Kirkwood Mall
An enclosed regional shopping mall in Bismarck, North Dakota, with more than 90 shops and six major anchor stores.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Kirkwood Mall is an enclosed regional shopping center in Bismarck, North Dakota. Originally called Kirkwood Plaza, it opened in 1970 and became the largest shopping center in the city. The mall occupies approximately 850,000 square feet and is described as the second-largest mall in North Dakota. Its tenant mix combines department stores, large-format specialty retailers, home-furnishing businesses, apparel and lifestyle stores, entertainment, fitness, and restaurants. The center was developed by the Wachter family through Wachter Real Estate Trust. Its original anchor tenants were Montgomery Ward, F.W. Woolworth Company, and Herberger's. The mall was named for Robert C. Kirkwood, a senior F.W. Woolworth executive who had managed the company's Bismarck store earlier in his career and later became its president, chief executive officer, and board chairman. The original building was arranged in a Y-shaped configuration, with Herberger's occupying the southern end. Kirkwood Mall expanded and changed configuration during the decade after opening. A south wing anchored by Target and J. C. Penney was added approximately ten years after the original opening. Herberger's also enlarged its Bismarck operation after closing its store at Gateway Mall. The property changed ownership in 1984, when the Wachter family sold it in a transaction reported at approximately $40 million. CBL & Associates Properties announced plans to acquire the mall in December 2012, with the transaction expected to close within 90 days. The mall's anchor portfolio evolved as department-store companies changed or exited the market. The original Woolworth location became Dayton's after Woolworth closed in 1985, and later became Marshall Field's in 2001. That store closed in 2005 after a series of corporate transactions involving Target and May Company. The former department-store building was demolished, and Target relocated into the space in fall 2006. Scheels All Sports subsequently moved from a location east of Target into the former Target space after renovations. Montgomery Ward's former space was taken over by I. Keating Furniture of Minot in 2003. Herberger's closed in August 2018 after the bankruptcy and liquidation of its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores. Plans announced in 2020 initially contemplated a new retail and restaurant wing with Chick-fil-A, Five Guys, and Blaze Pizza. The concept was instead relocated to the mall's nearby parking area. The former Herberger's building was converted into a Tilt Studio entertainment venue, which opened in the building and filled the last vacant anchor space. The current mall is anchored by I. Keating Furniture & Flooring, Ashley HomeStore, Scheels, J. C. Penney, Tilt Studio, and Target. It also includes more than 90 smaller stores and restaurants. Other notable tenant changes include the departure of CVS/pharmacy, which had operated originally as Osco Drug, in early 2010; the relocation of TJ Maxx to Pinehurst Square Shopping Center; and the subsequent use of the TJ Maxx space by North Dakota's first Gold's Gym. Barnes & Noble opened a temporary location at the mall in March 2022 after closing its nearby Southridge Center store. Although a permanent move was initially contemplated for 2023, the mall location was reported to have performed well enough to remain permanent.
History
Kirkwood Mall began as Kirkwood Plaza, a shopping-center project developed by the Wachter family through Wachter Real Estate Trust. The enclosed mall opened in 1970 in Bismarck, North Dakota, with Montgomery Ward, F.W. Woolworth Company, and Herberger's as its original anchors. Its name honored Robert C. Kirkwood, then chairman of the Woolworth board. Kirkwood had previously managed Woolworth's Bismarck store and had advanced through the company's management ranks before becoming president in 1958 and chief executive officer and board chairman in 1964. The first mall manager was Eddo Carlson, who remained in that role until the property was sold by the Wachter family in 1984. The sale was reported at approximately $40 million. The original mall had a Y-shaped plan, with Herberger's at the southern end. About a decade after the 1970 opening, a new south wing was added with Target and J. C. Penney as anchors. Herberger's later expanded its Kirkwood operation after closing its store at Bismarck's Gateway Mall, reinforcing Kirkwood's role as a principal shopping destination in the city. The property experienced substantial anchor turnover as traditional department-store chains consolidated or disappeared. Woolworth closed in 1985, and its space was subsequently occupied by Dayton's. In 2001, the store became Marshall Field's following a corporate reorganization involving Target's department-store operations. The location closed in 2005 after the Marshall Field's stores were sold to May Company and the location was returned to Target ownership. The former Dayton's and Marshall Field's building was demolished, while the existing Target store moved into the replacement space and opened there in fall 2006. Scheels All Sports then moved from its former location east of Target into the renovated former Target space. Montgomery Ward also eventually left the property as the chain declined. In 2003, its former anchor area was taken over by I. Keating Furniture, a Minot-based home-furnishings retailer. Other tenant changes included the departure of CVS/pharmacy, which had originally operated as Osco Drug, in January 2010. TJ Maxx later relocated to Pinehurst Square Shopping Center, and its former mall premises became home to North Dakota's first Gold's Gym. In December 2012, CBL & Associates Properties announced plans to purchase Kirkwood Mall. The following year, Scheels began a significant expansion, while Victoria's Secret also enlarged its store. Herberger's became vacant in 2018 when The Bon-Ton Stores entered liquidation; the Kirkwood location closed in August of that year. Redevelopment planning in 2020 initially proposed a new wing featuring Chick-fil-A, Five Guys, and Blaze Pizza, with additional space for future retailers. The plan was changed so that the food-service concept was placed in the nearby parking area. The former Herberger's anchor was ultimately repurposed as a Tilt Studio family entertainment venue. Its opening filled the final vacant anchor space and brought the mall to reported full occupancy. Kirkwood Mall's present tenant mix includes I. Keating Furniture & Flooring, Ashley HomeStore, Scheels, J. C. Penney, Tilt Studio, and Target as major anchors, together with more than 90 smaller stores and several restaurants. Barnes & Noble opened a mall location in March 2022 after its Southridge Center store closed. Although first described as temporary and potentially moving to a permanent site in 2023, the mall store's reported performance supported its continuation. The center remains an active regional retail and entertainment destination for Bismarck and surrounding communities.
