Port Plaza Mall

Port Plaza Mall was an urban shopping mall and later mixed-use commercial facility in downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin. It opened on August 10, 1977, after years of planning by city leaders and construction that began in 1975. The original development was owned and managed by Chicago-based Mansur & Associates and was intended to reinforce downtown Green Bay as a regional shopping destination. At opening, the mall provided space for 99 inline tenants and included two major anchors: a 160,000-square-foot JCPenney at the east end and a 300,000-square-foot H. C. Prange store at the west end. The Prange location had operated on the site since 1927 and was incorporated into the new mall complex. A distinctive four-faced clock tower, whose bell and clock mechanisms originated at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Winona, Mississippi, became one of the property's recognizable features. The mall expanded in 1982 with approximately 160,000 square feet of additional space at its southern end. The expansion added a food court and a 110,000-square-foot Boston Store, giving Port Plaza three principal anchors. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company acquired the property in 1986. A major renovation followed in 1988, introducing neon lighting, new floor tiles, and fountains in the center court. The property entered a prolonged period of decline during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 1992, H. C. Prange was acquired by Younkers and the anchor was rebranded. Whitehall Funds purchased Port Plaza and nine other malls from Metropolitan Life in 1997 and appointed Zamias Services of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to manage the property. By then, downtown retail faced growing competition from suburban shopping areas, particularly Bay Park Square in Ashwaubenon, while consumer traffic at Port Plaza weakened. Boston Store closed in 2000 following corporate consolidation. Development Associates acquired the mall in 2001 and attempted to reposition it as a combined retail and office complex under the name Washington Commons, referencing Washington Street's route through the property. The food court was moved from its original location, and a second-level skywalk linked the Younkers store to the mall. The repositioning did not stop the departure of tenants. McDonald's and Osco Drug left in 2002, Payless ShoeSource departed in 2003, and LensCrafters, Champs Sports, and Bath & Body Works left in 2004. The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay established a satellite campus and offices in part of the former Boston Store court in 2004, but the mall's remaining anchors also disappeared: Younkers moved out in 2004 and JCPenney left in 2005 for newer suburban facilities. A proposed relocation of APAC Customer Services into the former JCPenney space failed to close. APAC instead pursued space in the former Boston Store building, where BayLake Bank was also developing a branch and offices. Litigation between Development Associates and parties involved in the proposed transaction ended in an out-of-court settlement, but the dispute contributed to the owner's financial difficulties. Port Plaza Mall, by then operating as Washington Commons, closed to the public on February 27, 2006, after ownership faced foreclosure pressure from BayLake Bank and an electricity disconnection. The city obtained the property through its settlement with Development Associates and marketed it for sale at an asking price of $8 million. The vacant site remained subject to security and janitorial services while redevelopment proposals were considered. Parts of the former anchor buildings were reused: the former Boston Store location became BayLake City Center, later associated with BayLake Bank and APAC Customer Services, while the former Younkers building and connecting skyway were demolished beginning in 2007 for mixed-use development that included a new Children's Museum of Green Bay facility. The main mall structure was ultimately cleared as part of a downtown redevelopment effort. Schreiber Foods announced in June 2011 that it would build a corporate headquarters and technology center on the principal mall footprint, the former JCPenney location, and an adjacent Days Inn. Demolition and materials recycling began in 2011, with the remainder of the mall removed during the first half of 2012. Schreiber Foods' limestone-and-glass headquarters opened in June 2014, consolidating operations previously spread among six leased downtown offices. The redevelopment also introduced green space and a new east–west street connecting Washington and Adams Streets. The mall's clock tower was removed in 2010 and its historic mechanisms and bell were later reconstructed on Front Street in Winona, Mississippi, in December 2022.

