Leavenworth Plaza
A former indoor shopping center in Leavenworth, Kansas, whose enclosed mall operations ended before the interior was demolished.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Leavenworth Plaza was an indoor shopping center in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States. It opened in 1967 with several major retail anchors, including J.C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, and Safeway, reflecting the traditional suburban shopping-center model in which department stores and a grocery operator drew customers for smaller specialty tenants. Duckwall-ALCO Retail Stores added a location in 1972, expanding the center's retail mix. The property changed character as its anchor tenants and retail environment evolved. In 1987, Montgomery Ward was converted to a Sears store. A movie theater was added in 1993 after Duckwall-ALCO closed, providing an entertainment use intended to supplement the declining or changing retail offer. J.C. Penney closed in 2003, and Sears subsequently ceased operating at the center as well. These departures reduced the site's ability to function as a conventional enclosed regional shopping center. Leavenworth Plaza's ownership also changed. The original owners, Copaken, White & Blitt, sold the property in 2008 to Colliers Turley Martin Tucker. Dial Properties later managed the site. The movie theater closed in 2010. By 2013, the remaining named tenants were Ace Hardware, GNC, Curves, RadioShack, and Cato Corporation, while the indoor mall area itself was no longer open for normal enclosed-mall use. Demolition of the interior mall began in November 2015. This marked the practical end of Leavenworth Plaza as an indoor shopping center, although portions of the building continued to support individual retail operations. As of 2025, Westlake Ace Hardware was the only active business identified as remaining on the site. The property's history illustrates the transition of many older American enclosed shopping centers from department-store-anchored retail destinations to partially vacant or repurposed commercial sites.
History
Leavenworth Plaza opened in 1967 in Leavenworth, Kansas, as an enclosed shopping center serving local residents and nearby communities. Its original anchor lineup included J.C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, and Safeway. These tenants represented the established formula for American indoor retail centers: department stores provided broad merchandise and regular traffic, while a grocery store supplied a frequent-use component. Smaller specialty stores benefited from the customer flow generated by the anchors. The center added a Duckwall-ALCO Retail Stores location in 1972. This strengthened its general-merchandise offering, although the store later closed. In 1987, Montgomery Ward was replaced or rebranded as Sears, reflecting a change in the identity of one of the site's principal anchors. The center subsequently broadened its non-retail appeal when a movie theater was added in 1993 after Duckwall-ALCO's departure. Over time, the shopping center lost major anchors. J.C. Penney closed in 2003, and Sears later also left the property. The loss of both department-store operators weakened the traditional enclosed-mall model, in which large anchor tenants were central to customer traffic and the financial viability of smaller interior stores. A change in ownership followed in 2008, when Copaken, White & Blitt sold the property to Colliers Turley Martin Tucker. Dial Properties later managed the site. The movie theater closed in 2010. By 2013, the remaining named tenants included Ace Hardware, GNC, Curves, RadioShack, and Cato Corporation. At that point, the interior mall area was closed, indicating that the property no longer operated as a conventional enclosed shopping destination even though several businesses continued in parts of the structure. Demolition of the interior mall began in November 2015. This transformed Leavenworth Plaza from an indoor shopping center into a substantially reduced or repurposed commercial property. The site retained individual retail activity, most notably Westlake Ace Hardware. As of 2025, Ace Hardware was reported as the only active business remaining. Leavenworth Plaza therefore survives primarily as a former retail-center site and historical example of the decline and redevelopment of older enclosed malls, rather than as an operating mall brand.
- 2025
Ace Hardware identified as sole active business
[1]Westlake Ace Hardware remains active at the former shopping-center site.
- 2015
Interior demolition begins
[1]Demolition of the enclosed mall interior begins in November.
- 2010
Movie theater closes
[1]The entertainment component of the property ceases operations.
- 2008
Ownership changes
[1]Copaken, White & Blitt sells the property to Colliers Turley Martin Tucker.
- 2003
J.C. Penney closes
[1]The center loses its J.C. Penney anchor.
- 1993
Movie theater added
[1]A movie theater is added following the closure of Duckwall-ALCO.
- 1987
Montgomery Ward becomes Sears
[1]The Montgomery Ward anchor changes to Sears.
