Memorial Mall
A former enclosed shopping mall in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, redeveloped around a Meijer hypermarket.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Memorial Mall was an enclosed shopping center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, developed to serve Sheboygan County and the surrounding east-central Wisconsin market. Construction began in August 1968 under Melvin Simon & Associates, the predecessor of Simon Property Group, with a large two-story J.C. Penney store as the first major component. The mall formally opened in April 1970 with more than 35 shops, restaurants, and service businesses. Its third anchor, an approximately 80,000-square-foot Sears store with an attached automotive center, opened in November 1970, bringing the complex to roughly 350,000 square feet. For a period, it was the largest enclosed shopping center in east-central Wisconsin. The center initially combined department stores, variety retail, grocery, automotive services, and smaller specialty tenants. J.C. Penney and Sears had relocated from downtown Sheboygan, while locally based H.C. Prange declined to establish a mall branch. Other early occupants included G. C. Murphy, Red Owl, Goodyear Auto Center, and Firestone. G. C. Murphy's former space was acquired by Kohl's in 1983, and Kohl's later renovated the building to fit its contemporary store format. The mall's location was ultimately weakened when direct access from Kohler Memorial Drive was lost after the roadway was converted into a freeway connection, while new road improvements and retail development to the south created stronger competition. Memorial Mall experienced increasing vacancy and tenant turnover in the 2000s. J.C. Penney departed in 2001, with Hobby Lobby taking over much of the space. Simon Property Group sold the property in 2003, after which the facility underwent renovation. Walgreens left for a central-city location, Bed Bath & Beyond occupied a former automotive-service area with limited mall connectivity, and many smaller tenants moved to newer power-center developments. The center court was eventually converted into a children's play area as the mall's former food and public-space functions declined. The property entered foreclosure in 2009 and was acquired by Bank of America at a 2012 sheriff's auction for approximately $2.1 million. Sears closed in early 2015 after having reduced its merchandise range to appliances, electronics, and hardware. RadioShack, Hallmark, Deb Shops, and other specialty tenants also left. In March 2015, Meijer acquired the mall and adjoining Sears property for $10.75 million, with plans to replace most of the enclosed mall with a new hypermarket and related retail development. The traditional mall effectively ended operations on July 30, 2017. Demolition and asbestos abatement began immediately afterward, and the center court, northern wings, and former J.C. Penney building were removed later that year. Kohl's and several smaller businesses remained in the surviving south-side portion, while construction proceeded on the new Meijer store, parking, entrances, and associated facilities. Meijer opened on April 25, 2019, with an in-store Starbucks, a Kohler Credit Union branch, a Froedtert urgent care center, and a Meijer Express fuel station. A Panera Bread outlot location opened in October 2019. The former Bed Bath & Beyond space was later reused by Burlington, which opened there in fall 2024. The property therefore continues as a retail site, but no longer operates as the large enclosed regional mall that opened in 1970.
History
Memorial Mall was conceived as Sheboygan County's first enclosed shopping mall during the expansion of suburban retail in the late 1960s. Melvin Simon & Associates began groundwork in August 1968, starting with a two-story J.C. Penney of approximately 160,000 square feet and an adjacent automotive center. The mall's formal opening took place in April 1970 with more than 35 retail, dining, and service tenants. Sears completed the anchor lineup in November 1970 with an approximately 80,000-square-foot store and auto center, bringing the complex to roughly 350,000 square feet. Until the opening of Forest Mall in Fond du Lac in 1973, Memorial Mall was the largest enclosed shopping center in east-central Wisconsin. Its original tenant mix reflected the retail patterns of the period. J.C. Penney and Sears moved from downtown Sheboygan, while H.C. Prange remained downtown rather than opening a mall branch. G. C. Murphy operated a variety store, Red Owl provided grocery retail, and Goodyear and Firestone supplied automotive services. After Murphy's departure, Kohl's acquired its space in 1983 and later modernized the building. The mall's location on Kohler Memorial Drive was initially an important advantage, but the conversion of that roadway into a freeway connection removed direct access and shifted traffic onto surrounding surface streets. Later road improvements and commercial development along the southern retail corridor created additional competition. The mall's decline became more visible in the 2000s. J.C. Penney left in 2001, and Hobby Lobby occupied the former store's first-floor area after the existing escalator was removed. Walgreens also departed in 2001 for a new central-city store. Simon Property Group sold Memorial Mall in 2003, and the new owners renovated the property. The former Goodyear area was eventually used by Bed Bath & Beyond, although that store had limited integration with the interior mall. Smaller tenants increasingly moved to newer power centers, including Kohler's Deer Trace development, while the mall's center court was converted into a children's play area. The property entered foreclosure in 2009 amid falling rents, weak leasing demand, and debt obligations that exceeded the mall's value. Bank of America, the lender, acquired it at a 2012 sheriff's auction for about $2.1 million. Further tenant losses followed. RadioShack closed in 2014, Sears announced its departure in 2014 and completed the closure in early 2015, and several specialty retailers announced departures in 2015. By the mall's final period, occupancy was reported at approximately 13 percent, with only six of 48 spaces occupied and the northern Sears wing entirely vacant. Meijer purchased the property in March 2015 for $10.75 million, including the adjoining Sears store. Its redevelopment plan called for demolishing most of the enclosed mall and replacing the northern portion with a new Meijer hypermarket, fuel station, parking areas, and new exterior-facing entrances. Kohl's and Bed Bath & Beyond were retained in their existing buildings, while several smaller businesses remained temporarily. The traditional mall ceased operating at the end of July 2017. Demolition, including asbestos abatement, removed the center court, north wings, and former J.C. Penney building during late 2017. The new Meijer construction continued through 2018, and the store opened on April 25, 2019. The redeveloped site added an in-store Starbucks, a Kohler Credit Union branch, a Froedtert urgent care center, and a Meijer Express fuel station. Panera Bread opened on an outlot in October 2019. Froedtert's urgent-care operation later closed during the pandemic and moved to a larger site several miles south. Shabree Jewelers left at the end of its lease in 2019, while an alterations shop remained one of the last small tenants associated with the former mall. Bed Bath & Beyond closed in spring 2022 and its space was subsequently occupied by Burlington in fall 2024. Memorial Mall thus survives primarily as a redeveloped retail property rather than as an enclosed shopping mall.
- 2024
Burlington occupies former Bed Bath & Beyond space
[1]Burlington opened in the former Bed Bath & Beyond location during fall 2024.
- 2019
Meijer redevelopment opens
[1]The new Meijer store opened on April 25, followed by a Panera Bread outlot opening in October.
- 2017
Traditional mall closes
[1]Enclosed mall operations ended on July 30, followed by demolition and asbestos-abatement work.
- 2015
Meijer acquires the property
[1]Meijer purchased Memorial Mall and the adjacent Sears property for $10.75 million.
- 2012
Foreclosure acquisition
[1]Bank of America acquired the property at a sheriff's auction for approximately $2.1 million.
- 2003
Simon Property Group sells the mall
[1]Simon Property Group sold Memorial Mall to new owners, who undertook renovations.
- 2001
J.C. Penney and Walgreens depart
[1]J.C. Penney left the mall and Walgreens moved to a central-city location; Hobby Lobby later occupied much of the former J.C. Penney space.
- 1983
Kohl's takes over the Murphy's space
[1]Kohl's acquired the former G. C. Murphy variety-store space and later remodeled it.
- 1970
Formal grand opening
[1]Memorial Mall officially opened in April with more than 35 shops, eateries, and services.
- 1970
Sears completes the anchor lineup
[1]An approximately 80,000-square-foot Sears store and auto center opened in November, completing the approximately 350,000-square-foot complex.
Products and positioning
A former regional enclosed mall that was repositioned as a mixed retail development anchored by a Meijer hypermarket.
Retail real estate · 1970
Enclosed shopping mall
The original Memorial Mall was an approximately 350,000-square-foot enclosed shopping center with department-store anchors, specialty shops, restaurants, grocery retail, and automotive services. It operated in this format from its formal opening in 1970 until July 2017, when most of the structure was closed and demolished.
Hypermarket-anchored retail center · 2019
Meijer retail development
The redeveloped property is centered on a Meijer hypermarket and includes exterior-facing retail space, parking, a fuel station, and complementary services. The site has also hosted Starbucks, Kohler Credit Union, a Froedtert urgent-care center, Panera Bread, Kohl's, and Burlington.
Brand decisions
2017
Conversion from enclosed mall to hypermarket-anchored retail siteStrategyBackground
By the mall's final period, reported occupancy had fallen to approximately 13 percent, with six of 48 spaces occupied.
Action taken
Meijer closed the traditional mall format, removed most of the building, and constructed a new store, parking layout, fuel station, and exterior entrances while retaining selected buildings and tenants.
Aftermath
The property reopened as a more open retail development anchored by Meijer, with Kohl's and later Burlington occupying surviving or reused space.
2015
Meijer purchases Memorial MallM&ABackground
The property had suffered prolonged vacancy, declining rents, foreclosure, and competition from newer retail corridors.
Action taken
Meijer acquired the mall and adjoining Sears property for $10.75 million and planned a hypermarket-centered redevelopment.
Aftermath
Most of the enclosed mall was demolished between 2017 and 2018, and a new Meijer store opened in April 2019.
Acquisition price. $10.75 million (2015 acquisition)
Sources1 sources
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