Northwest Arkansas Mall
A regional shopping mall in Fayetteville, Arkansas, serving Northwest Arkansas with more than 100 specialty stores and major department-store anchors.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Northwest Arkansas Mall is a regional shopping center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The property serves the Northwest Arkansas retail market and includes more than 100 specialty stores alongside department-store anchors Dillard's and JCPenney. The mall is owned by Namdar Realty Group and managed by Manson Asset Management. The property began as Northwest Arkansas Plaza, a single-level enclosed mall developed by General Growth Properties. Its early tenant mix included Sears, Dillard's, F. W. Woolworth Company, Osco Drug, The Jean Joint, Beall's, The Boston Store, and Malco Theatres. JCPenney joined the development after construction began on an additional anchor store in late 1977; the store opened in 1978. Between spring 1995 and spring 1999, the center underwent a major renovation and expansion. The project added more than 300,000 square feet, relocated or enlarged existing stores, and created two additional anchor structures. The original JCPenney building was partly demolished and replaced by a larger store. Part of the former JCPenney space became the Pincic Food Court, which was planned around 12 fast-food outlets. A second Dillard's store was added at the opposite end of the mall for men's and children's merchandise, while the original Dillard's was repositioned as a women's store. Sears was also enlarged during the redevelopment. After the reconstruction program, the property was renamed Northwest Arkansas Mall and reached approximately 820,581 square feet of leasable area. The redevelopment changed the center from a smaller early-generation mall into a substantially larger regional shopping destination with multiple department-store anchors, food-service space, and specialty retail. Sears remained one of the mall's principal anchors for many years, but its parent company announced in November 2017 that the Northwest Arkansas location would close as part of a nationwide round of store closures. The store shut in January 2018. Dillard's and JCPenney continue to be identified as the mall's principal anchors in the available reference material. The mall's current identity is that of a conventional enclosed regional shopping center serving Fayetteville and surrounding Northwest Arkansas communities rather than a national consumer-products brand.
History
Northwest Arkansas Mall originated as Northwest Arkansas Plaza, an enclosed, single-level shopping center developed by General Growth Properties in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The original mall provided about 570,000 square feet of leasable space. Its initial anchor and tenant lineup included Sears, Dillard's, and F. W. Woolworth Company, together with Osco Drug, The Jean Joint, Beall's, The Boston Store, and Malco Theatres. A JCPenney store was added to the project after construction began in late 1977, and it opened in 1978. The center was substantially transformed during a multiyear redevelopment carried out from spring 1995 through spring 1999. More than 300,000 square feet were added, existing tenants were moved or expanded, and two new anchor stores were constructed. JCPenney received a larger replacement store; the earlier JCPenney structure was partly removed, and a portion of its former space was converted into the Pincic Food Court with 12 fast-food restaurants. The redevelopment also added a second Dillard's at the opposite end of the mall. That store was intended for men's and children's merchandise, while the original Dillard's was designated as a women's store. Sears was enlarged as part of the same construction program. Once the reconstruction was complete, the property adopted the name Northwest Arkansas Mall and had approximately 820,581 square feet of leasable space. The expansion reinforced its role as a regional retail hub by combining multiple department-store anchors with specialty stores and food-service facilities. The mall's tenant base and anchor configuration have changed over time, reflecting the broader restructuring of traditional department-store retail. A major later change occurred in 2017, when Sears announced that the mall location would close within a nationwide program involving 63 stores. The Sears store ceased operations in January 2018, leaving Dillard's and JCPenney as the principal anchors identified in the available account. The property is currently owned by Namdar Realty Group and managed by Manson Asset Management. Available reference material describes the mall as having more than 100 specialty stores and continuing to serve Fayetteville and the surrounding Northwest Arkansas region.
- 2018
Sears closed
[1]The Sears anchor ceased operations in January.
- 2017
Sears closure announced
[1]Sears identified the mall store for closure as part of a nationwide closure plan involving 63 locations.
- 1999
Redevelopment completed
[1]The renovation and expansion concluded, and the enlarged property was known as Northwest Arkansas Mall with about 820,581 square feet of leasable space.
- 1995
Major renovation and expansion began
[1]A redevelopment program began, ultimately adding more than 300,000 square feet and reconfiguring the mall's stores and anchors.
- 1978
JCPenney opened
[1]The JCPenney store opened as an anchor of the shopping center.
- 1977
Construction began on the JCPenney anchor
[1]Construction started on an additional JCPenney anchor at the original Northwest Arkansas Plaza development.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping center providing department-store anchors, specialty retail, and food-service options to Fayetteville and the wider Northwest Arkansas market.
Department store
Dillard's
Dillard's operates the mall's principal department-store presence. Following the late-1990s redevelopment, the property had two Dillard's locations: a newer store focused on men's and children's merchandise and the original store repositioned around women's merchandise.
Department store · 1978
JCPenney
JCPenney has been part of the center since its store opened in 1978. During the 1995–1999 redevelopment, the original location was replaced by a larger store, while part of the former structure was converted into food-court space.
Shopping mall specialty retail
Specialty retail stores
The mall contains more than 100 specialty stores across categories associated with regional enclosed shopping centers, including apparel, accessories, beauty, household goods, and other consumer merchandise. The available reference does not provide a complete current tenant directory.
Food court
Pincic Food Court
The Pincic Food Court was created from part of the former JCPenney space during the major expansion. The redevelopment plan described a food court containing 12 fast-food restaurants.
Brand decisions
2017
Sears anchor closureOtherBackground
Sears announced a nationwide program to close 63 stores, including its location at Northwest Arkansas Mall.
Action taken
The Sears store was scheduled for closure and ultimately shut in January 2018.
Aftermath
The closure removed one of the mall's original major anchors. Dillard's and JCPenney remained the principal anchors identified in the available source.
1995
Launch of a major mall expansion and reconfigurationStrategyBackground
The original center had approximately 570,000 square feet of leasable space and an earlier-generation anchor layout. The owners and developers pursued a multiyear project to enlarge the property and strengthen its regional shopping-center offer.
Action taken
The project added more than 300,000 square feet, replaced the original JCPenney with a larger store, added a second Dillard's, enlarged Sears, relocated or expanded existing tenants, and converted part of the former JCPenney building into the Pincic Food Court.
Aftermath
When construction concluded in 1999, the center had approximately 820,581 square feet of leasable space and was operating under the Northwest Arkansas Mall name.
Recent events
- 2018
Sears store at Northwest Arkansas Mall closed[1]
Other
The Sears anchor closed in January 2018 following the closure announcement made the previous year.
- 2017
Sears location at Northwest Arkansas Mall announced for closure[1]
Other
Sears announced that its Northwest Arkansas Mall store would close as part of a nationwide plan to shut 63 stores.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/northwest-arkansas-mall · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled