Lansing Mall

Lansing Mall is an enclosed shopping center in Delta Charter Township, immediately west of Lansing, Michigan. Positioned along M-43, or Saginaw Highway, it serves the Lansing metropolitan area and is one of the region's major retail properties. The mall opened to the public on July 31, 1969, in the same year as its principal cross-town competitor, Meridian Mall in Okemos. It was developed by Detroit-based Forbes-Cohen and originally contained approximately 830,052 square feet of gross leasable area. The center opened with three department-store anchors: Montgomery Ward, Federal's, and Wurzburg's. Its early history reflected the rapid consolidation and financial instability of American department-store retail. Wurzburg's transferred its location to the Lansing-based J.W. Knapp Company in 1972, while Federal's entered bankruptcy later that year. The former Federal's space subsequently became a Robert Hall Village discount store, which itself closed after Robert Hall entered bankruptcy. In 1979, Lansing Mall converted that anchor space into a new interior concourse and added a western wing anchored by Hudson's. The expansion introduced numerous national apparel, specialty, and restaurant tenants and increased the property to more than 100 tenants. The anchor lineup continued to evolve during the 1980s and 1990s. J.W. Knapp Company filed for bankruptcy in 1980, and J. C. Penney replaced Knapp's at Lansing Mall. A further expansion completed in 1987 added a Mervyn's department store and fifteen storefronts. The mall also developed a food court, known as the Picnic, in 1984. During the 1990s it added retailers such as Champs Sports, Express, Victoria's Secret, Buckle, Pacific Sunwear, Gymboree, Bath & Body Works, and the Disney Store, even as other chains left or contracted. Forbes-Cohen sold the property to General Growth Properties in 1996. General Growth then undertook a reported $24 million renovation that modernized the interior, expanded food-court seating, improved lighting and signage, and renovated restrooms. After Montgomery Ward closed in 1999, the eastern wing was reconfigured. Barnes & Noble and Old Navy opened in 2000, while Younkers took over the former Montgomery Ward space in 2002. A Best Buy store was also built on the site of the former Montgomery Ward automotive center, and Dunham's Sports later occupied additional space in the Younkers wing. The property experienced further anchor turnover in the 2000s and 2010s. Mervyn's closed in 2006 and was replaced by Steve & Barry's, which later closed in 2009. A Regal Entertainment Group multiplex opened in 2014 on the former Mervyn's/Steve & Barry's site. A proposed Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill project failed before completion after contractor disputes and litigation; the space was later occupied by Tequila Cowboy and subsequently by Overdrive, a live-music venue. Lansing Mall's more recent history has been marked by department-store closures, competition from nearby freestanding retail, and vacancies. Macy's closed its location in 2017, and Younkers closed in 2018 after The Bon-Ton filed for bankruptcy and liquidated its stores. Panera Bread and Chipotle moved from mall locations to nearby freestanding or shopping-plaza sites, while Houlihan's closed in 2019, citing rent among the factors affecting its decision. Overdrive closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brookfield Properties marketed the property for sale in 2020 and sold it in March 2021 to Kohan Retail Investment Group. At the time of the sale, the mall was reported to be approximately 56 percent leased. The current tenant mix includes J. C. Penney, Dunham's Sports, Barnes & Noble, a food court, BEST Furniture, Zap Zone XL, and a 12-screen cinema, although occupancy and individual tenancy have continued to change.