Port Plaza Mall developed from a long-running effort by Green Bay civic leaders to strengthen downtown retail. Construction began in 1975, and the mall opened on August 10, 1977, under the ownership and management of Mansur & Associates of Chicago. Its initial plan combined a large number of smaller stores with two department-store anchors. JCPenney occupied a purpose-built eastern anchor, while H. C. Prange retained a substantial western presence connected to its earlier downtown operation, which had existed at the location since 1927. The complex contained 99 inline retail spaces and a prominent four-sided clock tower. The tower's clock and bell mechanisms had been transferred from the Montgomery County Courthouse in Winona, Mississippi. Port Plaza grew in 1982 through a southern addition of about 160,000 square feet. The project added a food court and a Boston Store anchor measuring approximately 110,000 square feet. With JCPenney, H. C. Prange, and Boston Store, the mall had three major department-store draws. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company purchased the property in 1986, and a 1988 renovation refreshed the interior with neon fixtures, replacement floor tiling, and fountains in the center court. The competitive environment changed during the 1990s. Retail growth in suburban Ashwaubenon, including Bay Park Square, drew shoppers away from downtown. H. C. Prange became Younkers after its acquisition in 1992. In 1997, Whitehall Funds acquired Port Plaza and nine other malls from Metropolitan Life and appointed Zamias Services to manage the property. Zamias's management role ended in February 2001. Boston Store closed in 2000 after a corporate merger involving the company that also owned Younkers, eliminating one of the mall's three anchors. Development Associates acquired the property in 2001 and attempted to change its role from a conventional retail mall to a mixed-use retail and office complex. The Washington Commons name was introduced in connection with Washington Street, which ran through the former food-court area. The food court was relocated to the former center-court fountain area, and a second-floor skywalk provided a connection to Younkers. The redevelopment concept attracted some institutional activity, including a University of Wisconsin–Green Bay satellite campus and offices in part of the former Boston Store court in 2004. It did not, however, reverse the steady loss of commercial tenants. McDonald's and Osco Drug departed in 2002; Payless ShoeSource left in 2003; and LensCrafters, Champs Sports, and Bath & Body Works left in 2004. Younkers moved to a newer Ashwaubenon facility in 2004, followed by JCPenney in 2005. After JCPenney's departure, APAC Customer Services considered moving into the former department-store space, but the proposed transaction did not reach completion. APAC instead negotiated with the City of Green Bay and BayLake Bank over space in the former Boston Store location. BayLake Bank, which was also the mall's lender, planned a branch and offices there. Development Associates challenged the arrangement in court, alleging a conflict involving the city and lender. The dispute ended in an out-of-court settlement, but the costs left the mall owner in debt and weakened the prospects for continued operation. In February 2006, BayLake Bank threatened foreclosure and the property experienced an electricity disconnection. Ownership asked the mall's last six tenants to vacate, and the complex closed on February 27. Under the settlement, the city took ownership of the property and placed it on the market with an $8 million asking price. The site remained closed and largely vacant while redevelopment proposals were evaluated. A 2008 concept from T. Wall Properties proposed an office building of eight to ten stories, street-level shops and restaurants, and restoration of the pre-mall street grid. A federal stimulus funding request for redevelopment was rejected. In 2010, the city pursued urban redevelopment funding for demolition and for reconnecting Adams Street through the former center court, but the proposed federal earmark did not survive the legislative process. Parts of the former mall were reused or cleared before the main complex. BayLake Bank and APAC moved into the refurbished former Boston Store building in 2006, which became known as BayLake City Center. The former Younkers building and its skyway began demolition in 2007 to make room for mixed-use projects, including a Children's Museum of Green Bay facility that opened in 2012. The mall's clock tower was removed in June 2010 after its former owners repurchased it; the mechanisms and bell were ultimately incorporated into a reconstructed tower on Front Street in Winona, Mississippi, in December 2022. A major redevelopment direction emerged on June 7, 2011, when Green Bay-based Schreiber Foods announced plans for a $50 million corporate headquarters and technology center on the main mall site, including the former JCPenney location and an adjacent Days Inn. Tax-increment-financing support was transferred to the project in July 2011. Recycling and demolition began that summer, the Days Inn was demolished in the following autumn, and the remaining mall structures were removed during the first half of 2012. Schreiber's new limestone-and-glass headquarters opened in June 2014. The completed project consolidated the company's Green Bay operations, previously distributed among six leased downtown offices, and added green space and a new east–west street connecting Washington and Adams Streets. The former shopping mall therefore ended not with a new retail operator but with its replacement by an office and technology campus integrated into a broader downtown street and land-use redevelopment.

• 2022

  Historic clock tower reconstructed in Winona

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A clock tower incorporating the mall's original mechanisms and bell was reconstructed on Front Street in Winona, Mississippi.

• 2014

  Schreiber headquarters opens

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The replacement limestone-and-glass headquarters opened on the former mall site in June.

• 2012

  Main mall structures removed

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Demolition of the remaining mall structures was completed during the first half of the year.

• 2011

  Schreiber Foods redevelopment announced

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Schreiber Foods announced a new headquarters and technology center for the main mall footprint.

• 2006

  Mall closes

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Port Plaza Mall/Washington Commons closed on February 27 after the remaining tenants were ordered to leave.

• 2004

  University satellite campus opens

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay opened a satellite campus and offices in part of the former Boston Store court.

• 2001

  Washington Commons repositioning begins

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Development Associates acquired the property and proposed a retail-and-office mixed-use conversion under the Washington Commons name.

• 1997

  Whitehall Funds acquires the mall

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Whitehall Funds purchased Port Plaza and nine other malls from Metropolitan Life and appointed Zamias Services as manager.

• 1992

  H. C. Prange becomes Younkers

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The H. C. Prange anchor was rebranded after the company was acquired by Younkers.

• 1988

  Interior renovation

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Renovation work added neon fixtures, new flooring, and fountains in the center court.

• 1986

  Metropolitan Life acquires the property

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Metropolitan Life Insurance Company became the mall's owner.

• 1982

  Southern expansion completed

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The property added approximately 160,000 square feet, a food court, and Boston Store as a third anchor.

• 1977

  Port Plaza Mall opens

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall opened on August 10 with 99 inline tenants, JCPenney, and H. C. Prange.

• 1975

  Construction begins

  [1]Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Ground was broken for the planned downtown Green Bay shopping mall after years of civic and urban-planning work.

A downtown, enclosed regional shopping mall designed to concentrate department stores, specialty retailers, dining, and civic activity in central Green Bay. In its later years, the property was repositioned as Washington Commons, a proposed retail-and-office mixed-use facility.

• Department store anchor · 1977

  JCPenney

  JCPenney was one of Port Plaza's two opening anchors and occupied a purpose-built approximately 160,000-square-foot store at the eastern end of the mall. It provided apparel, home goods, accessories, and other department-store merchandise. The store remained a principal draw until relocating to a newer Ashwaubenon facility in 2005.

• Department store anchor · 1927

  H. C. Prange / Younkers

  The western anchor originated as an H. C. Prange store that had occupied the site since 1927 and was incorporated into the 1977 mall. Following Prange's acquisition by Younkers in 1992, the location operated under the Younkers name. It was one of the mall's last major anchors and left for a suburban facility in 2004.

• Department store anchor · 1982

  Boston Store

  Boston Store was added during the 1982 southern expansion as Port Plaza's third major anchor. The approximately 110,000-square-foot store helped broaden the mall's department-store offering, but it closed in 2000 following corporate consolidation. The former anchor building later supported BayLake Bank, APAC Customer Services, and other mixed-use occupants.

• Dining facility · 1982

  Food court

  The mall's food court was added as part of the 1982 expansion. During the Washington Commons repositioning, it was moved from the former food-court area to the center-court fountain area, reflecting the property's attempt to reorganize circulation and tenant space for a mixed-use future.

• 2011

  Replace the mall with a corporate headquarters campusStrategy

  Background

  Multiple downtown retail and office redevelopment proposals had failed to produce a definitive project for the vacant property.

  Action taken

  Schreiber Foods announced plans for a corporate headquarters and technology center on the principal mall footprint and adjacent Days Inn site.

  Aftermath

  Tax-increment-financing support was transferred to the project, the mall was demolished, and Schreiber's new headquarters opened in 2014 with new green space and street connections.

  Announced project cost. $50 million (2011 announcement)

  Source

• 2006

  Close the remaining mall operationOther

  Background

  The owner faced foreclosure threats from BayLake Bank, an electricity disconnection, substantial vacancies, and the failure of proposed office relocations.

  Action taken

  Ownership asked the last six tenants to vacate by February 27, and the mall closed to the general public.

  Aftermath

  The city took ownership through a settlement with Development Associates and marketed the property for redevelopment.

  Source

• 2001

  Convert the mall into Washington CommonsStrategy

  Background

  Declining downtown retail traffic and competition from suburban shopping centers prompted the new owner, Development Associates, to pursue a mixed-use retail and office concept.

  Action taken

  The property was renamed Washington Commons, the food court was relocated, and a skywalk was used to connect the Younkers anchor with the mall.

  Aftermath

  The repositioning attracted a University of Wisconsin–Green Bay satellite campus, but continued tenant departures and anchor closures prevented the property from regaining its former retail role.

  Source

1. 1Port Plaza Mallen.wikipedia.org