Rimrock Mall
A major enclosed shopping mall and regional retail destination in Billings, Montana.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Rimrock Mall is an enclosed shopping center in Billings, Montana, serving the city and a broader retail trade area that includes communities in Montana and neighboring Wyoming. It is located in Billings's West End, an area that developed substantially after the mall was built, and is described as the largest indoor mall in Billings and the largest shopping center of its type in Montana. The property combines department stores, specialty retailers, food and service businesses, entertainment uses, and outparcels in a climate-controlled environment suited to the region's cold winters. The mall was developed by The Hahn Company on land that had previously been used as a sugar beet farm. Construction reportedly cost approximately $15 million, and the design was prepared by architects associated with a Los Angeles-based firm. Rimrock Mall opened on September 11, 1975. Its opening generated unusually heavy traffic for the area: approximately 10,000 cars arrived that day, requiring assistance from local police and Yellowstone County sheriff's personnel to manage vehicle flows. The opening helped establish the previously less-developed West End as an important commercial corridor. During its first years, Rimrock Mall assembled a conventional regional-mall tenant mix anchored by department stores. Montgomery Ward, Hennessy's, and Herberger's were operating as anchors by 1976, while The Denver Dry Goods Company joined the property in 1978. The center also added entertainment attractions, including the indoor Rimrock 4 cinema, later expanded or renamed Rimrock 5, and the freestanding World West theater complex. These additions reinforced the mall's role as more than a collection of stores, making it a destination for shopping and leisure. The mall's growth affected the balance of retail activity in Billings. After The Denver closed in 1981, J. C. Penney chose to relocate from downtown Billings to Rimrock Mall, opening its new store in February 1982. The move contributed to a decline in downtown retail activity while strengthening Rimrock's position as a regional shopping destination. Throughout the 1980s, development around the mall accelerated, and the West End became a major commercial area for consumers from Montana and parts of Wyoming. Ownership and operating arrangements changed over time. Macerich acquired Rimrock Mall in November 1996 as part of a transaction that also included Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto, California. The former Rimrock 5 space was vacated in 1998 and was later reused by Scheels All Sports, while Wynnsong 10 opened on the property in 1999. Macerich placed the mall on the market in 2012, and Starwood Retail Properties subsequently announced an agreement to acquire Rimrock Mall together with Northridge Mall in Salinas, California. Macerich later reported in a fiscal-year 2017 filing that the two properties had been sold for a combined $230 million, although the individual consideration for Rimrock Mall was not identified in the cited material. Starwood Retail Partners led a substantial physical refresh in 2016, redesigning the exterior facade, main entrance, and interior common areas. The redevelopment program also addressed long-term vacancy and changing department-store requirements by dividing portions of former anchor spaces into smaller units. The former World West building was demolished in 2016 after having remained vacant for many years; a new Krispy Kreme building opened on that site in December 2017. H&M moved into part of the former Herberger's location in 2017, while Magic City Gymnastics occupied another portion in 2018 after Herberger's parent company entered liquidation and the store closed. The mall continues to adapt its tenant mix and physical footprint. Dunham Sports was announced as a future anchor tenant in 2025, using a combined space formed from the former Herberger's and Scheels locations; the store was scheduled to open in September 2025. More generally, Rimrock Mall's strategy has involved subdividing vacant large-format spaces, refreshing common areas, and adding smaller retail, service, food, and recreational concepts. Mall officials have presented the enclosed format as a continuing advantage in northern Montana, where shoppers may value protection from winter weather. Jones Lang LaSalle is identified in reference material as the mall's manager, while the current ownership entity is not specified.
