Empire Mall

Empire Mall, also known as The Empire Mall, is a regional shopping center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The property was developed in the mid-1970s by Des Moines-based General Growth Development Corp. and opened as Sioux Empire Plaza with JCPenney, Herberger's, and Younkers as its original anchor tenants. Its location and scale established it as a significant retail destination for Sioux Falls and the surrounding region. The mall's first major expansion took place in 1978, when Dayton's and 22 specialty stores were added. Dayton's later became Marshall Field's and was ultimately converted to Macy's, giving the center a major department-store presence. Over time, the property changed ownership several times while continuing to operate as a major enclosed shopping center. It was sold to the IBM Pension Fund in 1985, with General Growth continuing to manage the mall. In 1998, a joint venture between The Macerich Company and Simon Property Group acquired the property, with Macerich serving as managing partner. Simon Property Group became the sole owner in 2012. The tenant mix has changed in response to broader shifts in American department-store retail. Younkers closed on August 29, 2018, following the bankruptcy and liquidation of its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores. Sears also closed in September 2018. The former Sears location briefly operated as a temporary Camping World store from November 2018 through April 2019. Simon Property Group subsequently published planning material concerning the mall after the loss of two tenants. The former Younkers building was eventually repositioned for Dillard's. In December 2018, Dillard's announced plans to occupy the vacant anchor space, adding approximately 40,000 square feet to the existing roughly 100,000-square-foot structure. The new Dillard's store opened in March 2024. The mall's current principal anchors are Dillard's, Macy's, Dick's Sporting Goods, and JCPenney. Its offering combines department stores, specialty retail, dining, and general shopping-center services, with the property serving a primarily regional market centered on Sioux Falls.

Empire Mall was developed in 1974–1975 by General Growth Development Corp., a Des Moines-based developer, and opened as Sioux Empire Plaza in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The original anchor lineup consisted of JCPenney, Herberger's, and Younkers. The center expanded in 1978 with the addition of Dayton's and 22 specialty stores. Dayton's subsequently became Marshall Field's and later Macy's, preserving a major department-store presence within the mall. Ownership changed in 1985, when the property was sold to the IBM Pension Fund. General Growth continued to manage the mall after the sale. In 1998, The Macerich Company and Simon Property Group acquired the center through a joint venture, with Macerich acting as managing partner. Simon Property Group became the sole owner in 2012. The property experienced significant anchor turnover in the late 2010s. Younkers closed on August 29, 2018, after The Bon-Ton Stores ceased operations. Sears closed in September of the same year. The vacant Sears space was temporarily used by Camping World from November 2018 to April 2019. Simon Property Group published planning material in 2018 addressing the mall's future after the loss of two tenants. In December 2018, Dillard's announced that it would take over the former Younkers anchor building. The plan called for approximately 40,000 square feet of additional space beyond the building's existing roughly 100,000 square feet. Dillard's opened in March 2024. The mall's current principal anchors are Dillard's, Macy's, Dick's Sporting Goods, and JCPenney. Management changes recorded for the property include Ron Soucie replacing Dennis Gilliam in 2016 and Dan Gies replacing Soucie in 2017.

• 2024

  Dillard's opens

  [1]The Empire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dillard's opens in the former Younkers anchor building after a planned expansion and conversion.

• 2018

  Major anchor vacancies emerge

  [1]The Empire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Younkers and Sears close, prompting planning for the mall's vacant anchor spaces.

• 2012

  Simon becomes sole owner

  [1]The Empire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Simon Property Group assumes full ownership of the shopping mall.

• 1998

  Macerich and Simon acquire the mall

  [1]The Empire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The Macerich Company and Simon Property Group acquire the property through a joint venture, with Macerich as managing partner.

• 1985

  Sale to IBM Pension Fund

  [1]The Empire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The property is sold to the IBM Pension Fund while General Growth continues managing it.

• 1978

  First major expansion

  [1]The Empire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Dayton's and 22 specialty stores are added to the mall.

• 1975

  Mall opens as Sioux Empire Plaza

  [1]The Empire Mallen.wikipedia.org

  General Growth Development Corp. opens the shopping center in Sioux Falls with JCPenney, Herberger's, and Younkers as anchors.

A large regional enclosed shopping mall serving Sioux Falls and the surrounding South Dakota trade area, with a department-store-led tenant mix complemented by specialty retailers and services.

• Retail category · 1975

  Department-store retail

  The mall's principal offer is department-store shopping through anchors including Dillard's, Macy's, and JCPenney. These stores provide broad assortments spanning apparel, accessories, beauty products, home merchandise, and seasonal goods.

• Retail category · 1975

  Specialty retail

  Specialty tenants complement the anchor stores with focused shopping categories such as fashion, footwear, jewelry, sporting goods, personal care, gifts, and other consumer merchandise.

• Mall services · 1975

  Shopping-center services and dining

  Empire Mall also provides the general services associated with a regional enclosed shopping center, including food-service options and customer-oriented mall amenities. Specific current operators are not identified in the supplied reference material.

• 2018

  Planning response to anchor-store closuresStrategy

  Background

  The mall lost Younkers and Sears in 2018, leaving two major anchor locations vacant or subject to interim use.

  Action taken

  Simon Property Group published planning material concerning the mall's future and subsequent tenant repositioning.

  Aftermath

  The former Younkers building was later selected for redevelopment as a Dillard's store, while the former Sears space had a temporary Camping World use through April 2019.

  Source

• 2018

  Dillard's commits to former Younkers locationM&A

  Background

  The closure of Younkers created a vacant department-store anchor after The Bon-Ton Stores went out of business.

  Action taken

  Dillard's announced that it would open in the former Younkers building and add approximately 40,000 square feet to the existing structure.

  Aftermath

  The new Dillard's store opened in March 2024 and became one of the mall's principal anchors.

  Source

1. 1The Empire Mallen.wikipedia.org