Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard
A shopping center in Jennings, Missouri, originally opened in 1955 as Northland Shopping Center.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard is a shopping center in Jennings, Missouri, United States, historically known as Northland Shopping Center. The property opened in 1955 during the expansion of automobile-oriented retail development in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Its original centerpiece was a large Famous-Barr department store developed by May Centers, a subsidiary of The May Department Stores Company. At the time of construction, the planned four-story, 325,000-square-foot Famous-Barr was described as the largest department store in the St. Louis area. The original Northland complex was designed as a broad regional shopping destination rather than a small neighborhood retail strip. Its early tenant roster included a jewelry store, beauty salon, dry cleaner, shoe stores operated by Edison Brothers Stores, and an S. S. Kresge dime store. By the late 1970s, the center had more than 50 shops and services, including Lerner New York, Walgreens, Schnucks, Waldenbooks, RadioShack, Hickory Farms, Kinney Shoes, a bowling alley, and a movie theater. Contemporary descriptions characterized it as one of the metropolitan area's first major shopping centers built around automobile access. Its commercial activity also helped support infrastructure expansion and residential growth in the surrounding area. The property's fortunes changed as newer suburban retail developments emerged. Famous-Barr's presence weakened after the company began opening a newer store at nearby Jamestown Mall. In 1992, the then-ailing Northland Shopping Center was sold by CenterMark Properties to San Antonio-based Spigel Properties. Famous-Barr's original store eventually closed in June 1994. The loss of the principal anchor was followed by increasing vacancy and deterioration across the center. Sansone Group acquired the property in late 2000 with plans for redevelopment. The original buildings were ultimately demolished in 2005, with the last remaining business closing in June of that year. The site reopened in 2006 under the name Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard as a substantially rebuilt strip-style shopping center. Target became the first major tenant in the redeveloped complex, followed by a relocated Schnucks grocery store and, later, Aldi. Target closed its store in 2016, leaving a vacancy that was subsequently associated with the former Target space. Sansone Group sold the center to Chicago-based Newport Capital Partners in 2015. The modern property serves a more localized grocery and general-retail role than the regional department-store destination represented by the original Northland center.
History
The property now known as Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard began as Northland Shopping Center in Jennings, Missouri. In 1954, May Centers announced plans for the development. May Centers was associated with The May Department Stores Company, whose St. Louis-based Famous-Barr department store was selected as the principal anchor. The proposed Famous-Barr building was planned as a four-story structure covering 325,000 square feet, making it the largest department store in the St. Louis area at the time. Construction proceeded during a period when automobile access was reshaping metropolitan retail. Before the center opened, several smaller tenants had been announced, including a jewelry store, beauty salon, and dry cleaner. Famous-Barr began operating on August 19, 1955. Edison Brothers Stores added two shoe stores, Burt's and Baker's, and an S. S. Kresge Corporation dime store opened by the end of the month. These tenants established Northland as a substantial multi-store retail destination rather than a stand-alone department store. Northland expanded its role over the following decades. A 1977 account described it as the first automobile-age shopping center in the metropolitan area and noted that the center's revenues had helped enable sewer-line construction serving newer residential development nearby. A directory from the same year listed more than 50 shops and services. The tenant mix included national and regional retailers such as Lerner New York, Walgreens, Schnucks, Waldenbooks, RadioShack, Hickory Farms, and Kinney Shoes, as well as entertainment and service facilities including a bowling alley and movie theater. The center later faced competition from newer retail developments and changes in the department-store business. In 1987, Kmart eliminated the stores associated with the S. S. Kresge division, affecting one of Northland's historical retail components. In July 1992, CenterMark Properties sold the struggling shopping center to Spigel Properties. CenterMark had previously been associated with May Centers and was later sold to a consortium involving General Growth Properties, Westfield Holdings, and Whitehall Street Real Estate. Around the same period, Famous-Barr was developing a newer store at nearby Jamestown Mall. By early 1994, the older Northland department store was reportedly in poor condition, with sections closed off and nonfunctional bathrooms. Famous-Barr shut the location in June 1994. The loss of Famous-Barr accelerated the decline of the original center. Vacancy increased, and the property became a redevelopment candidate. Sansone Group purchased it in late 2000. Demolition did not occur immediately, but the original structures were ultimately cleared in 2005; the last business at the old center closed in June of that year. The site reopened in 2006 as Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard. The redevelopment changed the property's physical and commercial format from a large traditional shopping center with a department-store anchor to a strip-style complex focused on grocery and general retail. Target was the first major tenant to open after redevelopment. A relocated Schnucks grocery store was announced soon afterward, and Aldi also became part of the later tenant mix. Sansone Group sold the redeveloped property to Newport Capital Partners in 2015. Target closed in 2016. The center's current identity is therefore the result of a complete transition from a prominent mid-century department-store shopping destination to a more local, grocery-anchored retail property.
