Metcalf South Shopping Center

Metcalf South Shopping Center was a regional shopping mall in Overland Park, Kansas. Developed by local entrepreneur Sherman Dreiseszun through MD Management, it opened in 1967 as an ambitious suburban commercial and community destination near the newly completed Interstate 435 corridor. The original center was conceived as more than a collection of shops: Dreiseszun promoted a broad, almost utopian vision combining stores, restaurants, recreation, meeting facilities, cultural exhibits, and public gathering spaces in a weather-controlled environment. The original two-level complex contained approximately 601,800 leasable square feet and about 60 stores on a roughly 50-acre site. Its principal anchors were the Jones Store Company and Sears. The grand opening took place on August 3, 1967, with local civic participation and an appearance by 1966 Miss America Debbie Bryant. Sears opened later that year, in October. The center became one of the prominent early shopping destinations in the developing southern Kansas City metropolitan area. Metcalf South expanded substantially during the 1970s. A third-level concourse added approximately 103,500 leasable square feet in 1975, while an expansion of the Jones Store increased that department store's area by approximately 38,000 square feet. Including a lower-level parking deck, the enlarged property reached roughly 800,000 leasable square feet across three retail levels. The expansion brought in smaller specialty retailers, food outlets, and entertainment-oriented tenants. The complex received a major interior renovation between 1989 and 1990. The work introduced chrome and mirrored ceilings, marquee-style lighting, a food court created from a former Woolworth space, and Carrousel Park, a family-entertainment area installed in a former Safeway location. Carrousel Park included a video arcade, carousel, and roller coaster. These changes reflected the mall industry's effort to add dining, leisure, and experiential attractions alongside traditional retail. Metcalf South later faced increasing competition from newer and more modern retail developments. Oak Park Mall had opened in 1974, followed by Town Center Plaza in Leawood in 1996 and the Great Mall of the Plains in Olathe in 1997. As consumer traffic shifted toward these competitors and other retail formats, Metcalf South lost tenants and became increasingly vacant. The Jones Store anchor was eventually replaced by Macy's, while Sears and the Glenwood Arts movie theater remained among the property's later operating components. Macy's announced in January 2014 that it would close its Metcalf South location. After more than a decade of decline, the property was purchased in February 2014 by Lane4 Property Group and The Kroenke Group. Lane4 indicated that demolition was likely as part of a broader redevelopment concept. Metcalf South closed on September 19, 2014, and the Glenwood Arts theater closed on January 25, 2015. In 2015, Sears Holdings transferred the Sears property at the center into Seritage Growth Properties as part of a nationwide real-estate spinoff involving 235 properties. The former mall site was subsequently targeted for redevelopment. In July 2016, the Overland Park Planning Commission approved a plan allowing Lane4 to invest approximately $80 million in a project anchored by Lowe's. The Lowe's store opened in August 2018 in space formerly associated with Macy's and Glenwood Arts. Thus, the property moved from a traditional enclosed regional mall model to a redevelopment-oriented retail site after the original Metcalf South center ceased operations.

Metcalf South Shopping Center was developed by Overland Park entrepreneur Sherman Dreiseszun and his company, MD Management. The project was designed as a major suburban destination near Interstate 435, approximately 7.3 miles southwest of downtown Kansas City, Kansas. Dreiseszun's concept extended beyond conventional retail: he imagined a planned environment where residents could shop, eat, work, meet, relax, and participate in cultural or recreational activities in a controlled indoor climate. Built by Martin-Salsbury Constructors of Topeka, the original center occupied a roughly 50-acre parcel. Its two-level structure provided approximately 601,800 leasable square feet and accommodated about 60 stores. The principal anchors were the Jones Store Company and Sears. Metcalf South held its grand opening on August 3, 1967, with ceremonies attended by Overland Park mayor Duard Enoch and Debbie Bryant, who had been crowned Miss America in 1966. Nearly 10,000 people were reported to have attended the opening-day events. Sears began trading in October of that year. The center expanded in the 1970s as suburban retail demand grew. In 1975, a third-level concourse added approximately 103,500 leasable square feet. A related expansion enlarged the Jones Store by approximately 38,000 square feet, taking its total area to about 221,000 square feet. A lower-level parking deck was also incorporated. Following these projects, the complex reached approximately 800,000 leasable square feet and three levels of retail space. Tenants included specialty retailers, casual food outlets, and small-format entertainment businesses. Metcalf South underwent a significant interior remodeling program between 1989 and 1990. The renovation introduced chrome and mirrored ceilings and marquee-style lighting. A former Woolworth area was divided into two levels of smaller shops, with a food court on the second level. A former Safeway space became Carrousel Park, a family-oriented amusement area containing a video arcade, carousel, and roller coaster. These changes attempted to make the center an entertainment destination as well as a shopping facility. The mall's competitive position weakened as newer retail centers opened in the surrounding metropolitan area. Oak Park Mall had opened in 1974, while Town Center Plaza in Leawood and the Great Mall of the Plains in Olathe opened in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Their newer designs and broader retail propositions drew traffic away from Metcalf South. By the early 2000s, the center had lost much of its tenant base and was widely regarded as a dead mall. The closure of nearby Glenwood Mall in 2007, followed by its demolition in 2009, reflected the broader restructuring of older area retail properties. The Jones Store anchor was eventually taken over by Macy's. During the mall's later years, Sears and the Glenwood Arts movie theater remained in operation, but Macy's announced in January 2014 that it would close its Metcalf South store. In February 2014, Lane4 Property Group and The Kroenke Group acquired the property. Lane4's leadership stated that demolition was a likely outcome, signaling a transition from operating an enclosed mall to redeveloping the land for a different retail format. Metcalf South closed on September 19, 2014. The Glenwood Arts theater remained open for a short period afterward and closed on January 25, 2015. That same year, Sears Holdings spun off 235 properties, including the Sears location at Metcalf South, into Seritage Growth Properties. Redevelopment planning continued after the mall's closure. On July 11, 2016, the Overland Park Planning Commission approved a plan that allowed Lane4 to invest approximately $80 million in a Lowe's-led project. The Lowe's store opened in August 2018 in the area formerly associated with Macy's and Glenwood Arts. The redevelopment marked the practical end of Metcalf South as a shopping mall and the conversion of its site to a contemporary large-format retail use.

• 2018

  Lowe's opens

  [1]Metcalf South Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A Lowe's store opened on the former mall site in August.

• 2016

  Redevelopment approval

  [1]Metcalf South Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Overland Park Planning Commission approved a Lane4 redevelopment plan centered on a Lowe's store.

• 2014

  Mall closure

  [1]Metcalf South Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  After years of declining occupancy and the planned Macy's closure, the enclosed mall shut on September 19.

• 1990

  Interior modernization

  [1]Metcalf South Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A renovation carried out between 1989 and 1990 added updated interior finishes, a food court, and Carrousel Park entertainment facilities.

• 1975

  Third-level expansion

  [1]Metcalf South Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A new concourse, an enlarged Jones Store, and related parking improvements expanded the complex to approximately 800,000 leasable square feet across three retail levels.

• 1967

  Grand opening

  [1]Metcalf South Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Metcalf South opened on August 3 as a two-level regional shopping center with approximately 601,800 leasable square feet and about 60 stores. Sears opened as an anchor in October.

A large suburban regional shopping mall and mixed retail-entertainment destination serving the southern Kansas City metropolitan area.

• Retail property · 1967

  Enclosed regional shopping mall

  The core offering was a large, climate-controlled suburban shopping center with multiple levels of inline retail space, department-store anchors, restaurants, and parking. At its peak after the 1970s expansion, the complex provided approximately 800,000 leasable square feet across three retail levels.

• Department stores · 1967

  Department-store anchor space

  Metcalf South was anchored by Sears and the Jones Store Company. The Jones Store space was later occupied by Macy's, which became one of the property's final major department-store tenants before announcing its closure in 2014.

• Family entertainment · 1990

  Carrousel Park

  Created during the late-1980s renovation in a former Safeway space, Carrousel Park added an amusement component to the mall. Its reported attractions included a video arcade, carousel, and roller coaster.

• Cinema

  Glenwood Arts movie theater

  Glenwood Arts was a movie theater operating at the property during its later years. It outlasted the mall's September 2014 closure but closed on January 25, 2015.

• 2016

  Approval of Lowe's-led redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  Following the mall's closure, the owners sought to replace the obsolete enclosed retail format with a new commercial project.

  Action taken

  The Overland Park Planning Commission approved a plan allowing Lane4 to invest approximately $80 million in redevelopment that included a Lowe's store.

  Aftermath

  Lowe's opened in August 2018 in part of the former mall footprint, confirming the site's transition to a new retail configuration.

  Planned redevelopment investment. $80 million planned investment (2016 approval)

  Source

• 2014

  Sale to Lane4 Property Group and The Kroenke GroupM&A

  Background

  The mall had experienced more than a decade of declining occupancy and was widely characterized as a dead mall. Macy's had also announced that it would close its store.

  Action taken

  Lane4 Property Group and The Kroenke Group purchased the property in February and considered demolition and redevelopment rather than continued operation as an enclosed mall.

  Aftermath

  The center closed in September 2014, and the site was subsequently planned for large-format retail redevelopment.

  Source

1. 1Metcalf South Shopping Centeren.wikipedia.org