMC Theatres and TJ Maxx as the remaining major anchors identified in the mall's later years. The COVID-19 pandemic and Washington's restrictions on indoor commercial activity accelerated the property's decline. On June 9, 2020, the mall announced that it would permanently close as an enclosed shopping mall on June 30. Exterior-facing businesses and tenants providing essential services were permitted to continue operating under the applicable conditions. The property subsequently changed ownership again. Burlington Investment Properties, the owner of the adjacent outlet mall, acquired the former Cascade Mall site in April 2023 for a reported $18.5 million. In 2024, the site was renamed Burlington Gallery. The redevelopment concept emphasized a more varied, partially non-retail tenant mix, with announced uses including a church, a pickleball club, and restaurants. Accordingly, Cascade Mall is best understood as a defunct mall brand whose physical site continues under a successor identity rather than as an active enclosed shopping-center brand.
History
Cascade Mall was constructed in Burlington, Washington, by Winmar Company and opened in November 1989. It was designed as an enclosed regional shopping mall serving Burlington, Mount Vernon, Anacortes, and other communities in the Skagit County area. The original anchor lineup consisted of JCPenney, The Bon Marché, Troutman's Emporium, and Sears. Winmar also built the nearby Cross Court strip mall, which included a Target store. The development reinforced Burlington's role as a regional retail center and contributed to the decline of some shopping activity in neighboring Anacortes. The mall's anchor portfolio changed over time. Troutman's Emporium was converted into a second Bon Marché store, and both Bon Marché locations were eventually rebranded as Macy's. In 2012, mall management removed the food court and replaced it with a TJ Maxx store. This change reduced the amount of conventional shared mall amenity space while adding a discount retailer. Sears announced in October 2014 that its store would close in January 2015. JCPenney later closed its location in 2018, leaving the property increasingly dependent on a smaller number of anchors and specialty tenants. Macerich owned the property before selling it to Merlone Geier Partners in January 2017 for $25 million. During this period, Cascade Mall also became associated with a major act of violence. On September 23, 2016, five people were killed in a shooting at the mall. The incident had a lasting impact on the property's public identity and remains a significant event in accounts of Cascade Mall. The mall's commercial position weakened further in the late 2010s and early 2020s. In January 2020, Macy's announced that both of its stores at Cascade Mall would close under a nationwide program involving 125 store closures. The closures were expected to leave AMC Theatres and TJ Maxx as the principal remaining anchor operations identified in the mall's final period. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition away from the enclosed-mall model. On June 9, 2020, Cascade Mall announced that it would permanently close its interior mall operations on June 30. The announcement cited the effects of the pandemic and Washington's restrictions on indoor commercial activity. Exterior-facing tenants and businesses providing essential services were allowed to continue operating subject to the applicable conditions, so the announcement ended the enclosed mall as a unified retail environment rather than necessarily eliminating every business at the property. In April 2023, Burlington Investment Properties acquired the former mall site for a reported $18.5 million. The buyer also owned the adjacent outlet mall, giving it control of related retail real estate in Burlington. In 2024, the former Cascade Mall property was renamed Burlington Gallery. Announced future uses included a church, a pickleball club, restaurants, and other nontraditional or service-oriented tenants. This redevelopment direction reflects the broader change from a department-store-anchored enclosed mall toward a mixed-use commercial property. Cascade Mall therefore remains a historical name for the site and its former operating format, while the active successor identity is Burlington Gallery.
- 2024
Property becomes Burlington Gallery
[1]The former Cascade Mall site is renamed Burlington Gallery and positioned for a broader mix of retail, services, dining, and recreational uses.
- 2023
Burlington Investment Properties acquires site
[1]The former mall property is acquired by Burlington Investment Properties for a reported $18.5 million.
- 2020
Macy's announces both store closures
[1]Macy's announces the closure of both of its Cascade Mall locations.
- 2020
Enclosed mall permanently closes
[1]Interior mall operations end permanently on June 30, while some exterior-facing and essential-service tenants may remain.