- 2022
Barnes & Noble opens
[1]Barnes & Noble opens a store at Kirkwood Mall after closing its nearby Southridge Center location.
- 2020
Tilt Studio redevelopment announced
[1]The former Herberger's building is converted into a Tilt Studio family entertainment venue after an earlier restaurant-wing proposal is revised.
- 2018
Herberger's closes
[1]The Herberger's anchor closes in August following the liquidation of its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores.
- 2013
Scheels and Victoria's Secret expand
[1]Scheels begins a major expansion, and Victoria's Secret also enlarges its store.
- 2012
CBL & Associates announces acquisition plans
[1]CBL & Associates announces plans to purchase Kirkwood Mall.
- 2010
CVS/pharmacy leaves the mall
[1]The CVS/pharmacy location, originally operated as Osco Drug, closes after a new nearby store opens.
- 2006
Target relocates within the mall
[1]Target opens in the former Dayton's and Marshall Field's location after the earlier building is demolished. Scheels later moves into Target's former premises.
- 2005
Marshall Field's closes
[1]The Marshall Field's store closes after corporate ownership changes involving May Company and Target.
- 2003
I. Keating takes over Montgomery Ward space
[1]I. Keating Furniture of Minot occupies the former Montgomery Ward anchor area.
- 2001
Dayton's becomes Marshall Field's
[1]The former Woolworth location changes name from Dayton's to Marshall Field's.
Products and positioning
A regional, enclosed shopping destination serving Bismarck and the surrounding area through a broad mix of department stores, specialty retailers, home-furnishing businesses, entertainment, fitness, and food tenants.
Shopping center · 1970
Regional shopping-center services
Kirkwood Mall provides enclosed retail space, dining, entertainment, and customer services for Bismarck and the surrounding region. Its offer is built around a diversified tenant mix rather than a proprietary product line, combining department stores, specialty shops, home-furnishing retailers, fitness, restaurants, and family entertainment.
Family entertainment · 2020
Tilt Studio
Tilt Studio occupies the former Herberger's anchor building and provides arcade and family entertainment facilities. Its arrival converted the mall's last vacant anchor space into an active entertainment destination.
Department stores and specialty retail · 1970
Retail anchor portfolio
The mall's principal anchors are I. Keating Furniture & Flooring, Ashley HomeStore, Scheels, J. C. Penney, Tilt Studio, and Target. Together they cover home furnishings, sporting goods, department-store merchandise, general merchandise, and entertainment.
Brand decisions
2020
Conversion of former Herberger's anchorStrategyBackground
Herberger's had closed in 2018 following the liquidation of The Bon-Ton Stores, leaving an anchor vacancy.
Action taken
The mall revised an initial plan for a new restaurant and retail wing and instead converted the former Herberger's building for Tilt Studio.
Aftermath
Tilt Studio filled the final vacant anchor space, and the mall reported 100% occupancy of its anchor locations.
2012
Planned acquisition by CBL & AssociatesM&ABackground
Kirkwood Mall was an established regional enclosed shopping center in Bismarck.
Action taken
CBL & Associates announced plans to purchase the mall, with the transaction expected to occur within 90 days.
Aftermath
The announcement placed the property within the portfolio of a major U.S. shopping-center real-estate operator, although the supplied reference does not establish the mall's current ownership.
2006
Relocation of Target and ScheelsStrategyBackground
The former Dayton's and Marshall Field's anchor building had been closed and demolished after changes in department-store ownership.
Action taken
Target moved into the replacement anchor space, while Scheels moved from its earlier location east of Target into Target's renovated former space.
Aftermath
The changes reconfigured a major portion of the mall's anchor lineup and retained both retailers within the property.
Sources2 sources
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