Lansing Mall was developed by Forbes-Cohen, a Detroit-based mall developer, along Saginaw Highway in Delta Charter Township, just outside Lansing. The center opened on July 31, 1969, with Montgomery Ward, Federal's, and Grand Rapids-based Wurzburg's as its three principal anchors. Other opening tenants included Cunningham Drug, Schensul's Cafeteria, and McCrory. The original anchor configuration changed quickly. Wurzburg's sold its Lansing Mall store to the J.W. Knapp Company in March 1972 as Wurzburg's concentrated on its Grand Rapids-area operations. Federal's filed for bankruptcy later in 1972 and closed both its Lansing Mall location and another Lansing-area store. Robert Hall Clothes later announced a Robert Hall Village discount store for the former Federal's site, but that operation lasted only several years and was liquidated in 1977 after Robert Hall entered bankruptcy. The mall underwent a two-stage expansion in 1979. The first phase divided the former Federal's and Robert Hall space and created a new interior concourse with skylights, planters, and seating. The second phase extended the mall westward and added a Hudson's department store. The project brought in The Limited, Casual Corner, Lane Bryant, The Gap, Herman's World of Sporting Goods, and several restaurant concepts. Once complete, the mall had more than 105 tenants. In 1980, Knapp's filed for bankruptcy, and J. C. Penney acquired and replaced its Lansing Mall location. In 1984, the mall opened a food court called the Picnic in space formerly occupied by York Steak House. It contained nine food vendors and seating for 299 people. A 1987 expansion added a northward wing anchored by Mervyn's, fifteen new storefronts, and relocated existing tenants. The work also required demolition of the Lansing Mall Theater, a single-screen cinema that had been the last of its type in the Lansing area. During the early 1990s, Lansing Mall faced a series of store closures, although its reported occupancy remained above the average for Midwestern malls at the time. The property added Champs Sports and several Limited Brands concepts, including a combined Limited Express/Structure store and Victoria's Secret. Later additions included Buckle, Bombay Company, Pacific Sunwear, Gymboree, Bath & Body Works, and the Disney Store. Forbes-Cohen sold Lansing Mall to General Growth Properties in 1996. General Growth launched a major renovation that refreshed the concourses, added new tile, skylights, seating, exterior lighting, and signage, enlarged the food-court seating area, and renovated restrooms. Montgomery Ward closed in 1999. Old Navy and Barnes & Noble opened in 2000, and Younkers eventually occupied the former Montgomery Ward building in 2002. Best Buy was also built near the former automotive center, and Dunham's Sports later expanded into the Younkers wing. Anchor changes continued in the following decade. Mervyn's closed in 2006 and was replaced by Steve & Barry's, which closed in 2009. TJ Maxx opened in 2006 but later left the mall in 2021. In 2011, General Growth transferred management of Lansing Mall and other properties to its Rouse Properties division. Regal opened a 12-screen cinema in July 2014 on the former Mervyn's site. A proposed Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill venue near the cinema was never completed. Construction stopped amid contractor liens and payment disputes, and the property owner later won a lawsuit reported at $6.2 million. Tequila Cowboy subsequently opened in the space in December 2015. It closed in 2019 and was replaced by Overdrive, a renovated live-music venue that closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mall's department-store base weakened further when Macy's announced a 2017 closure and Younkers closed in 2018 after The Bon-Ton entered bankruptcy and liquidated its stores. Other tenants, including Vitamin World, rue21, and Finish Line, also departed. Panera Bread and Chipotle moved to nearby freestanding locations, while Houlihan's closed in November 2019 and cited high rent as one factor. Brookfield Properties placed the property on the market in October 2020 and sold it in March 2021 to Kohan Retail Investment Group. Current public descriptions identify J. C. Penney as the only operating traditional department-store anchor, alongside specialty retail, dining, furniture, family entertainment, and cinema uses.

1. 2021Kohan Retail Investment Group acquires the property

   Brookfield Properties sold Lansing Mall to Kohan Retail Investment Group in March.

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2. 2014Regal cinema opens

   A 12-screen Regal theater opened on the former Mervyn's and Steve & Barry's site.

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3. 1996General Growth Properties acquires the mall

   Forbes-Cohen sold the property to General Growth Properties, which initiated a major renovation.

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4. 1987Mervyn's wing opens

   A new wing anchored by Mervyn's added fifteen storefronts and relocated existing tenants.

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5. 1984The Picnic food court opens

   A nine-vendor food court opened in former York Steak House space.

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6. 1979Two-phase expansion completed

   The mall added a redesigned concourse and a western wing anchored by Hudson's.

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7. 1972Wurzburg's becomes Knapp's

   Wurzburg's sold its Lansing Mall store to the J.W. Knapp Company.

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8. 1969Mall opens

   Lansing Mall opened on July 31 with Montgomery Ward, Federal's, and Wurzburg's as its original anchors.

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Regional enclosed shopping center serving the Lansing metropolitan area, with a mix of department-store, specialty retail, dining, and entertainment uses.

