Salem Center
Salem Center is an enclosed, multi-building shopping center in downtown Salem, Oregon.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Salem Center is a downtown enclosed shopping center in Salem, Oregon, positioned on both sides of Center Street between High Street and Liberty Street. The complex contains approximately 650,000 square feet of gross leasable space across two floors and has historically accommodated about 80 stores, a food court, department-store anchors, specialty retailers, and pedestrian connections to surrounding downtown facilities. Its defining architectural feature is a network of five skybridges. These links connect the two principal mall buildings across Center Street, connect the center with an adjacent city-owned parking garage, and provide access to anchor-store buildings, including the former Macy's and former JCPenney locations. The center developed from a group of downtown department stores that predated the mall. Meier & Frank opened a two-level department store and parking garage at the site in 1955, making it the first branch of that chain. Lipman's followed with a three-level store in 1956, while JCPenney opened a nearby two-level store in 1965. Although these stores were initially freestanding, they were incorporated into the later shopping-center development and connected to the mall by skybridges. Construction of the new center began in 1978, and Salem Center opened in 1979, during the period in which Lipman's was acquired by Seattle-based Frederick & Nelson. Salem Center underwent major remodels in 1988 and 1995. Until approximately 2004, the property was generally styled as “Salem Centre.” Its anchor portfolio changed as department-store operators consolidated or closed locations. The former Mervyns space became a Kohl's store, while the former Meier & Frank building became a Macy's location following the 2006 name transition. Nordstrom announced the closure of its store in 2018, and JCPenney announced in 2020 that it would close its Salem Center location as part of a nationwide reduction. Macy's later announced its own closure, which was completed in March 2025. Kohl's and Ross Dress for Less remain the principal operating anchors identified in the available reference material, while another anchor space is vacant or being repositioned. The property has also experimented with services and community programming. In January 2008, it introduced a mall-wide product-search service intended to let customers search merchandise offered by participating stores. In 2009, the center began an annual tradition of constructing and lighting a Lego menorah for Hanukkah. These activities complemented its role as both a retail destination and a downtown gathering place. Ownership changed in March 2024, when OGSC2, LLC acquired Salem Center after approximately five years under Rialto Capital Management ownership. In August 2024, an affiliated entity, OGSC Macy's LLC, acquired the adjacent Macy's property. The stated redevelopment concept is to incorporate that property into a broader regional entertainment district associated with Salem Center. Plans announced in 2026 call for the former JCPenney space to be partly converted into a furniture store using approximately 11,070 square feet on the first floor, with additional portions of the former anchor space potentially divided among multiple tenants. The furniture-store identity and final redevelopment program had not been established in the supplied reference material.
History
Salem Center evolved from downtown Salem's department-store district. Meier & Frank established a two-level department store and parking garage at the site in 1955, its first branch location. Lipman's opened a three-level store at the corner of Chemeketa and Liberty streets in 1956, also its first location in the chain. JCPenney added a nearby two-level store in 1965. These buildings were initially separate from one another, but their locations and later skybridge connections made them important components of the subsequent mall project. Construction on the enclosed shopping center began in 1978. Salem Center opened in 1979, around the time Lipman's was acquired by Frederick & Nelson of Seattle. The new development integrated the earlier department-store buildings as anchor facilities and created connections across Center Street. The resulting complex occupied both sides of Center Street between High and Liberty streets and included two retail floors, approximately 650,000 square feet of gross leasable area, a food court, and five skybridges. One skybridge linked the mall with the adjacent city-owned parking garage, while others connected anchor buildings and the two main mall structures. The property was remodeled in 1988 and again in 1995. Its name was commonly presented as “Salem Centre” until about 2004. The tenant and anchor mix subsequently reflected broader changes in American department-store retailing. The former Mervyns location became Kohl's in 2007, and the former Meier & Frank store was converted to Macy's after the 2006 rebranding. Frederick & Nelson closed its Salem Center store in 1986, together with its former Lipman's location in downtown Portland. Nordstrom later announced that its Salem Center store would close in April 2018. JCPenney announced in June 2020 that its location would close on October 18 of that year as part of a national program affecting 154 stores. Rue21 also closed its location in 2023. Salem Center developed several initiatives beyond conventional leasing. In January 2008, it introduced a product-search service designed to allow shoppers to search merchandise available from stores throughout the center. In 2009, it established an annual Lego menorah construction and lighting tradition for Hanukkah. These efforts reinforced the center's role as a downtown community venue as well as a retail property. Ownership changed on March 1, 2024, when OGSC2, LLC acquired Salem Center following an approximately five-year ownership period by Rialto Capital Management. On August 29, 2024, OGSC Macy's LLC acquired the adjacent Macy's property. The affiliated ownership structure created the basis for a redevelopment concept in which the former Macy's site would be incorporated into a regional entertainment district associated with the shopping center. Macy's announced in January 2025 that its Salem location would close under a nationwide store-reduction program, and the store ceased operations on March 23, 2025. The former JCPenney anchor is also being repositioned. Plans announced in April 2026 proposed a furniture store occupying approximately 11,070 square feet on the first floor, with other parts of the former anchor space potentially converted for multiple tenants. The furniture retailer had not been named in the supplied source material, and the plans remained subject to approval. The center is described as active, with Kohl's and Ross Dress for Less identified as operating anchors and one former anchor location vacant or under redevelopment.
- 2026
Furniture-store conversion is proposed
[1]Plans were announced to use part of the former JCPenney space for a furniture store and to divide additional space among other tenants.
- 2025
Macy's closes its Salem Center store
[1]The Macy's location closed on March 23, 2025, leaving its associated property available for planned redevelopment.
- 2024
Ownership transfers to OGSC2, LLC
[1]OGSC2, LLC acquired Salem Center on March 1, beginning a new ownership period.
- 2007
Former Mervyns space becomes Kohl's
[1]The former Mervyns anchor location was replaced by Kohl's.
- 1995
Second documented major remodel
[1]The center completed another major remodeling project.
- 1988
First documented major remodel
[1]Salem Center underwent a substantial remodeling project.
- 1979
Salem Center opens
[1]The enclosed, multi-building shopping center opened in downtown Salem.
- 1978
Shopping-center construction begins
[1]Construction started on the enclosed downtown shopping center.
- 1965
JCPenney opens a nearby store
[1]JCPenney opened a two-level store opposite Lipman's, later becoming part of the integrated mall complex.
- 1956
Lipman's opens its first store
[1]Lipman's opened a three-level department store at Chemeketa and Liberty streets.
Products and positioning
A downtown regional shopping center serving Salem and the surrounding Willamette Valley, combining enclosed retail, department-store and off-price anchors, dining, parking access, and potential entertainment-oriented redevelopment.
Department store · 2007
Kohl's
Kohl's occupies a principal anchor position at Salem Center in a building previously used by Mervyns. As an anchor tenant, it contributes broad merchandise coverage and serves as a major destination within the enclosed shopping-center layout.
Off-price apparel retailer
Ross Dress for Less
Ross Dress for Less is identified as one of Salem Center's operating anchor stores. Its off-price apparel and general merchandise format gives the center a value-oriented destination alongside its department-store and specialty-retail tenants.
Food and beverage · 1979
Food court
The center includes a food court serving as a shared dining area for shoppers and visitors. Individual operators are not identified in the supplied reference material.
Planned retail redevelopment · 2026
Former JCPenney anchor redevelopment
The former JCPenney space is planned for adaptive reuse. Announced concepts include a furniture store using approximately 11,070 square feet of first-floor space and additional tenants in other portions of the former anchor. The retailer name and final tenant plan remain undetermined in the supplied material.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Annual Lego menorah lighting
Salem, Oregon
Salem Center began an annual Hanukkah tradition involving the construction and lighting of a Lego menorah, adding a recurring community and cultural program to the mall calendar.
Outcome. The event became an annual tradition according to the supplied reference material.
Brand decisions
2026
Adaptive reuse of the former JCPenney spaceStrategyBackground
The closure of JCPenney left a large anchor space requiring a new use.
Action taken
Plans were announced to create a furniture store in approximately 11,070 square feet of first-floor space and potentially add multiple other tenants.
Aftermath
The plans were still under development and awaiting approval; no furniture-store name had been disclosed in the supplied material.
2024
Acquisition by OGSC2, LLCM&ABackground
Salem Center changed ownership after approximately five years associated with Rialto Capital Management.
Action taken
OGSC2, LLC purchased the shopping center on March 1, 2024.
Aftermath
The new ownership subsequently acquired the adjacent Macy's property through OGSC Macy's LLC and pursued broader redevelopment concepts.
2008
Launch of mall-wide product searchOtherBackground
Shoppers needed a way to search merchandise across the center's separate stores.
Action taken
Salem Center introduced a service intended to search products offered by its tenants.
Aftermath
The center described the service as the first of its kind among Oregon malls.
Sources2 sources
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