Circle Centre
Circle Centre was a downtown Indianapolis enclosed shopping mall that operated from 1995 until its permanent closure in 2025.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Circle Centre was an enclosed shopping mall in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, located approximately one block south of Monument Circle. It opened to the public on September 8, 1995, as a major urban-redevelopment project intended to reverse decades of decline in the city's central retail district. The mall occupied roughly two downtown blocks bounded by Washington, Meridian, Georgia, and Illinois streets, with Maryland Street dividing its northern and southern sections. A skybridge, multiple parking facilities, and connections to Indianapolis's pedestrian skywalk system linked the complex with the Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, hotels, offices, and the Artsgarden. The project grew out of planning studies begun in the late 1970s, when suburban shopping centers were drawing customers away from downtown Indianapolis. Early concepts envisioned a mall incorporating the existing L. S. Ayres and William H. Block department stores, together with additional department-store anchors. Property acquisition, financing, design changes, historic-preservation requirements, and shifts in the department-store market substantially altered the plan. By the time the mall opened, Nordstrom and Parisian were the principal department-store anchors, while the original Ayres and Block concepts had disappeared or been replaced. Circle Centre was designed as a four-level, skylit, dumbbell-shaped mall. It ultimately contained about 99 stores, a food court, restaurants, entertainment space, offices, and approximately 730,000 square feet of gross leasable area, although published descriptions of the overall complex use different measurements depending on whether common areas and associated facilities are included. The development cost approximately $307.5 million, excluding the separate Artsgarden project. Its architecture incorporated retained and relocated historic facades and portions of existing downtown buildings, including elements associated with the former L. S. Ayres flagship store and several buildings in or near the Wholesale District. The mall's traditional retail model weakened over time. Nordstrom closed its Circle Centre location in 2011, and Carson's, the successor to Parisian, closed on April 29, 2018. Other former anchor or entertainment spaces, including those associated with Carson Pirie Scott, Regal Cinemas, and Tilt Studio, later became vacant. Circle Centre responded by pursuing food, entertainment, office, and other nontraditional uses. The Indianapolis Star moved offices into part of the former Nordstrom space in 2014, illustrating the mall's effort to remain active despite the loss of department stores. Simon Property Group announced a major renovation in 2018, including upgrades to restrooms, flooring, lighting, elevators, entrances, and the food court. JLL assumed day-to-day management in 2021, while Simon continued leasing responsibilities for a period. Simon sold its remaining stake to Circle Centre Development Company in December 2021. Hendricks Commercial Properties agreed to acquire the property in 2023 and completed the transaction on April 24, 2024. Its redevelopment plan called for transforming the enclosed mall into Traction Yards, an open-air, pedestrian-oriented mixed-use campus with housing, offices, retail, dining, entertainment, plazas, and green space. The mall's south end closed on April 1, 2025, to facilitate redevelopment, and the remaining mall permanently closed on December 31, 2025. The first redevelopment phase was planned to include approximately 400,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment, 100,000 square feet of office space, and more than 300 apartments, with an intended opening in 2029. Street-facing restaurants and other businesses were expected to continue operating during construction. Circle Centre is therefore best understood as a completed urban retail project whose physical site is being repositioned as a broader mixed-use downtown campus.
History
Circle Centre emerged from efforts to restore downtown Indianapolis as a viable retail and civic destination. During the 1960s and 1970s, suburban shopping centers attracted consumers away from the center city, while downtown vacancy, deteriorating buildings, and limited evening and weekend activity increased. A feasibility study announced in 1979 by Mayor William Hudnut and Melvin Simon & Associates proposed a covered mall that would connect existing department stores and introduce additional retail anchors. The original concept faced difficult property negotiations and was eventually relocated to the south side of Washington Street. The city began assembling land in 1983, and the project underwent repeated revisions as projected costs and site requirements changed. The Jerde Partnership was initially selected as design architect in 1985, but Ehrenkrantz and Eckstut Architects later assumed the design role. Demolition and excavation began before financing was fully secured, producing a prolonged period in which parts of the site remained unfinished and excavated. A new plan incorporating the Artsgarden was presented in 1991, and Circle Centre Development Company, a consortium of local companies with a Simon-affiliated subsidiary as general partner, was formed to support financing. The mall's anchor strategy also changed repeatedly. Proposed participation by Saks Fifth Avenue did not proceed. Lazarus, which had acquired the William H. Block chain, closed its downtown store before the mall opened. L. S. Ayres likewise decided not to participate in the completed project. Nordstrom joined the development in 1989 and built a large store, while Parisian became the other principal anchor and was later converted to Carson's. These changes reflected both the long development timetable and the increasing volatility of the department-store sector. Circle Centre opened on September 8, 1995. It incorporated existing structures and historic architectural elements rather than treating the site as a wholly new tabula rasa. Historic-preservation review identified buildings to retain, buildings whose facades would be preserved, and structures that would be demolished. Several facades were moved or reconstructed, while retained properties such as portions of the former L. S. Ayres building were integrated into the mall. The result combined a modern skylit retail spine with fragments of Indianapolis's commercial architecture. The complex covered about two downtown blocks and used a dumbbell layout, with major retail spaces at opposite ends and shops along the central connection. Its upper levels included a food court and entertainment areas, while skybridges connected the mall to the city's wider pedestrian network. The location provided direct or sheltered access to convention facilities, hotels, sports venues, and the Artsgarden, making Circle Centre important not only to local shoppers but also to downtown visitors. By the 2010s, the property was adapting to structural changes in retail. Nordstrom departed in 2011, and The Indianapolis Star subsequently occupied part of the vacant space. Carson's closed in 2018, leaving the mall without department-store anchors. Simon announced a major renovation that year, emphasizing public-realm improvements and a more flexible mix of retail, food, and community uses. The stated direction was a hybrid of conventional shopping and nontraditional activities rather than a return to the original department-store model. Ownership and management then shifted. JLL took over daily management in April 2021, and Simon sold its remaining interest later that year to Circle Centre Development Company. Hendricks Commercial Properties agreed to purchase the property in December 2023 and completed the acquisition in April 2024. Hendricks proposed an approximately $600 million, decade-long transformation into Traction Yards, an open-air, pedestrian-focused campus combining retail, dining, entertainment, offices, apartments, plazas, and green space. The redevelopment ended Circle Centre's life as an enclosed mall. The south end closed in April 2025, followed by permanent closure of the remaining mall on December 31, 2025. The planned first phase of Traction Yards was described as including approximately 400,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment, 100,000 square feet of offices, and more than 300 apartments, with a target opening in 2029. Street-facing businesses were expected to remain active during construction. Circle Centre consequently represents both a major 1990s downtown mall experiment and a later example of the shift from enclosed retail toward mixed-use urban redevelopment.
- 2025
Mall closes for Traction Yards redevelopment
[1]The south end closed in April, and the remaining enclosed mall permanently closed on December 31.
- 2024
Hendricks acquisition completed
[1]Hendricks Commercial Properties completed its acquisition on April 24.
- 2021
JLL takes over daily management
[1]JLL assumed day-to-day management in April.
- 2018
Major renovation announced
[1]Simon announced extensive improvements to the mall's public areas, entrances, vertical transportation, and food court.
- 2014
Indianapolis Star offices enter former anchor space
[1]Office occupancy diversified the mall's use of space after Nordstrom's departure.
- 2011
Nordstrom closes
[1]The mall lost one of its principal department-store anchors.
- 1995
Circle Centre opens
[1]The mall opened on September 8 after construction costing approximately $307.5 million, excluding the Artsgarden.
- 1991
Revised mall plan and Artsgarden concept presented
[1]A revised plan including the future Artsgarden was presented during a period of financing and municipal-participation uncertainty.
- 1989
Nordstrom announces anchor commitment
[1]Nordstrom announced plans to become a major Circle Centre anchor and later developed a large store on Meridian Street.
- 1985
Jerde Partnership engaged as design architect
[1]The Jerde Partnership was selected for the initial architectural design before being replaced by Ehrenkrantz and Eckstut Architects in 1991.
Products and positioning
A centrally located urban shopping, dining, entertainment, and visitor destination designed to revitalize downtown Indianapolis and connect the retail district with convention, hotel, sports, cultural, and office uses.