History
Rimrock Mall was developed on a former sugar beet farm in what was then a relatively undeveloped part of Billings, Montana. The Hahn Company developed the enclosed shopping center at a reported cost of approximately $15 million, with design work carried out by architects associated with a Los Angeles-based firm. The mall opened on September 11, 1975. Its opening attracted roughly 10,000 cars, creating enough congestion that police and Yellowstone County sheriff's personnel were needed to direct traffic. The property quickly became a regional retail center. By 1976, Montgomery Ward, Hennessy's, and Herberger's were serving as anchor stores. The Denver Dry Goods Company joined the tenant roster in fall 1978. Rimrock also developed an entertainment component: Rimrock 4, later known as Rimrock 5, opened inside the mall in 1975, and the standalone World West theater opened on the surrounding property in 1979. The departure of The Denver in 1981 created an opportunity for a major tenant change. J. C. Penney ultimately decided to relocate its Billings store to Rimrock Mall rather than maintain its downtown site, opening in February 1982. The relocation was viewed as harmful to downtown Billings but beneficial to the mall and the surrounding West End. During the 1980s, commercial development around Rimrock expanded, turning the area into a major shopping destination for residents of Montana and parts of Wyoming. Macerich acquired the mall in November 1996, purchasing it with Vintage Faire Mall in a combined deal reported at $118.2 million. Rimrock 5 closed in 1998, and the former cinema space was later occupied by Scheels All Sports. Wynnsong 10 opened elsewhere on the mall property in 1999, adding a later-generation multiplex format to the site. Macerich put Rimrock Mall up for sale in 2012. Approximately six months after that announcement, Starwood Retail Properties disclosed an agreement to buy Rimrock Mall and Northridge Mall in Salinas, California. Starwood Retail Partners became the operator following the transaction. Macerich's fiscal-year 2017 Form 10-K later identified the combined sale price for the two malls as $230 million, without allocating the amount between the individual properties. In 2016, Starwood Retail Partners implemented a substantial modernization program covering the exterior facade, principal entrance, and interior areas. That same year, the former World West building was demolished. The building had been vacant for nearly two decades, partly because the nearby Wynnsong 10 theater limited redevelopment possibilities, and mall management had used the structure for storage. A newly built Krispy Kreme opened on the original World West site in December 2017. The mall also responded to the decline of traditional department-store anchors by subdividing large vacant spaces. H&M opened in part of the former Herberger's space in 2017, while Magic City Gymnastics opened in another portion in 2018. Herberger's itself closed in August 2018 during its parent company's liquidation. In 2025, Dunham Sports was announced for a combined former Herberger's and Scheels area, with the store reported as opening in September of that year. Rimrock Mall remains an active enclosed shopping center and a significant commercial property in Billings. Its operating model combines large-format anchors with smaller specialty tenants, restaurants, services, fitness uses, and entertainment. The property's enclosed design is also part of its local positioning: mall officials have argued that indoor centers retain practical value in northern states because they provide shoppers with protection from severe winter weather. The cited material identifies Jones Lang LaSalle as manager but does not specify the current owner.
- 2025
Dunham Sports announced as an anchor
[1]Dunham Sports was announced for a combined former Herberger's and Scheels space, with an opening reported for September.
- 2018
Herberger's space is repurposed
[1]Herberger's closed during liquidation, while portions of the former anchor space were used by H&M and Magic City Gymnastics.
- 2017
Krispy Kreme opens
[1]A new Krispy Kreme building opened on the former World West site in December.
- 2016
Modernization and World West redevelopment
[1]The mall refreshed its facade, entrance, and interior, while the former World West building was demolished.
- 2013
Starwood transaction announced
[1]Starwood Retail Properties announced an agreement to acquire Rimrock Mall and Northridge Mall from Macerich.
- 1999
Wynnsong 10 opens
[1]A new ten-screen cinema opened on the mall property.
- 1998
Rimrock 5 closes
[1]The mall's original indoor cinema operation closed; the space was later reused by Scheels All Sports.
- 1996
Macerich acquisition
[1]Macerich acquired Rimrock Mall together with Vintage Faire Mall.
- 1982
J. C. Penney relocates from downtown Billings
[1]J. C. Penney opened a new Rimrock Mall store in February.
- 1978
The Denver Dry Goods Company joins the mall
[1]The Denver Dry Goods Company opened at Rimrock Mall in fall 1978.
Products and positioning
A climate-controlled regional shopping destination serving Billings and the wider Montana-Wyoming trade area, with an emphasis on anchor retailers, specialty stores, services, and weather-protected shopping.
Retail property · 1975
Enclosed shopping mall
Rimrock Mall's core offering is a climate-controlled shopping environment containing department stores, specialty retailers, food and beverage outlets, services, fitness uses, and entertainment. Its enclosed format is positioned as especially practical for Billings and surrounding communities during Montana's cold winter season. The mall functions as both a local shopping center and a regional destination for consumers from a wider Montana-Wyoming trade area.
Large-format retail · 1975
Department-store and anchor spaces
The property has historically relied on department stores and other large-format retailers as traffic-generating anchors. Its anchor roster has included Montgomery Ward, Hennessy's, Herberger's, The Denver Dry Goods Company, J. C. Penney, and Scheels All Sports. As department-store demand changed, the mall began subdividing former anchor areas into smaller spaces and later combined portions of former anchor locations for new large-format tenants.
Shopping and services · 2017
Specialty retail and services
Rimrock Mall accommodates smaller-format fashion, sporting-goods, food, beverage, fitness, and service tenants. H&M and Magic City Gymnastics are examples of businesses that occupied subdivided former department-store space. This flexible leasing approach allows the center to maintain activity after the closure of traditional anchors and to combine retail with recreational and service uses.
Entertainment · 1975
Cinema and entertainment uses
Entertainment has been part of Rimrock Mall's development since its opening. Rimrock 4, later Rimrock 5, operated inside the mall beginning in 1975, while the standalone World West theater opened on the property in 1979. Rimrock 5 closed in 1998 and Wynnsong 10 opened in 1999. The former World West building was eventually demolished as the site was redeveloped.
Brand decisions
2025
Dunham Sports anchor announcementProduct launchBackground
Former anchor areas had been divided and repurposed as the mall adjusted to department-store closures and changing retail demand.
Action taken
Dunham Sports announced a store using a combined former Herberger's and Scheels space.
Aftermath
The store was reported to have opened in September 2025, adding a large-format sporting-goods tenant to the mall.
2016
Physical modernization and space redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The mall faced long-term vacancy in portions of its property, including the former World West site, while traditional department-store formats were changing.
Action taken
Starwood Retail Partners redesigned the facade, main entrance, and interior, demolished the former World West building, and pursued subdivision of vacant anchor areas.
Aftermath
The redevelopment enabled a new Krispy Kreme building and helped accommodate smaller tenants such as H&M and Magic City Gymnastics.
2013
Sale to Starwood Retail PropertiesM&ABackground
Macerich placed Rimrock Mall on the market in 2012 after owning the property since 1996.
Action taken
Starwood Retail Properties announced an agreement to acquire Rimrock Mall and Northridge Mall from Macerich.
Aftermath
Starwood Retail Partners became the mall's operator. Macerich later reported that the two properties sold for a combined $230 million in its fiscal-year 2017 filing; the source did not allocate that amount by property.
Combined sale price for Rimrock Mall and Northridge Mall. 230.0 million US dollars (Fiscal year 2017 disclosure)
1982
J. C. Penney relocation to the mallStrategyBackground
After The Denver closed, local efforts sought to bring J. C. Penney into the former space. J. C. Penney instead chose to relocate its Billings operation from downtown to Rimrock Mall.
Action taken
J. C. Penney opened a new Rimrock Mall location in February 1982 and abandoned its downtown Billings store.
Aftermath
The move strengthened Rimrock Mall's regional position and was reported to have had a negative effect on downtown Billings retail.
Recent events
- 2025
Dunham Sports announced for Rimrock Mall[1]
Product launch
Dunham Sports was announced as a new anchor tenant using a combined former Herberger's and Scheels space, with an opening reported for September 2025.
- 2018
Herberger's closes during parent-company liquidation[1]
Bankruptcy
Herberger's closed in August as part of its parent company's liquidation. The former anchor area had already begun to be divided among multiple users, including H&M and Magic City Gymnastics.
- 2017
Krispy Kreme opens on former World West site[1]
Product launch
After the former World West building was demolished, a new Krispy Kreme location opened on the site in December.
- 2016
Rimrock Mall undergoes a major redesign[1]
Other
The mall's exterior facade, main entrance, and interior common areas were redesigned to give the property a more contemporary appearance.
- 2013
Starwood Retail Properties agrees to acquire Rimrock Mall[1]
M&A
Starwood Retail Properties announced a deal to purchase Rimrock Mall and Northridge Mall from Macerich after Macerich had placed Rimrock on the market.
- 1996
Macerich acquires Rimrock Mall[1]
M&A
Macerich purchased Rimrock Mall together with Vintage Faire Mall in a combined transaction reported at $118.2 million.
- 1982
J. C. Penney relocates to Rimrock Mall[1]
Other
J. C. Penney opened a Rimrock Mall location in February after choosing to move its Billings operation from downtown, reinforcing the mall's regional retail role.
- 1975
Rimrock Mall opens in Billings[1]
Other
The new enclosed mall opened on September 11, drawing approximately 10,000 cars and requiring coordinated traffic control by local law-enforcement personnel.
Sources2 sources
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