- 2018
JCPenney closes
[1]JCPenney leaves the mall, further reducing its department-store anchors.
- 2017
Property sold to Merlone Geier Partners
[1]Macerich sells the mall to Merlone Geier Partners for a reported $25 million.
- 2016
Deadly shooting at the mall
[1]Five people are killed in a shooting at Cascade Mall on September 23.
- 2014
Sears closure announced
[1]Sears announces that its Cascade Mall store will close in January 2015.
- 2012
Food court replaced by TJ Maxx
[1]Management removes the food court and converts the space for a TJ Maxx store.
- 1989
Cascade Mall opens
[1]Winmar Company opens Cascade Mall in Burlington with JCPenney, The Bon Marché, Troutman's Emporium, and Sears as original anchors.
Products and positioning
Regional shopping center serving Burlington and the wider Skagit County area
Shopping center · 1989
Enclosed regional shopping mall
Cascade Mall's primary offering was an enclosed, interior-access retail environment with department stores, specialty shops, food service, and entertainment. Its original format depended heavily on large anchors such as JCPenney, The Bon Marché, Troutman's Emporium, and Sears. The interior mall model ended in 2020, after which the site transitioned toward a successor property with more varied, nontraditional uses.
Entertainment
AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres was one of the principal remaining anchor operations identified in Cascade Mall's later years. Its presence provided a cinema-based entertainment draw distinct from the department-store retail that had characterized the mall at opening.
Discount retail · 2012
TJ Maxx
TJ Maxx replaced the mall's food court in 2012. The conversion added a major discount retailer to the property and represented a shift in the use of interior mall space as traditional shared amenities became less central to the operating model.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2023
Acquire former mall propertyM&ABackground
The former mall site was available for repositioning after the end of enclosed-mall operations.
Action taken
Burlington Investment Properties acquired the site in April 2023.
Aftermath
The property was subsequently renamed Burlington Gallery and targeted for a more diversified tenant mix.
Reported acquisition price. $18.5 million (April 2023)
2020
End interior mall operationsStrategyBackground
The mall faced anchor-store departures and the operational effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Washington's restrictions on indoor commercial activity.
Action taken
Cascade Mall announced that the enclosed interior would permanently close on June 30, while certain exterior-facing and essential-service tenants could continue.
Aftermath
The property ceased operating as a unified enclosed shopping mall and later moved toward redevelopment under a new identity.
2012
Replace food court with TJ MaxxStrategyBackground
Management altered the mall's space allocation during a period when many enclosed malls were reassessing low-performing shared amenities.
Action taken
The food court was removed and the area was converted for a TJ Maxx store.
Aftermath
The change increased discount-retail capacity but reduced the mall's conventional food-court offering.
Recent events
- 2024
Cascade Mall site renamed Burlington Gallery[1]
Other
The former Cascade Mall property was renamed Burlington Gallery, with a proposed tenant mix including a church, pickleball club, and restaurants.
- 2023
Former Cascade Mall property acquired by Burlington Investment Properties[1]
M&A
Burlington Investment Properties acquired the former mall site in April 2023 for a reported $18.5 million.
- 2020
Macy's announces closure of both Cascade Mall stores[1]
Other
Macy's announced that both of its stores at the mall would close as part of a nationwide plan to shutter 125 locations.
- 2020
Cascade Mall announces permanent closure of interior mall[1]
Other · Regulation
The property announced that interior mall access would end permanently on June 30, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington. Some exterior-facing and essential-service tenants could continue operating.
- 2018
JCPenney closes its Cascade Mall location[1]
Other
JCPenney followed Sears in leaving the property, further reducing the mall's traditional department-store presence.
- 2017
Cascade Mall sold to Merlone Geier Partners[1]
M&A
Macerich sold Cascade Mall to Merlone Geier Partners in January 2017 for a reported $25 million.
Sources2 sources
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