Killeen Mall

Killeen Mall is a regional shopping center in Killeen, Texas, United States. The property occupies approximately 63.1 acres and contains about 557,418 square feet of retail space. It opened on March 25, 1981, after being developed by Paul Broadhead & Associates, and became one of the principal enclosed retail destinations serving Killeen and the wider Central Texas market. The mall is also one of two regional malls in Bell County, alongside Temple Mall in nearby Temple. The center opened with three principal anchors: Bealls, Sears, and the O. G. Wilson Catalog Showroom, which was associated with Zale Corporation and later became Best Products. Over time, the tenant and anchor mix changed as department-store retail evolved and several national chains exited the enclosed-mall sector. Sears announced in December 2018 that its Killeen Mall store would close as part of a nationwide round of closures, with the shutdown taking place in March 2019. The former Sears premises were subsequently occupied by a second Dillard's location. Dillard's retained its original store at the mall, resulting in two Dillard's locations operating at the property for a period. Mega Furniture later opened in the former Dillard's space in September 2021, although that store had closed by 2024. In February 2024, ownership of Killeen Mall changed through an acquisition by Kohan Retail Investment Group and Rocky Companies. The transaction placed the property under new ownership during a period in which enclosed shopping centers have generally been repositioning vacant anchor space and seeking value-oriented, off-price, home-furnishing, and family-focused tenants. The mall subsequently announced plans for additional occupancy on its south side and in the former Mega Furniture anchor area. HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and Five Below were identified as planned tenants for that space, with construction reported as beginning in November 2025 and openings reported for April 2026. Killeen Mall's commercial role is primarily local and regional rather than national as a standalone consumer brand. Its offer is based on a combination of department-store shopping, specialty retail, dining, services, and entertainment-oriented visits. Its catchment area includes Killeen and nearby communities, as well as consumers connected to the Fort Cavazos military installation. The property has also appeared in regional news because of significant security and public-safety events, including a December 2024 vehicle intrusion and police shooting at the JCPenney store. Despite anchor turnover and the challenges facing traditional malls, the property remains an active shopping center and continues to pursue tenant replacement and redevelopment.

Killeen Mall opened on March 25, 1981, in Killeen, Texas. Paul Broadhead & Associates developed the property on approximately 63.1 acres. At opening, the enclosed center featured roughly 100 stores and three original anchor tenants: Bealls, Sears, and the O. G. Wilson Catalog Showroom. The catalog showroom was owned by Zale Corporation and later became associated with Best Products. The mall was designed to serve the expanding Killeen area and became an important regional retail destination for communities in Central Texas. The property is one of two regional malls in Bell County, the other being Temple Mall in Temple. Its market has been influenced by the area's population, military presence, and connection to Fort Cavazos. Like many enclosed malls, Killeen Mall has experienced changes in anchor occupancy as department stores consolidated and national retailers reduced their physical footprints. Sears announced in late 2018 that it would close the Killeen location as part of a national program involving 80 stores. The store closed in March 2019. The former Sears building was subsequently reused by Dillard's. Rather than completely vacating its existing premises, Dillard's opened a second location in the former Sears space and continued operating its original mall store. This created a temporary two-location Dillard's presence at Killeen Mall. On September 16, 2021, Mega Furniture opened in the former Dillard's space. That furniture operation was no longer open by 2024, leaving another substantial area requiring replacement or redevelopment. In February 2024, Kohan Retail Investment Group and Rocky Companies acquired the mall. The ownership change came as the property faced the broader pressures affecting traditional regional malls, including anchor vacancies, changing shopping habits, and the need to repurpose large-format retail space. The subsequent leasing strategy emphasized bringing new tenants into vacant anchor and south-side areas. HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and Five Below were announced for the former Mega Furniture space. Construction was reported to have started in November 2025, with all three stores reported as opening in April 2026. Killeen Mall also received significant public attention after an incident on December 21, 2024. A driver being pursued by police after allegedly driving erratically drove a pickup truck through the front doors of the JCPenney store. The vehicle traveled several hundred yards inside the store, injured five people, and led to a confrontation in which a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, a Killeen police officer, and three off-duty officers, including a mall security officer, opened fire and killed the driver. Online misinformation falsely characterized the event as an active-shooter incident. The event was a major security and operational incident for the property, although it was not described in the available reference material as a corporate scandal. The mall remains an active regional shopping center. Its commercial identity is based on physical retail, department stores, specialty shops, services, and dining rather than on a single merchandise category. Its ongoing tenant replacement program indicates an effort to maintain relevance by combining traditional mall traffic with off-price, home, and family-oriented retailers.

• 2025

  Construction begins for announced replacement tenants

  [1]Killeen Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Construction was reported to have begun in November 2025 for planned HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and Five Below stores.

• 2024

  Mall is acquired by new ownership group

  [1]Killeen Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Kohan Retail Investment Group and Rocky Companies acquired Killeen Mall in February 2024.

• 2024

  JCPenney vehicle-intrusion incident

  [1]Killeen Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A vehicle crashed through the JCPenney entrance on December 21, injuring five people before the driver was killed by responding officers.

• 2021

  Mega Furniture opens

  [1]Killeen Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Mega Furniture opened in the former Dillard's space on September 16, 2021.

• 2019

  Former Sears space transitions to Dillard's

  [1]Killeen Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The former Sears premises were converted into a second Dillard's location, while Dillard's retained its original store at the mall.

• 2018

  Sears announces store closure

  [1]Killeen Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sears announced that its Killeen Mall store would close in March 2019 as part of a nationwide closure plan.

• 1981

  Killeen Mall opens

  [1]Killeen Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall opened on March 25, 1981, with approximately 100 stores and Bealls, Sears, and O. G. Wilson Catalog Showroom as its original anchors.

A community-serving regional mall combining department stores, specialty retail, services, dining, and value-oriented tenants for Killeen and the surrounding Central Texas market.

• Shopping mall · 1981

  Regional enclosed shopping center

  Killeen Mall provides an enclosed regional retail environment with department stores, specialty shops, food and dining options, and personal services. Its approximately 557,418 square feet of space and roughly 100-store format make it a major physical-retail destination for Killeen and surrounding Central Texas communities.

• Anchor retail · 1981

  Anchor and large-format retail space

  The property has historically supported large department-store and catalog-showroom anchors, including Bealls, Sears, Dillard's, and O. G. Wilson Catalog Showroom. Later changes included a second Dillard's location and a Mega Furniture store, illustrating the mall's continuing adaptation of large-format space.

• Retail redevelopment · 2025

  South-side tenant redevelopment

  The mall announced a redevelopment and leasing program for vacant anchor and south-side areas. HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and Five Below were identified as incoming tenants for the former Mega Furniture space, broadening the center's value, home, and family-oriented retail offer.

• 2025

  Redevelopment of vacant anchor spaceStrategy

  Background

  The former Mega Furniture area and other south-side portions of the property required new tenants after prior occupancy changes.

  Action taken

  The mall announced HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and Five Below as planned tenants, with construction reported to have started in November 2025.

  Aftermath

  The three stores were reported as scheduled to open in April 2026, subject to completion of the planned work.

  Source

• 2024

  Change of ownershipM&A

  Background

  Killeen Mall had experienced anchor turnover, including the closure of Sears and the later closure of Mega Furniture's store.

  Action taken

  Kohan Retail Investment Group and Rocky Companies acquired the property in February 2024.

  Aftermath

  The new ownership pursued additional leasing and redevelopment, including plans for HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and Five Below.

  Source

1. 1Killeen Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Killeen Mall official websitekilleenmall.com