Shopping mall · 1995
Circle Centre enclosed mall
The core offering was a four-level enclosed shopping center with approximately 99 stores, restaurants, a third-level food court, entertainment areas, and connections to downtown Indianapolis's skywalk system. Its dumbbell-shaped plan placed large anchor spaces at opposite ends of a skylit retail spine.
Department-store retail · 1995
Department-store anchor program
Circle Centre was planned around major department-store anchors. Nordstrom and Parisian opened as the principal anchors, with Parisian later becoming Carson's. Proposed or originally envisioned participation by L. S. Ayres, William H. Block, Lazarus, and Saks Fifth Avenue did not remain part of the final operating model.
Food service · 1995
Food court and dining
The third level contained a food court, while restaurants also occupied portions of the lower levels and street frontage. Renovation plans emphasized lounge areas, banquette seating, and communal tables in an effort to increase the site's appeal as a dining and social destination.
Entertainment · 1995
Entertainment venues
The fourth level included a former nine-screen United Artists cinema and later entertainment uses such as Tilt Studio. These venues formed part of Circle Centre's attempt to broaden its appeal beyond conventional retail, although portions of the entertainment space later became vacant.
Brand decisions
2025
Permanent closure for Traction Yards conversionStrategyBackground
Hendricks's redevelopment plan required replacing the enclosed mall with a more open, mixed-use urban campus.
Action taken
The south end closed on April 1, followed by permanent closure of the remaining mall on December 31.
Aftermath
The property entered redevelopment, with a first phase planned to include retail, dining, entertainment, offices, apartments, plazas, and green space.
2023
Sale to Hendricks Commercial PropertiesM&ABackground
The existing enclosed mall faced vacant anchor space and changing downtown retail conditions.
Action taken
Circle Centre Development Company agreed to sell the property to Hendricks Commercial Properties, which planned a long-term mixed-use redevelopment.
Aftermath
The acquisition closed in 2024 and advanced plans for Traction Yards, an open-air campus with retail, offices, housing, and public space.
Planned redevelopment investment. Approximately $600 million planned over ten years (Announced 2023)
2018
Shift toward a hybrid retail and nontraditional-use modelStrategyBackground
The closure of Nordstrom in 2011 and the loss of Carson's in 2018 left the mall without department-store anchors, while changes in consumer behavior weakened enclosed retail.
Action taken
Management emphasized renovation, dining, entertainment, office occupancy, and other nontraditional mall uses rather than relying solely on replacement department stores.
Aftermath
The strategy supported continued use of the complex but ultimately led to a broader redevelopment concept instead of preservation of the enclosed mall format.
Recent events
- 2025
Circle Centre begins south-end closure for redevelopment[1]
Other
The south end closed on April 1 to make way for the planned Traction Yards campus.
- 2025
Circle Centre permanently closes[1]
Other
The mall closed its doors on December 31 as the property transitioned toward redevelopment.
- 2024
Hendricks completes Circle Centre acquisition[1]
M&A
The acquisition closed on April 24, enabling Hendricks to advance the planned Traction Yards redevelopment.
- 2023
Hendricks Commercial Properties agrees to acquire Circle Centre[1]
M&A
The proposed acquisition was paired with a long-term plan to replace the enclosed mall format with a mixed-use campus.
- 2021
JLL assumes day-to-day mall management[1]
Leadership change
JLL took over daily management in April, while Simon continued to handle leasing for a period.
- 2021
Simon sells its remaining stake[1]
M&A
Simon Property Group sold its remaining interest in Circle Centre to Circle Centre Development Company in December.
- 2018
Simon announces major Circle Centre renovation[1]
Other
Simon Property Group announced a multimillion-dollar renovation affecting public areas, entrances, elevators, lighting, flooring, restrooms, and the food court.
- 2018
Carson's closes its Circle Centre location[1]
Other
The mall's remaining department-store anchor closed on April 29, leaving Circle Centre without a traditional department-store anchor.
- 2014
The Indianapolis Star moves offices into former Nordstrom space[1]
Other
The newspaper relocated offices into part of the former department-store space, reflecting Circle Centre's shift toward mixed and nontraditional uses.
- 2011
Nordstrom closes its Circle Centre store[1]
Other
The department-store anchor left the mall, weakening its traditional anchor-based retail model.
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