Fox River Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA large enclosed regional shopping center in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, serving the Appleton metropolitan area.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
Fox River Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping center in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, serving Appleton and the surrounding Fox Cities area. Opened on July 18, 1984, the mall was developed at a time when the Appleton metropolitan area was regarded as one of the few major United States metropolitan areas without a substantial regional shopping center. Local business leaders supported the project because they believed a major mall could strengthen the area’s economy, attract visitors, and encourage further commercial development. The mall was built on the west side of Interstate 41, where much of the surrounding land was initially undeveloped. Its arrival helped transform the area into a major retail district that later became associated with the informal designation “shopping capital of Wisconsin.” The surrounding Grand Chute commercial area subsequently expanded significantly, with additional retailers, restaurants, and other businesses locating near the mall. Reference material describes Fox River Mall as contributing approximately $1 billion annually to the local economy, although the precise methodology and reporting period for that estimate are not specified here. At opening, Fox River Mall had Sears as its first anchor, along with 67 other stores, a movie theater, and a Walgreens drugstore. The center expanded over time. A significant addition occurred in 1991, when Dayton’s opened a new location. That store later became Marshall Field’s and was subsequently converted to Macy’s. The property also underwent a major renovation in 2004. By the mid-2010s, the mall had become one of Wisconsin’s largest shopping centers, with approximately 1.2 million square feet of retail space and more than 140 stores. The principal current anchor lineup identified in reference material consists of Macy’s, JCPenney, Target, and Scheels All Sports. Two additional anchor spaces are vacant following the closures of Younkers and Sears. Younkers, which had occupied an anchor position for 26 years, closed in May 2018. Sears was identified for closure in December 2018 as part of a nationwide store-reduction program and ceased operations on March 17, 2019. The property occupies approximately 137 acres. Its main enclosed mall contains roughly 1.18 million square feet of retail area, while separate outbuildings and related premises bring the broader retail footprint to approximately 1.21 million square feet. On-site amenities include the Northwoods Café food court, which has more than a dozen counter-service vendors, and Fox River Plaza, a strip-shopping component associated with the mall campus. The center remains an important retail destination for the Appleton metropolitan area and is owned by Brookfield Properties.
History
Before Fox River Mall was developed, the Appleton metropolitan area lacked a major regional shopping center comparable to those serving other United States metropolitan areas. Local business leaders promoted the idea of a large mall as a way to reinforce the local economy and improve the area’s ability to attract shoppers, retailers, and visitors. The west side of Interstate 41 in Grand Chute was selected for development because it was relatively open and offered room for a large retail complex and associated parking. Fox River Mall opened on July 18, 1984. Its original tenant mix included Sears as an anchor, 67 additional stores, a movie theater, and a Walgreens drugstore. The center became a catalyst for commercial growth around Interstate 41. As more retail and service businesses were developed nearby, Grand Chute evolved into a major shopping destination for the Appleton area and the wider Fox Cities region. The mall expanded during its history. In 1991, Dayton’s opened a new anchor location. The store later changed identity first to Marshall Field’s and then to Macy’s, which remains one of the mall’s principal anchors. A major renovation was completed in 2004. By 2014, the center was described as Wisconsin’s largest mall, with approximately 1.2 million square feet of space. The property covers approximately 137 acres. The enclosed mall’s main retail area is about 1,183,953 square feet, and the total retail area rises to approximately 1.21 million square feet when separate outbuildings and nearby components are included. The complex contains more than 140 stores and includes the Northwoods Café food court, which has more than a dozen counter-service vendors. Fox River Plaza provides an additional strip-retail component on the property. The mall’s anchor composition changed in the late 2010s. Younkers closed its location in May 2018 after 26 years as an anchor tenant. Sears announced in December 2018 that its Fox River Mall store would be among 80 locations closed under a nationwide reduction plan; the store ended operations on March 17, 2019. The former Younkers and Sears spaces are identified as vacant anchor locations in the reference material. The remaining principal anchors are Macy’s, JCPenney, Target, and Scheels All Sports. Fox River Mall is owned by Brookfield Properties. Its broader economic role is tied to the development of the Grand Chute shopping district, which is widely associated with the area’s reputation as a major Wisconsin retail destination.
- 2019
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor closed on March 17 after being included in a nationwide store-closure plan.
- 2018
Younkers closes
[1]The Younkers anchor store closed in May after 26 years at the center.
- 2014
Recognized as Wisconsin’s largest mall
[1]Fox River Mall was described as Wisconsin’s largest mall, with approximately 1.2 million square feet of retail space.
- 2004
Major renovation completed
[1]The mall underwent its last major renovation identified in the reference material.
- 1991
Dayton’s joins the anchor lineup
[1]Dayton’s opened a new anchor location. The store later became Marshall Field’s and was eventually converted to Macy’s.
- 1984
Fox River Mall opens
[1]The enclosed mall opened on July 18 with Sears, 67 other stores, a movie theater, and a Walgreens drugstore.
Products and positioning
A large regional and destination shopping center serving the Appleton metropolitan area and the wider Fox Cities region, combining department stores, specialty retail, food-service venues, and adjacent shopping facilities.
Shopping center · 1984
Enclosed regional shopping center
Fox River Mall’s core offering is a large enclosed retail environment serving the Appleton metropolitan area and nearby communities. It combines department stores, specialty retailers, food and beverage operators, entertainment-related services, and common mall amenities. The main enclosed building contains approximately 1.18 million square feet of retail space, while associated outbuildings and related premises increase the wider retail footprint to roughly 1.21 million square feet.
Food court
Northwoods Café
Northwoods Café is the mall’s food-court area. Reference material describes it as containing more than a dozen counter-service vendors, providing dining and refreshment options for shoppers and mall visitors.
Strip shopping center
Fox River Plaza
Fox River Plaza is a strip-retail component located on the Fox River Mall premises. It supplements the enclosed mall with additional stores and restaurants in separate buildings or adjacent retail space.
Brand decisions
2018
Younkers anchor closureOtherBackground
Younkers had operated as an anchor tenant at Fox River Mall for 26 years before its location closed in May 2018.
Action taken
The Younkers store ceased operations, leaving an anchor space available for future use.
Aftermath
The former Younkers location is identified among the mall’s vacant anchor spaces.
2018
Sears closure announcedStrategyBackground
Sears announced a nationwide plan to close 80 stores, including its Fox River Mall location.
Action taken
The Sears store was scheduled for closure and ultimately shut on March 17, 2019.
Aftermath
The closure created a second vacant anchor space at Fox River Mall.
Recent events
- 2018
Younkers store at Fox River Mall closes[1]
Other
The Younkers location at Fox River Mall closed in May 2018 after operating as an anchor tenant for 26 years.
- 2018
Sears announces closure of its Fox River Mall location[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
In December 2018, Sears announced that the Fox River Mall store would close as part of a nationwide plan affecting 80 stores. The location shut down on March 17, 2019.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/fox-river-mall · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled