Conestoga Marketplace
An outdoor shopping center in Grand Island, Nebraska, redeveloped from the former enclosed Conestoga Mall.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Conestoga Marketplace is a shopping center in Grand Island, Nebraska, United States. It originated as Conestoga Mall, an enclosed regional shopping mall that opened in 1974 after being announced in December 1972 and developed by Ericson Development of Edina, Minnesota. The original center was built around department-store anchors and served as a major retail destination for the Grand Island area. At opening, the enclosed mall included Miller & Paine and Brandeis. Over subsequent years, the property added Sears, JCPenney, and the regional department-store chain J.M. McDonald. Ownership and anchor composition changed repeatedly as the American department-store sector consolidated. Younkers acquired the Brandeis location in 1987, while Dillard's acquired Miller & Paine in 1988. Best Buy later entered the property as a junior anchor, occupying part of the former J.M. McDonald space. The mall changed ownership several times. J. Herzog & Sons acquired it from the Richard E. Jacobs group in 2003, after the Jacobs group had placed the property on the market in 1999. New York-based Namdar Realty Group purchased the center in 2017. During the following years, several traditional anchors closed. Younkers shut its store in August 2018 after the liquidation of its parent company, Bon-Ton Stores. Sears closed in early 2019 as part of a nationwide store-closing program, and JCPenney announced in June 2020 that its location would close later that year. Dillard's announced its own closure in February 2023, leaving Best Buy as the only remaining anchor in the declining enclosed mall. In early 2023, Omaha-based Woodsonia Real Estate purchased the property and announced a redevelopment budget of approximately $250 million. The project changed the center's identity from Conestoga Mall to Conestoga Marketplace. Most of the former enclosed mall, including vacant anchor buildings, was demolished, while the Best Buy building was retained. The redevelopment converted the property into an outdoor, open-air shopping center with exterior-facing retail space. Plans also included a hotel and apartments on outparcels, although the available reference material does not establish completion details for those components. The final interior mall corridor closed on May 9, 2024, as tenants moved into the new outside-facing retail environment. Conestoga Marketplace officially opened that month. The redeveloped center's principal anchors include Target and Best Buy. A B&B Theatres location opened in May 2025, and a new Target store began construction in November 2024 before opening on October 12, 2025, according to the supplied reference material. The property's current positioning is therefore based on open-air retail, destination services, entertainment, and large-format anchor stores rather than the enclosed department-store model that defined its first five decades.
History
Conestoga Mall was announced in December 1972 and developed by Ericson Development, a company based in Edina, Minnesota. Construction began in February 1973, and the enclosed mall opened in 1974 in Grand Island, Nebraska. Its original anchor tenants were Miller & Paine and Brandeis, reflecting the department-store-centered model common to regional shopping malls of the period. The property expanded its tenant and anchor mix over time. Sears and JCPenney were added as major department-store anchors, while J.M. McDonald, a regional department-store chain, also operated at the center. Best Buy later joined the property as a junior anchor in part of the former J.M. McDonald space. The original anchors changed names or ownership as the retail sector consolidated: Younkers acquired the Brandeis store in 1987, and Dillard's purchased Miller & Paine in 1988. The mall's ownership history included several transitions. The Richard E. Jacobs group placed the property on the market in 1999, and J. Herzog & Sons acquired it in 2003. New York-based Namdar Realty Group purchased the mall in 2017. By then, the center faced the same structural pressures affecting many enclosed malls, including department-store retrenchment and anchor closures. Younkers closed in August 2018 following the liquidation of Bon-Ton Stores. Sears closed in early 2019 as part of a nationwide store-closing initiative. In June 2020, JCPenney announced that its Conestoga Mall location would close around October of that year. Dillard's announced its departure in February 2023. These closures reduced the enclosed mall's anchor base to Best Buy and contributed to the decision to pursue a comprehensive redevelopment rather than maintain the existing interior format. In early 2023, Woodsonia Real Estate of Omaha acquired the property. The company announced a redevelopment plan valued at approximately $250 million and rebranded the site as Conestoga Marketplace. Most of the former mall was demolished, including vacant anchor structures, while Best Buy remained. The redevelopment introduced an outdoor, open-air layout with retail spaces accessed from the exterior. Plans also called for a hotel and apartments on outparcels, although the supplied sources do not provide sufficient information to confirm the construction or opening status of those elements. The final interior corridor closed on May 9, 2024, allowing tenants to relocate into the new exterior-facing spaces. Conestoga Marketplace officially opened the same month. The redeveloped center retained Best Buy and added or planned major destinations including Target and B&B Theatres. B&B Theatres opened in May 2025. The Target location began construction in November 2024 and opened on October 12, 2025, according to the supplied reference material. The site's evolution illustrates the conversion of a traditional enclosed regional mall into a mixed-format open-air center designed around large-format retail, entertainment, and convenient exterior access.
- 2025
Target opened
[1]The Target store opened on October 12, 2025, after construction began in November 2024.
- 2024
Conestoga Marketplace opened
[1]The final interior corridor closed and the redeveloped outdoor shopping center opened on May 9, 2024.
- 2023
Woodsonia announced the redevelopment
[1]After acquiring the property, Woodsonia Real Estate announced an approximately $250 million conversion into an outdoor center named Conestoga Marketplace.
- 2017
Namdar Realty Group acquired the mall
[1]Namdar Realty Group purchased the shopping center.
- 2003
J. Herzog & Sons acquired the mall
[1]J. Herzog & Sons purchased the property from the Richard E. Jacobs group.
- 1988
Miller & Paine store became a Dillard's location
[1]Dillard's purchased Miller & Paine and subsequently operated the former anchor location.
- 1987
Brandeis store became a Younkers location
[1]Younkers acquired the Brandeis operation at the mall.
- 1974
Original mall opened
[1]Conestoga Mall opened as an enclosed shopping center in Grand Island, Nebraska.
- 1973
Construction began
[1]Construction of the original enclosed mall began in February 1973.
- 1972
Conestoga Mall announced
[1]The enclosed shopping mall project was announced in December 1972.
Products and positioning
A regional open-air shopping and entertainment center serving Grand Island and surrounding communities, with large-format anchors, specialty retail, and service-oriented destinations.
Shopping center · 2024
Open-air retail center
The principal offering of Conestoga Marketplace is an exterior-facing retail environment created through the demolition and redevelopment of the former enclosed mall. The format is designed to provide direct access to individual stores rather than relying on a continuous interior corridor. Its tenant mix is centered on large-format anchors, specialty retail, services, and consumer destinations serving Grand Island and nearby communities.
General merchandise · 2025
Target
Target is one of the principal anchor offerings at the redeveloped marketplace. The store provides general merchandise and everyday consumer goods, broadening the center's role beyond specialty shopping and replacing part of the department-store function previously supplied by the original mall anchors.
Consumer electronics
Best Buy
Best Buy was a junior anchor in the former enclosed mall and remained at the property through the redevelopment. Its consumer-electronics assortment and large-format store provide a continuing anchor destination within the outdoor marketplace.
Entertainment · 2025
B&B Theatres
B&B Theatres adds a cinema and entertainment component to Conestoga Marketplace. The location opened in May 2025 and supports the redevelopment's shift toward a broader destination mix that combines shopping with leisure activities.
Brand decisions
2024
Conestoga Marketplace openedProduct launchBackground
The redevelopment required the closure of the final interior mall corridor and the relocation of tenants into newly constructed exterior-facing retail spaces.
Action taken
The property officially opened as an outdoor shopping center on May 9, 2024.
Aftermath
The center adopted a new name and operating format while retaining Best Buy and adding new retail and entertainment destinations.
2023
Woodsonia Real Estate acquired the propertyM&ABackground
The enclosed mall had lost several department-store anchors, including Younkers, Sears, JCPenney, and Dillard's, leaving Best Buy as the remaining anchor identified in the supplied reference.
Action taken
Woodsonia Real Estate purchased the site and announced a redevelopment plan valued at approximately $250 million.
Aftermath
The property was rebranded as Conestoga Marketplace and converted from an enclosed mall into an outdoor shopping center.
2023
The mall was converted to an open-air formatStrategyBackground
The original enclosed format had experienced a prolonged sequence of anchor-store departures and vacant department-store buildings.
Action taken
Most of the enclosed mall was demolished, vacant anchor buildings were removed, and the remaining retail space was reorganized around exterior-facing storefronts. Best Buy was retained.
Aftermath
The interior corridor closed on May 9, 2024, and the site reopened as Conestoga Marketplace with Target and Best Buy identified as principal anchors.
Announced redevelopment plan. $250 million (2023 announcement)
Recent events
- 2025
B&B Theatres opened at Conestoga Marketplace[1]
Product launch
A B&B Theatres entertainment venue opened at the redeveloped shopping center in May 2025.
- 2025
Target opened at Conestoga Marketplace[1]
Product launch
The Target location began construction in November 2024 and opened on October 12, 2025, becoming one of the redeveloped center's principal anchors.
- 2024
The final enclosed-mall corridor closed during the transition to Conestoga Marketplace[1]
Other
The remaining interior corridor closed on May 9, 2024, as retailers relocated to exterior-facing spaces in the redevelopment.
- 2024
Conestoga Marketplace opened as an outdoor shopping center[1]
Product launch
The redeveloped property officially opened on May 9, 2024, replacing the former enclosed Conestoga Mall format with an open-air retail layout.
- 2023
Conestoga Mall was acquired by Woodsonia Real Estate for redevelopment[1]
M&A
Omaha-based Woodsonia Real Estate acquired the former enclosed mall and announced an approximately $250 million plan to convert the property into an outdoor shopping center called Conestoga Marketplace.
- 2023
Dillard's announced the closure of its Conestoga Mall store[1]
Other
Dillard's announced that it would close its Grand Island location, leaving Best Buy as the only remaining anchor in the enclosed mall before redevelopment.
- 2020
JCPenney announced the closure of its Conestoga Mall location[1]
Other
JCPenney announced in June 2020 that its Conestoga Mall store would close as part of a nationwide store-reduction plan.
- 2019
Sears closed its Conestoga Mall store[1]
Other
The Sears location closed in early 2019 under a national program to shut dozens of stores.
- 2018
Younkers closed its Conestoga Mall location[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
Younkers closed the store in August 2018 during the liquidation of Bon-Ton Stores, its parent company.
Sources1 sources
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