• J. C. PenneyDepartment store1980

  J. C. Penney has been Lansing Mall's principal traditional department-store anchor since replacing the J.W. Knapp Company in 1980. Its merchandise typically spans apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty, home goods, and seasonal products.

• Dunham's SportsSporting goods

  Dunham's Sports occupies space associated with the former Younkers wing and provides sporting goods, athletic apparel, footwear, fitness equipment, outdoor products, and recreational merchandise.

• Barnes & NobleBooks and media2000

  Barnes & Noble opened at Lansing Mall in 2000 after displacing several smaller storefronts. The store provides books, gifts, stationery, and related media and lifestyle products.

• Zap Zone XLFamily entertainment

  Zap Zone XL is a large family-entertainment venue occupying the former Younkers space. It represents Lansing Mall's shift toward recreation and experiential uses as department-store tenancy has declined.

• Regal 12-screen cinemaCinema2014

  A 12-screen movie theater opened in July 2014 on the former Mervyn's and Steve & Barry's anchor site, adding a major entertainment destination to the mall.

• 2021Change ownershipM&A

  Brookfield Properties marketed the mall for sale amid declining department-store presence and reported vacancies.

  What changed. Brookfield Properties sold Lansing Mall to Kohan Retail Investment Group in March 2021.

  Aftermath. The property continued operating with a smaller, more mixed tenant base centered on J. C. Penney, specialty retail, food, entertainment, and services.

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• 2013Approve a new multiplex cinemaProduct launch

  The former Mervyn's and Steve & Barry's anchor space was vacant and required a new destination use.

  What changed. Regal Entertainment Group developed a 12-screen, 50,000-square-foot cinema, which opened in 2014.

  Aftermath. The cinema became a major entertainment component of the property and replaced a former department-store anchor.

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• 1996Undertake a major renovationStrategy

  Forbes-Cohen sold the mall to General Growth Properties after years of tenant changes and competitive pressure from other regional shopping centers.

  What changed. General Growth modernized the concourses, exterior presentation, food court, seating, lighting, signage, and restrooms.

  Aftermath. The renovation supported new openings including Old Navy, Barnes & Noble, and later Younkers, while reconfiguring the eastern wing after Montgomery Ward's departure.

  Reported renovation investment. $24 million (1996 onward)

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• 1979Expand and reposition the centerStrategy

  The former Federal's and Robert Hall Village anchor spaces had become available, creating an opportunity to increase the mall's retail capacity.

  What changed. Management executed a two-phase expansion, creating a new concourse and a western wing anchored by Hudson's.

  Aftermath. The project increased the center to more than 105 tenants and added a substantial selection of apparel, specialty, and restaurant businesses.

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• 2015Toby Keith venue construction disputeControversy

  Construction of a Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill location stopped after contractors filed liens alleging that they had not been reimbursed fully and promptly. The unfinished venue was later vacated, and the property owner won a reported $6.2 million lawsuit against the restaurant chain's owners.

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• 2021Brookfield Properties sells Lansing Mall to Kohan Retail Investment Group

  The property changed ownership after Brookfield Properties marketed it for sale in 2020. Reports at the time described the mall as approximately 56 percent leased.

  M&A
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• 2017Macy's announces Lansing Mall closure

  Macy's announced that its Lansing Mall department store would close as part of a group of Michigan store closures.

  BankruptcyOther
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• 2013Regal announces a new Lansing Mall cinema

  Regal Entertainment Group announced plans for a 50,000-square-foot, 12-screen theater on the former Mervyn's and Steve & Barry's site.

  Product launch
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• 1996General Growth Properties renovates Lansing Mall

  After acquiring the property, General Growth began a major renovation involving concourse finishes, skylights, seating, signage, restrooms, and expanded food-court space.

  M&AOther
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• 1979Lansing Mall receives a major expansion

  A two-phase project converted the former Federal's and Robert Hall space into new mall circulation areas and added a western wing anchored by Hudson's.

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• 1969Lansing Mall opens to the public

  The enclosed mall opened in Delta Charter Township with Montgomery Ward, Federal's, and Wurzburg's as its original department-store anchors.

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1. Lansing Mall
2. Lansing Mall official website