- 2016
Target closes
[1]Target ended its operation at the redeveloped center, creating a significant vacant space.
- 2015
Newport Capital Partners becomes owner
[1]Sansone Group sold the shopping center to Newport Capital Partners.
- 2006
Redeveloped property reopens
[1]The rebuilt complex reopened as Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard, with Target as its first major tenant.
- 2005
Original structures are demolished
[1]The original Northland buildings were demolished after the last business at the old center closed in June.
- 2000
Sansone Group purchases the property
[1]Sansone Group acquired the increasingly vacant center with plans for a full redevelopment.
- 1994
Famous-Barr closes
[1]The original Famous-Barr anchor closed in June, after the retailer shifted attention toward its newer Jamestown Mall location.
- 1992
Northland is sold to Spigel Properties
[1]CenterMark Properties sold the ailing center to San Antonio-based Spigel Properties.
- 1977
Northland operates as a major automobile-oriented center
[1]Contemporary reporting described Northland as an early automobile-age shopping center, while a directory recorded more than 50 shops and services.
- 1955
Northland Shopping Center opens
[1]Famous-Barr opened on August 19, 1955, and the center added additional shoe, discount, service, and specialty retailers during its opening period.
- 1954
May Centers announces Northland plans
[1]May Centers announced plans for Northland Shopping Center, including a planned four-story Famous-Barr department store as the central anchor.
Products and positioning
A locally oriented shopping center and grocery-anchored retail property serving Jennings and nearby communities in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Historically, it operated as a larger automobile-oriented shopping destination anchored by a regional department store.
Department store anchor · 1955
Famous-Barr department store
Famous-Barr was the original central anchor of Northland Shopping Center. Its planned four-story, 325,000-square-foot store gave the property regional scale when it opened in 1955. The store remained a defining part of Northland's identity until its closure in June 1994.
General merchandise · 2006
Target
Target was the first major tenant to open after the complete redevelopment of the former Northland site. It provided general merchandise retail in the rebuilt Buzz Westfall Plaza complex before closing its location in 2016.
Grocery
Schnucks
Schnucks became a major grocery component of the redeveloped property. A relocated Schnucks store was announced after Target's opening, helping shift the center toward a grocery-anchored, community-serving retail model.
Grocery
Aldi
Aldi is part of the later grocery-oriented tenant mix associated with Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard. Its presence reinforces the property's post-2006 role as a neighborhood and community shopping center.
Brand decisions
2006
Launch of the rebuilt Buzz Westfall PlazaProduct launchBackground
The original Northland buildings had been demolished as part of a property-wide redevelopment.
Action taken
The property reopened under the Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard name as a newly constructed strip-style shopping center.
Aftermath
The center moved away from its former department-store format and toward grocery, discount, and community-serving retail.
2000
Redevelopment of the declining shopping centerStrategyBackground
The closure of Famous-Barr and rising vacancy left the original Northland complex increasingly underused and in poor condition.
Action taken
After acquiring the property, Sansone Group pursued a full redevelopment, ultimately demolishing the original structures and replacing them with a new strip-style retail complex.
Aftermath
The site reopened in 2006 as Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard with Target, Schnucks, and later Aldi representing the new grocery and general-retail orientation.
Recent events
- 2016
Target closes its Buzz Westfall Plaza location[1]
Other
Target closed its store at the redeveloped shopping center, leaving a major vacancy at the property.
- 2015
Newport Capital Partners acquires the shopping center[1]
M&A
Sansone Group sold Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard to Chicago-based Newport Capital Partners.
- 2006
Redeveloped center reopens as Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard[1]
Product launch
Following demolition of the original Northland buildings, the rebuilt shopping center reopened under the Buzz Westfall Plaza on the Boulevard name. Target was the first major tenant to open in the new complex.
- 2000
Sansone Group acquires Northland for redevelopment[1]
M&A
Sansone Group purchased the increasingly vacant shopping center in late 2000 and pursued a plan to replace the original complex with a newly constructed retail property.
- 1994
Famous-Barr closes its Northland store[1]
Other
After the retailer developed a newer location at Jamestown Mall, the original Famous-Barr store at Northland closed in June 1994. The closure contributed to rising vacancy at the center.
- 1955
Northland Shopping Center opens with Famous-Barr as its principal anchor[1]
Product launch
The new Northland Shopping Center opened in Jennings with a large Famous-Barr department store as its central anchor. Other early tenants included shoe stores, a dime store, and local service businesses.
Sources1 sources
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