Lafayette Square Mall
A former enclosed shopping mall in Indianapolis, Indiana, that became a redevelopment site after closing in 2022.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Lafayette Square Mall was an enclosed shopping mall at the intersection of West 38th Street and Lafayette Road in Pike Township, Indianapolis, Indiana. Developed by Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., it opened on August 1, 1968, and was promoted as Indiana’s largest shopping mall and the first enclosed shopping mall in the greater Indianapolis area. The complex occupied approximately 80 acres and initially provided more than one million square feet of retail space, around 90 inline stores, a single-screen General Cinema theater, and several major department-store anchors. The original anchor lineup reflected the dominant American suburban-mall model of the late 1960s. JCPenney occupied the southern end, Sears the northern end, G.C. Murphy operated in the north wing, Kroger was located near JCPenney, and William H. Block opened at center court in 1969. The mall’s early success helped DeBartolo pursue additional Indianapolis-area projects, including Castleton Square and Washington Square. Lafayette Square expanded in the 1970s, adding Lazarus in 1974 and later replacing the connected Kroger space with an L. S. Ayres department store. The tenant mix changed repeatedly as department-store consolidation and retail competition reshaped Indianapolis. William H. Block was converted to Lazarus after Lazarus acquired the chain, while the original Lazarus location became Montgomery Ward. G.C. Murphy closed in 1993. A 1998 renovation, undertaken after DeBartolo’s combination with Simon Property Group, converted the former G.C. Murphy area into a racetrack-themed food court. Montgomery Ward liquidated in 2001, and Burlington Coat Factory later occupied part of the vacated store. Lazarus closed in 2002. The mall’s long-term decline accelerated after newer retail destinations opened in the region. The 1995 opening of Circle Centre in downtown Indianapolis and the 2005 opening of the Metropolis lifestyle center near Plainfield and Indianapolis International Airport increased competitive pressure. JCPenney and Old Navy departed in 2005, followed by the withdrawal of many national chains. The former L. S. Ayres store became Macy’s in 2006 as part of the broader May Department Stores–Federated Department Stores integration. Simon Property Group sold Lafayette Square to Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corp. in December 2007. A subsequent renovation added a rebuilt entrance, food-service kiosks, an entertainment venue, and Shoppers World in the former JCPenney space. The effort did not reverse the mall’s decline: Sears and Macy’s announced closures in 2008 and 2009, and several specialty retailers and entertainment tenants left during the following years. By late 2012, GNC, described as the last original tenant, had also closed, leaving the property primarily dependent on local businesses and discount-oriented tenants. Burlington Coat Factory closed permanently in August 2019. Shoppers World later moved into the former Burlington space in 2021. That year, Indianapolis-based Sojos Capital fully acquired the mall and announced a proposed mixed-use redevelopment called Window to the World. The concept envisioned dining, music, art, retail, housing, offices, youth education, sports, entertainment, infrastructure improvements, and public-safety initiatives across the mall and nearby properties. Lafayette Square Mall ceased operations on August 29, 2022. In 2024, Sojos Capital presented further redevelopment plans for the site, marking the transition from a declining enclosed mall to a proposed mixed-use destination.
History
Lafayette Square Mall was developed by Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. and opened on August 1, 1968, at West 38th Street and Lafayette Road in Indianapolis. It was the first enclosed shopping mall in the greater Indianapolis area and, at opening, one of Indiana’s largest retail developments. The 80-acre site contained more than one million square feet of retail space, approximately 90 inline tenants, a movie theater, and five principal anchors: JCPenney, Sears, G.C. Murphy, Kroger, and William H. Block. William H. Block opened at center court in 1969. The property expanded during the 1970s. Lazarus opened on August 8, 1974, with a new wing and additional stores. In 1975, the mall removed the connected Kroger store to make room for an expansion featuring L. S. Ayres. Lafayette Square’s success also contributed to DeBartolo’s development of Castleton Square and Washington Square elsewhere in Indianapolis. The anchor lineup evolved through retail consolidation. Lazarus acquired William H. Block and converted that store to the Lazarus name, while the original Lazarus location later became Montgomery Ward. G.C. Murphy closed in 1993. Competition from newer shopping destinations, particularly Circle Centre after 1995, led to a 1998 renovation. The former G.C. Murphy space became a racetrack-themed food court. Montgomery Ward liquidated in 2001, and Burlington Coat Factory subsequently occupied part of that space. Lazarus closed in 2002. The mall entered a sharper decline after the Metropolis lifestyle center opened near Plainfield and the airport in 2005. JCPenney and Old Navy left that year, and many national chains followed. On September 9, 2006, the L. S. Ayres location was converted to Macy’s following the May Department Stores–Federated Department Stores merger. Simon Property Group sold Lafayette Square to Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corp. in December 2007. A later renovation introduced a rebuilt entrance, food-service kiosks, Shoppers World in the former JCPenney space, and the Xscape entertainment venue. The redevelopment effort could not restore the mall’s former regional role. Sears and Macy’s announced closures in 2008 and 2009. Xscape was replaced by America’s Incredible Pizza Company in 2010, but the entertainment tenant and numerous specialty retailers closed during the next two years. By November 2012, GNC, identified as the last original tenant, had departed. Burlington closed in 2019, and Shoppers World moved into the former Burlington space in 2021. Sojos Capital fully acquired the property in 2021 and proposed Window to the World, a broader mixed-use landmark concept covering the mall and surrounding properties. The proposal included commercial, cultural, residential, educational, recreational, infrastructure, and public-safety components. The mall closed on August 29, 2022. Further redevelopment plans were presented in 2024, leaving the former shopping center as a redevelopment site rather than an operating enclosed mall.
- 2024
Further redevelopment plans presented
[1]Plans for redevelopment of the former mall site were unveiled.
- 2022
Mall operations end
[1]Lafayette Square Mall closed permanently on August 29.
- 2021
Sojos Capital acquires the mall
[1]Sojos Capital became the property’s local owner and announced a broad redevelopment concept.
- 2007
Simon sells the mall
[1]Simon Property Group sold the property to Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corp. in December.
- 2006
L. S. Ayres becomes Macy’s
[1]The store was renamed Macy’s on September 9 following the May and Federated department-store consolidation.
- 2001
Montgomery Ward liquidates
[1]Montgomery Ward closed as part of the chain’s liquidation, with Burlington later occupying part of the vacated space.
- 1998
Major renovation completed
[1]A renovation added a racetrack-themed food court in the former G.C. Murphy area.
- 1993
G.C. Murphy closes
[1]The five-and-dime retailer closed its Lafayette Square location.
- 1975
L. S. Ayres replaces the connected Kroger space
[1]The mall removed its connected Kroger store and expanded the southern end for L. S. Ayres.
- 1974
Lazarus expansion opens
[1]A new wing opened with Lazarus and approximately eight additional stores.
Products and positioning
Originally positioned as a major regional enclosed shopping center serving Indianapolis and surrounding communities, Lafayette Square later became a value-oriented, locally tenanted mall and ultimately a redevelopment opportunity.
Anchor retail · 1968
Department stores
Lafayette Square’s principal offering was its collection of department-store anchors, which at different times included JCPenney, Sears, William H. Block, Lazarus, Montgomery Ward, L. S. Ayres, Macy’s, Burlington Coat Factory, and Shoppers World. These stores provided apparel, home goods, accessories, and general merchandise and shaped the mall’s regional-shopping identity.
Shopping mall retail · 1968
Inline specialty retail
The mall originally contained approximately 90 inline tenants, spanning clothing, footwear, jewelry, beauty, health products, electronics, gifts, and other everyday merchandise. As national chains departed, the inline tenant base increasingly consisted of discount retailers and local merchants operating under shorter leases.
Food service · 1998
Food court and dining
A 1998 renovation created a racetrack-themed food court in the former G.C. Murphy area. Later renovations also added food-service kiosks associated with Pretzelmaker, Maggie Moo’s, and Great American Cookies, although these offerings were subsequently closed.
Entertainment · 2008
Entertainment venues
Lafayette Square added entertainment concepts during its later years, including Xscape and, subsequently, America’s Incredible Pizza Company. These venues were intended to broaden the property beyond conventional retail but both ultimately left before the mall closed.
Mixed-use redevelopment · 2021
Window to the World
Window to the World was a proposed mixed-use redevelopment concept for the mall and nearby properties. Sojos Capital described a destination combining dining, music, art, shopping, housing, offices, youth education, sports, entertainment, infrastructure improvements, and public safety rather than simply restoring the former enclosed mall format.
Brand decisions
2022
End enclosed-mall operationsStrategyBackground
The property had lost most major anchors and national tenants after years of retail competition and store closures.
Action taken
Lafayette Square Mall closed on August 29, transitioning the property toward redevelopment.
Aftermath
The former mall became a redevelopment site associated with the proposed Window to the World concept and later plans announced in 2024.
2021
Sojos Capital acquires Lafayette SquareM&ABackground
The enclosed mall had experienced prolonged tenant losses and was operating with a greatly reduced retail base.
Action taken
Locally owned Sojos Capital fully acquired the property.
Aftermath
Sojos Capital proposed Window to the World and later presented additional redevelopment plans after the mall closed.
2007
Sell the property to Ashkenazy AcquisitionsM&ABackground
Simon Property Group was concentrating on other Indianapolis-area malls as Lafayette Square’s performance weakened.
Action taken
Simon sold Lafayette Square Mall to Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corp. in December.
Aftermath
The new ownership introduced another renovation and new tenants, but the mall continued to lose major anchors and national retailers.
1998
Renovate the aging enclosed mallStrategyBackground
The property faced increasing competition from newer Indianapolis retail destinations, including Circle Centre.
Action taken
The owners undertook a renovation that included a racetrack-themed food court.
Aftermath
The renovation refreshed the property but did not prevent subsequent anchor and specialty-store departures.
Recent events
- 2024
Redevelopment plans for the former mall site are unveiled[1]
Other
Sojos Capital presented further plans to redevelop the former mall property after its closure.
- 2022
Lafayette Square Mall closes[1]
Other
The enclosed mall ceased operations on August 29, ending more than five decades of operation as a traditional shopping center.
- 2021
Sojos Capital announces Window to the World redevelopment concept[1]
M&A
After acquiring the mall, Sojos Capital announced a proposed multi-use destination combining retail, dining, arts, housing, offices, education, sports, entertainment, infrastructure, and public-safety improvements.
- 2019
Burlington Coat Factory closes at Lafayette Square[1]
Other
Burlington permanently closed its Lafayette Square location, leaving the mall with only a small number of national tenants.
- 2008
Sears and Macy’s announce closures[1]
Other
The mall’s Sears and Macy’s anchors announced that they would close, weakening the property’s remaining department-store base.
- 2007
Simon Property Group sells Lafayette Square Mall[1]
M&A
Simon sold the Indianapolis property to Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corp. in December 2007.
- 1974
Lafayette Square adds Lazarus and expands[1]
Other
A 1974 expansion added a Lazarus department store and several additional retail units.
- 1968
Lafayette Square Mall opens as a major Indianapolis shopping center[1]
Other
The mall opened on August 1 with more than one million square feet of retail space and a large initial tenant roster.
Sources4 sources
- 1Lafayette Square Mallen.wikipedia.org
- 2Lafayette Square Appoints Don Baylor as Managing Director of Servicesprnewswire.com
- 3Lafayette Square Appoints Seren Tahiroglu as Chief Financial Officer of Creditprnewswire.com
- 4Veteran Investor Damien Dwin Launches Lafayette Square with $100 Million Financing from Morgan Stanleyprnewswire.com
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