Gateway Fashion Mall

Gateway Fashion Mall is an enclosed shopping center in Bismarck, North Dakota. It opened in September 1979 on land that had previously been used as the town dump and originally combined three anchor stores—Sears, A.W. Lucas & Co., and White Mart—with a food court, several smaller tenants, and a three-screen cinema. The property subsequently became one of Bismarck's established retail destinations, although its tenant mix and anchor configuration changed substantially over time. The mall's history reflects the broader evolution of enclosed retail in smaller American metropolitan areas. Original department-store and general-merchandise anchors were gradually replaced by other department stores, home-improvement businesses, specialty retailers, medical uses, fitness facilities, and local businesses. A.W. Lucas & Co. was replaced by Herberger's, which later closed in 1994. The space passed through several occupants before becoming associated with Conlin's Furniture. White Mart operations were wound down by its parent, Thrifty White, in the late 1980s; the Gateway space was subsequently occupied by Menards, then divided among other uses, including health services and a fitness-related facility. Sears remained an important anchor until its closure in 2018. The center has also hosted a broad range of specialty and community-oriented businesses. Historical tenants and users mentioned in accounts of the mall include Desmond's, Deb, Payless Shoes, Juniques, House of Sund pet store, Weight Watchers, Bath and Body Works, Prairie Peddler, antiques dealers, auction businesses, and the Gateway to Science Center. The mall's movie complex was expanded into the Midco 8, at one point making it the largest theater complex in Bismarck. The cinema later operated under AMC Theatres, but closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and was subsequently replaced by a church. The property changed hands several times after January 2003. In May 2006, it was announced that Raymond Arjmand of Encino, California, had purchased the center for $13.25 million. A reopening took place in November 2006, accompanied by the Gateway Fashion Mall name and a reported renovation program. Plans discussed at the time included a two-story addition with a vaulted atrium and space for as many as six new stores, while Macy's was mentioned as a possible additional anchor. Those plans did not materialize, and Macy's did not become a tenant. Several departures further reshaped the property. CVS/pharmacy announced in 2008 that it would leave for a freestanding store. Conlin's Furniture and Joy's Hallmark announced plans to depart in 2009. Hancock Fabrics closed in 2016 after its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Sears closed in April 2018 as part of a nationwide store-reduction program. Planet Fitness subsequently announced plans to occupy part of the former Hancock Fabrics space. In the current configuration described by reference material, the mall has more than 30 stores and identifies Harbor Freight Tools, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Planet Fitness, and Mid Dakota Clinic as anchor or major occupants. Two former anchor spaces associated with Sears and Conlin's Furniture remain vacant. Gateway Fashion Mall therefore functions less as a traditional department-store-centered mall than as a flexible local commercial center combining retail, services, health care, fitness, entertainment, and community uses.

Gateway Fashion Mall began as Gateway Mall, an enclosed shopping center in Bismarck, North Dakota. Before construction, the site had been used as the town dump. The mall opened in September 1979 with Sears, A.W. Lucas & Co., and White Mart as its three principal anchors. Its original design included a food court, several inline stores, and a three-screen movie theater, establishing the property as a combined retail and entertainment destination. The tenant roster changed repeatedly during the 1980s and 1990s. Desmond's operated a 7,000-square-foot store from 1980 to 1986. White Mart operations were gradually discontinued by Thrifty White in the late 1980s, and the space was taken by Menards. Menards later relocated to a site outside the mall. Portions of the former White Mart and Menards area were subsequently used by PrimeCare Health Network and Hancock Fabrics, with part of the space later becoming associated with Planet Fitness. The A.W. Lucas & Co. anchor was replaced by Herberger's, which closed in 1994. The space then passed through several occupants, including Jacob's and World's Greatest Deals, before becoming Conlin's Furniture. Gateway Mall's supporting tenants over the years included fashion, footwear, gifts, collectibles, pets, personal care, antiques, home goods, and community services. Businesses and organizations cited in historical accounts include Deb, Payless Shoes, Juniques, House of Sund, Weight Watchers, Bath and Body Works, Prairie Peddler, and the Gateway to Science Center. The science center operated in the middle of the mall before moving to a separate facility near Bismarck State College. The theater operation was expanded into the Midco 8, which at the time of expansion was the largest cinema complex in Bismarck. Following several ownership changes after January 2003, Raymond Arjmand acquired the property in 2006 for a reported $13.25 million. The center reopened on November 18, 2006, using the Gateway Fashion Mall name. A renovation reported in connection with the acquisition was valued at $10 million. Contemporary plans also discussed a two-story addition with a vaulted atrium and room for up to six new stores, while Macy's was mentioned as a possible anchor. Neither the proposed addition nor the Macy's tenancy came to fruition. The mall subsequently experienced a series of major tenant departures. CVS/pharmacy announced in 2008 that it would move to a freestanding location. In 2009, Conlin's Furniture and Joy's Hallmark announced intentions to leave. Hancock Fabrics closed in July 2016 after its corporate bankruptcy filing. Sears, the last remaining original anchor, announced its closure in January 2018 and shut the store in April of that year. Planet Fitness later planned to occupy the former Hancock Fabrics space. Local specialty businesses continued to use the center during this period. Not Too Shabby, an antiques business, opened an 8,000-square-foot location in 2014; after the proprietor retired in 2017, the space was used by BismanGuns and Bret Ruff Auctions. Antiques on Main opened a second mall location in July 2016. Classic Design moved from downtown Bismarck to the mall in 2011 and announced its closure in 2017 after more than two decades in business, including six years at the mall. The entertainment component was reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. AMC Theatres closed its mall location in June 2020, leaving Grand 22 as the only cinema in Bismarck at that point. The former AMC space was later converted for church use. Reference material describes the current center as having more than 30 stores, with Harbor Freight Tools, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Planet Fitness, and Mid Dakota Clinic serving as major or anchor occupants. Former Sears and Conlin's Furniture areas remain vacant. The mall's current role is consequently that of a flexible neighborhood and regional service center rather than a conventional department-store-anchored mall.

1. 2020AMC Theatres closes

   The AMC cinema closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and was later replaced by a church.

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2. 2018Sears closes

   Sears closed in April after being included in a nationwide store-closure plan, leaving the mall without its original anchor stores.

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3. 2017Classic Design announces closure

   Classic Design announced it would close after more than 20 years in the Bismarck market, including six years at the mall.

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4. 2016Antiques on Main opens a second location

   The local antiques retailer opened a second store in the mall on July 23.

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5. 2016Hancock Fabrics closes

   Hancock Fabrics closed its location after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

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6. 2014Not Too Shabby opens an antiques store

   Not Too Shabby opened an 8,000-square-foot antiques location at the center.

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7. 2011Classic Design relocates to the mall

   The vintage merchandise and furniture store moved from downtown Bismarck to Gateway Mall.

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8. 2008CVS/pharmacy announces relocation

   CVS/pharmacy announced plans to leave the enclosed mall for a freestanding store.

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9. 2006Property acquired and relaunched

   Raymond Arjmand acquired the mall, which reopened under the Gateway Fashion Mall name in November after a reported renovation program.

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10. 2003Ownership turnover begins

    The mall had been sold three times since January 2003, preceding the 2006 acquisition by Raymond Arjmand.

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11. 1994Herberger's closes

    Herberger's closed the former A.W. Lucas anchor location, which later went through several occupants before becoming associated with Conlin's Furniture.

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12. 1986Desmond's leaves the center

    Desmond's ended its six-year operation at Gateway Mall.

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13. 1980Desmond's begins operating at the mall

    Desmond's opened a 7,000-square-foot store that operated at the property through 1986.

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14. 1979Gateway Mall opens

    The enclosed mall opened in September with Sears, A.W. Lucas & Co., and White Mart as anchor stores, together with a food court, inline tenants, and a three-screen cinema.

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A local enclosed shopping center serving Bismarck with a mixed tenant base spanning retail, home improvement, crafts, fitness, medical services, specialty goods, and community uses.

• Enclosed shopping-center spaceRetail real estate1979

  Gateway Fashion Mall provides enclosed retail and service space for a changing collection of national chains, regional businesses, and local specialty operators. The center historically combined anchor stores with inline shops, a food court, entertainment, and community-oriented uses. Its current tenant model is more diversified, with retail, medical, fitness, home-improvement, craft, and specialty merchandise uses.

• Retail and specialty merchandiseShopping-center retail1979

  The mall has hosted apparel, footwear, gifts, collectibles, antiques, home goods, fabrics, hardware, and other specialty retail. Historical occupants include department stores, fashion merchants, craft retailers, antiques dealers, and auction-related businesses. The mix has changed as traditional department-store anchors departed and smaller or service-oriented tenants became more important.

• Entertainment and community usesEntertainment and services1979

  Entertainment and community uses have included the original three-screen cinema, the expanded Midco 8 complex, the later AMC Theatres operation, the Gateway to Science Center, fitness services, health-care facilities, and meeting-based organizations. AMC closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its former space was later converted to church use.

• 2020AMC cinema closure and conversionOther

  The mall's AMC Theatres location shut during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  What changed. AMC closed the cinema, and the former theater space was subsequently replaced by a church.

  Aftermath. The closure ended the mall's AMC-branded cinema operation and reduced its entertainment offering.

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• 2018Sears anchor closureOther

  Sears announced a nationwide program to close 103 stores, including its Gateway Mall location.

  What changed. The Sears store closed in April 2018.

  Aftermath. The closure left Gateway Fashion Mall without any of its original anchor stores and contributed to the reuse or vacancy of former anchor spaces.

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• 2006Acquisition and property relaunchM&A

  After a period of ownership turnover, Raymond Arjmand acquired the Bismarck mall in 2006.

  What changed. The property was purchased for a reported $13.25 million, renovated, and reopened under the Gateway Fashion Mall name in November.

  Aftermath. Plans for a two-story addition and a possible Macy's anchor were discussed but did not come to fruition.

  Reported purchase price. $13.25 million (2006)

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• 2020AMC Theatres location closed during the COVID-19 pandemic

  The mall's AMC Theatres location closed at the beginning of June during the COVID-19 pandemic. The space was later replaced by a church.

  Other
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• 2018Sears announced closure at Gateway Mall

  Sears announced that the Gateway Mall store would close as part of a nationwide plan to shut 103 stores. The location closed in April 2018.

  Other
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• 2018Planet Fitness planned move into former Hancock Fabrics space

  Planet Fitness announced plans to move into the former Hancock Fabrics space, adding a fitness use to the mall's post-department-store tenant mix.

  Other
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• 2016Hancock Fabrics closed after bankruptcy filing

  Hancock Fabrics closed its Gateway Mall location after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, adding to the center's loss of major tenants.

  Bankruptcy
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• 2009Conlin's Furniture and Joy's Hallmark announced departures

  Two established tenants, including Conlin's Furniture and long-term mall tenant Joy's Hallmark, announced intentions to vacate the property.

  Other
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• 2008CVS/pharmacy planned departure for a freestanding store

  CVS/pharmacy announced that it would leave the mall after constructing a separate freestanding location.

  Other
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• 2006Gateway Mall purchased and renamed Gateway Fashion Mall

  Raymond Arjmand was reported to have purchased the Bismarck shopping center for $13.25 million. The property later held a reopening under the Gateway Fashion Mall name and underwent a reported renovation program.

  M&AOther
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1. Gateway Fashion Mall
2. Gateway Fashion Mall official website