Coral Ridge Mall

Coral Ridge Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping center located just south of Interstate 80 in Coralville, Iowa. Its primary trade area includes Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Johnson County, and other communities across eastern Iowa. The property opened on July 29, 1998, and was fully leased at opening, establishing it as one of the region’s largest retail destinations. It was developed, owned, and managed by General Growth Properties, later known as GGP. Brookfield Properties acquired GGP in 2018, making Coral Ridge Mall part of Brookfield’s retail-property portfolio. The mall contains approximately 1.19 million square feet of total floor area and about 979,000 square feet of gross leasable area. Its format combines traditional department-store and specialty-retail space with large junior anchors, entertainment, family attractions, food service, and fitness. Notable features include a roughly 1,000-seat food court with Wi-Fi access, an antique-style carousel, a children’s play area, and an NHL regulation-sized ice rink. The rink is primarily used for public skating and also hosts home games for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes hockey team. The center’s tenant mix has changed substantially over time. Current or recently documented major occupants include PetSmart, Marshalls, Barnes & Noble, Dillard’s, Ashley HomeStore, Marcus Cinema, The Iowa Children’s Museum, Best Buy, Target, H&M, Scheels All Sports, JCPenney, Old Navy, Shoe Dept. Encore, Five Below, Ulta Beauty, HomeGoods, and Planet Fitness. These occupants give the mall a broad positioning that spans apparel, general merchandise, home goods, sporting goods, beauty, books, furniture, entertainment, children’s education, and recreation. Coral Ridge Mall also became a catalyst for additional commercial development around the interchange of Interstate 80 and Iowa Highway 965, now associated with Coral Ridge Avenue. Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Dressbarn, Walmart, and other large-format retailers subsequently opened nearby. The mall’s arrival generated strong retail growth in Coralville and Johnson County, while also prompting debate about its effects on established shopping districts and other eastern Iowa malls. Academic and local-government discussions reported that the center redirected a significant amount of regional retail spending toward Johnson County, although Iowa City’s overall taxable sales also continued to grow during the period examined. The property has experienced anchor-store closures, replacement tenants, expansions, and adaptations to changing retail conditions. Sears closed in 2013, and its former space was demolished in 2016 for new stores. Younkers closed in August 2018 after the bankruptcy of its parent company, Bon-Ton Stores; Ashley HomeStore later occupied the former Younkers space. Five Below opened in 2019, while Ashley HomeStore opened in the former department-store location later that year. Forever 21 closed in 2020, after which Scheels expanded into that area and additional adjacent spaces. H&M opened its second Iowa location at the mall in 2021, and Planet Fitness opened as a junior anchor in 2023. Coral Ridge Mall remains an active regional retail and entertainment complex.

Coral Ridge Mall was developed as a major enclosed retail center in Coralville, Iowa, near the Interstate 80 and Iowa Highway 965 interchange. It opened on July 29, 1998, under General Growth Properties with every part of its floor space leased. The project expanded the commercial importance of Coralville and helped establish the surrounding interchange, later associated with Coral Ridge Avenue, as a regional retail corridor. The mall was designed to serve a broad trade area extending beyond Coralville and Iowa City to Cedar Rapids and other eastern Iowa communities. In addition to conventional mall stores and department-store anchors, the property incorporated entertainment and family amenities, including a large food court, an antique-style carousel, a children’s play area, and an ice rink built to NHL regulation dimensions. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes hockey team has used the rink for most of its home games, while public skating has remained its primary function. Coral Ridge’s arrival had a measurable effect on regional retail geography. Coralville’s taxable sales rose sharply after the mall opened, and the area attracted additional big-box development from retailers such as Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Dressbarn, and Walmart. At the same time, local business owners in Iowa City and other eastern Iowa communities expressed concern that the mall would pull customers and sales away from established shopping districts. A 2000 study cited in reference material concluded that numerous eastern Iowa counties lost more than $120 million in retail sales to Johnson County during the mall’s first year. Other reported data showed that general-merchandise and apparel sales in Iowa City declined during part of the period after the mall’s opening, even as the city’s total taxable sales continued to increase. The center’s effect on competing malls was initially significant. Old Capitol Mall in downtown Iowa City and Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids experienced additional store closures after Coral Ridge opened. By 2008, however, Old Capitol Mall and Sycamore Mall had reportedly recovered to high occupancy levels under local ownership, while downtown Iowa City merchants increasingly emphasized specialty retail rather than directly competing with Coral Ridge on department-store scale. Ownership and management later moved into Brookfield’s retail-property organization. General Growth Properties became GGP, and Brookfield Properties acquired the company in 2018. Coral Ridge Mall therefore became part of Brookfield’s broader portfolio of shopping centers. Like many regional malls, Coral Ridge has undergone continuing tenant turnover and space redevelopment. Sears closed in 2013, and the former Sears structure was demolished in July 2016 to make room for six new stores. In 2017, the mall announced new or expanded presences for HomeGoods, Marshalls, PetSmart, and Ulta Beauty. Younkers closed in August 2018 after the failure and liquidation of Bon-Ton Stores. Five Below opened in 2019, and Ashley HomeStore replaced the former Younkers use later that year. Pier 1, located near the mall, closed in early 2020. Tuesday Morning opened in February 2020 but later closed in April 2023. Forever 21 left in May 2020, after which Scheels expanded into the former space and additional adjoining units. H&M opened in April 2021, and Planet Fitness opened in February 2023 as a junior anchor. The property has also been associated with several reported incidents. In 2003, inspectors discovered equipment indicating that marijuana had been grown covertly in roof space near a tenant. In 2015, a fatal shooting occurred at The Iowa Children’s Museum near the food court. These events are part of the mall’s documented history but do not by themselves establish misconduct by the mall’s owner or management. Coral Ridge Mall remains an active regional retail, dining, entertainment, and community destination.

• 2023

  Planet Fitness opens

  [1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Planet Fitness opened as a new junior anchor occupying five former store spaces.

• 2021

  H&M opens

  [1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  H&M opened its second Iowa location at Coral Ridge Mall.

• 2020

  Forever 21 closes and Scheels expands

  [1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Forever 21 left the mall, and Scheels expanded into the vacated area and neighboring spaces.

• 2019

  Five Below and Ashley HomeStore added

  [1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Five Below opened, while Ashley HomeStore took over the former Younkers space.

• 2018

  Younkers closes

  [1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Younkers permanently closed after the bankruptcy and liquidation of Bon-Ton Stores.

• 2018

  Brookfield acquires GGP

  [1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Brookfield Properties acquired GGP, bringing Coral Ridge Mall into Brookfield’s retail-property portfolio.

• 2016

  Former Sears building demolished

  [1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The former Sears building was removed to enable construction of six new stores.

• 2013

  Sears closes

  [1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sears ended its operation at the mall.

• 2003

  Unauthorized cultivation equipment discovered

  [1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Structural inspectors found marijuana-growing equipment in roof space above a tenant area, although no plants were present.

• 1998

  Mall opens fully leased

  [1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Coral Ridge Mall opened on July 29 with all floor space leased, immediately becoming a major regional shopping destination.

A large enclosed regional shopping and entertainment destination serving eastern Iowa, combining national retail anchors with family attractions, recreation, dining, and community-oriented facilities.

• Retail property · 1998

  Enclosed regional shopping center

  The core offering is a large enclosed shopping environment serving eastern Iowa. It combines department stores, junior anchors, specialty retailers, food service, and services within a single regional destination.

• Recreation and entertainment · 1998

  Ice rink

  The mall includes an NHL regulation-sized ice rink used primarily for public skating. It also serves as the home venue for most University of Iowa Hawkeyes hockey games, adding a sports and community function to the retail complex.

• Family entertainment · 1998

  Family attractions

  Family-oriented amenities include The Iowa Children’s Museum, a children’s play area, and an antique-style carousel. These attractions broaden the mall’s appeal beyond shopping and support visits by families and school-age children.

• Food service · 1998

  Food court

  A large food court provides dining capacity for mall visitors and includes Wi-Fi access. It functions as a shared amenity supporting longer visits across the shopping and entertainment complex.

• 2020

  Scheels expansion after Forever 21 closureStrategy

  Background

  Forever 21 permanently closed its mall location in May 2020.

  Action taken

  Scheels expanded into the former Forever 21 area and six additional store spaces.

  Aftermath

  The change increased the footprint of a major sporting-goods occupant and consolidated adjacent retail space.

  Source

• 2018

  Replacement of Younkers after Bon-Ton liquidationOther

  Background

  Younkers closed after its parent company, Bon-Ton Stores, entered liquidation.

  Action taken

  The mall subsequently introduced Ashley HomeStore into the former Younkers location.

  Aftermath

  The anchor space shifted from department-store retail to home furnishings.

  Source

• 2016

  Redevelopment of the former Sears siteStrategy

  Background

  Sears had closed its Coral Ridge Mall location in 2013, leaving a large anchor space in a changing regional-mall environment.

  Action taken

  The former Sears building was demolished to make room for six new stores and a reconfigured retail offering.

  Aftermath

  The action converted a vacant department-store anchor into a multi-tenant redevelopment opportunity.

  Source

• 2023

  Planet Fitness opens as a junior anchor[1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Planet Fitness opened in a multi-store area, adding a fitness use and expanding the mall’s non-retail service offering.

• 2021

  H&M opens its second Iowa location[1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  H&M opened its second Iowa store at Coral Ridge Mall, adding an international fashion retailer to the property.

• 2020

  Forever 21 closes and Scheels expands[1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Forever 21 permanently closed its mall location. Scheels subsequently expanded into the former space and several adjoining store areas.

• 2019

  Ashley HomeStore opens in former Younkers space[1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Ashley HomeStore opened in the space formerly occupied by Younkers, replacing a department-store use with a home-furnishings anchor.

• 2019

  Five Below opens at Coral Ridge Mall[1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Five Below joined the mall’s tenant mix, adding a value-oriented specialty retailer.

• 2018

  Younkers closes following Bon-Ton bankruptcy[1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · Other

  Younkers announced that its Coral Ridge Mall store would close after parent company Bon-Ton Stores entered a liquidation process. The location shut permanently on August 29, 2018.

• 2017

  New HomeGoods, Marshalls, PetSmart, and Ulta Beauty locations announced[1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Coral Ridge Mall announced a group of new or expanded retail occupants scheduled to open in September.

• 2016

  Former Sears building demolished for new stores[1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The former Sears structure was demolished to create space for six new stores and reconfigure part of the mall’s retail offer.

• 2015

  Fatal shooting at The Iowa Children’s Museum[1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A 20-year-old employee of The Iowa Children’s Museum was fatally shot near the mall’s food-court area. Reference material reported that a mall security guard was identified by a witness as the alleged shooter; the incident was a criminal matter rather than a corporate scandal.

• 2013

  Sears closes at Coral Ridge Mall[1]Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Sears ended its tenancy at the mall, beginning a later redevelopment of the former anchor location.

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1. 1Coral Ridge Mallen.wikipedia.org