- 1972
Duckwall-ALCO joins the tenant mix
[1]Duckwall-ALCO Retail Stores adds a store to the shopping center.
- 1967
Indoor shopping center opens
[1]Leavenworth Plaza opens in Leavenworth, Kansas, anchored by J.C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, and Safeway.
Products and positioning
A local indoor shopping center built around department-store, grocery, general-merchandise, and specialty retail anchors. After major anchors departed, the property shifted toward limited standalone retail and was ultimately dismantled as an enclosed mall.
Department store · 1967
J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney was one of Leavenworth Plaza's original anchor tenants, supplying a broad department-store assortment and serving as a principal traffic generator for the enclosed center. Its location closed in 2003.
Department store · 1967
Montgomery Ward / Sears
Montgomery Ward was an original anchor at the center and became Sears in 1987. The Sears operation later closed, removing another major anchor from the property.
Grocery store · 1967
Safeway
Safeway formed part of the original anchor group, adding everyday grocery traffic to the department-store and specialty-retail mix.
Entertainment · 1993
Movie theater
A movie theater was added in 1993 after Duckwall-ALCO closed. It provided an entertainment attraction alongside the remaining retail uses but shut down in 2010.
Hardware and home improvement
Westlake Ace Hardware
Westlake Ace Hardware occupied part of the former shopping-center structure and was reported as the only active business remaining at the site as of 2025.
Brand decisions
2015
Demolish the interior enclosed mallStrategyBackground
After the departure of major anchors and the closure of the theater, the interior mall area was no longer operating as a conventional enclosed shopping center.
Action taken
Demolition of the interior mall began in November 2015.
Aftermath
The property ceased to function as an indoor mall, although individual retail activity continued in portions of the site.
2008
Sell the property to Colliers Turley Martin TuckerM&ABackground
The original owners, Copaken, White & Blitt, transferred ownership of the shopping-center property.
Action taken
The property was sold to Colliers Turley Martin Tucker.
Aftermath
Dial Properties later managed the site, while the enclosed mall continued to lose tenants and was ultimately dismantled.
1993
Add a movie theaterProduct launchBackground
The theater was added after Duckwall-ALCO closed, when the property needed another destination use to complement its retail tenants.
Action taken
A movie theater was introduced at the shopping center.
Aftermath
The theater eventually closed in 2010.
1987
Convert the Montgomery Ward anchor to SearsStrategyBackground
The center's original Montgomery Ward department-store anchor changed to Sears as the retail lineup evolved.
Action taken
The department-store space operated under the Sears name.
Aftermath
Sears later closed, contributing to the loss of major anchors at Leavenworth Plaza.
Recent events
- 2025
Ace Hardware remains active at the former mall site[1]
Other
As of 2025, Westlake Ace Hardware was identified as the only active remaining business at the site.
- 2015
Interior mall demolition begins[1]
Other
Demolition of the interior enclosed-mall area began in November, ending the property's role as a functioning indoor shopping center.
- 2010
Leavenworth Plaza movie theater closes[1]
Other
The movie theater ceased operations, further reducing the site's mix of destination uses.
- 2008
Leavenworth Plaza sold to Colliers Turley Martin Tucker[1]
M&A
The property's original owners, Copaken, White & Blitt, sold the shopping center to Colliers Turley Martin Tucker.
- 2003
J.C. Penney closes its Leavenworth Plaza store[1]
Other
J.C. Penney departed the center, removing one of its original major department-store anchors.
- 1993
Movie theater added after Duckwall-ALCO closure[1]
Product launch
A movie theater was introduced at the center after Duckwall-ALCO closed, adding an entertainment component to the property.
- 1987
Montgomery Ward location becomes Sears[1]
Other
The Montgomery Ward anchor was converted to a Sears store, changing one of the center's principal department-store identities.
- 1972
Duckwall-ALCO adds a Leavenworth Plaza store[1]
Other
Duckwall-ALCO Retail Stores expanded the center's tenant lineup by opening a store at Leavenworth Plaza.
- 1967
Leavenworth Plaza opens with department-store and grocery anchors[1]
Other
The indoor shopping center opened in Leavenworth with J.C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, and Safeway among its principal anchors.
Sources1 sources
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