Southridge Mall
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedSouthridge Mall is an open-air shopping center on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa, that has evolved from a traditional enclosed regional mall into a mixed retail, education, fitness, auction, and residential-use property.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Southridge Mall is a shopping center located near the intersection of Southeast 14th Street and Army Post Road on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa. Planned by General Growth Properties in the early 1970s, the project was initially called Army Post Plaza before being renamed Southridge Mall shortly before completion. It opened on October 15, 1975, becoming one of the principal retail destinations serving Des Moines and communities to the south and east of the city. The property originally followed the conventional regional-mall model, with department stores serving as major traffic generators. Younkers opened as the first anchor, Sears joined in 1977, and an expansion added Montgomery Ward in 1978. Richman Gordman became another department-store anchor in 1982. The center later added Target in 1992, while a major renovation increased total floor space to slightly more than one million square feet. JCPenney relocated from downtown Des Moines to the mall in 1994, filling the former Richman Gordman position. Southridge's traditional department-store strategy became increasingly difficult to sustain. Richman Gordman's bankruptcy led to the closure of its store in 1992, Montgomery Ward exited in 1999, and JCPenney announced its departure in 2011. Sears announced a 2016 closure, and Younkers shut its location in 2018 after Bon-Ton Stores entered liquidation. The mall also faced intensified competition from Jordan Creek Town Center, Merle Hay Mall, and other retail corridors. By the late 2000s, vacancy had become a significant issue, and the property was identified in 2009 by U.S. News & World Report as one of a group of endangered American malls. Ownership and management changed several times. General Growth Properties sold the mall to Equitable Life Assurance Society in 1984 during the liquidation of General Growth's real-estate investment trust. General Growth continued to manage the property until a Simon Property Group and Macerich partnership acquired it in March 1998 as part of a twelve-mall transaction. Macerich subsequently managed Southridge. In the 2020s, NativeBid Auction Services, associated with owner Travis Mansfield, acquired the enclosed mall properties and began repurposing former department-store space. The mall's physical format also changed substantially. Renovations during 2006 and 2007 added a children's play area, Wi-Fi access, new seating, and remodeled restrooms. Beginning in 2012, approximately 296,000 square feet of retail space was removed or converted as much of the property shifted toward outdoor-facing stores. The reconfigured portion brought in tenants such as Foot Locker, Shoe Carnival, T-Mobile, Rue21, and Marshalls. Other former mall spaces were adapted for uses not traditionally associated with shopping centers, including churches, offices, an animal shelter, an educational facility, an auction business, and a health club. Current and recent occupants include Target, Marshalls, Shoe Carnival, Ross Dress for Less, Genesis Health Clubs, NativeBid Auctions, and Des Moines Area Community College's Southridge Center. Hy-Vee and Petco operate on outparcels. Genesis Health Clubs converted the former Sears space into a roughly 105,000-square-foot athletic facility, opening on September 17, 2024, with later plans or additions involving soccer, athletic training, and a swimming pool. NativeBid Auctions occupies the former Younkers building and specializes in liquidation merchandise, customer returns, and retail overstock. Affordable housing has also been added to the broader property: a 90-unit apartment project on land associated with the former Montgomery Ward site broke ground in 2023 and was completed by 2025. Southridge therefore represents a continuing redevelopment of a legacy regional mall into a more diversified, open-air and mixed-use commercial district.
History
Southridge Mall was developed on Des Moines's south side by General Growth Properties. On March 6, 1972, General Growth announced plans for a new shopping center at Southeast 14th Street and Army Post Road. The development was called Army Post Plaza during planning and construction, but the name changed to Southridge Mall before opening. The center began operations on October 15, 1975, with Younkers as its first anchor. The property expanded through a series of department-store additions. Sears opened in 1977, Montgomery Ward was added in a 1978 expansion, and Richman Gordman became a fourth department-store anchor in 1982. A proposed Dillard's store generated a lease dispute in the late 1980s. Younkers argued that its lease restricted the mall to four department stores and sued management. A federal magistrate ruled against Younkers in June 1990, although Dillard's had already abandoned its Southridge development plan. Target became the mall's fifth anchor in 1992, the same year that Richman Gordman closed after its parent chain declared bankruptcy. Renovation work at that time increased the center's total area to slightly above one million square feet. JCPenney moved from downtown Des Moines to Southridge in 1994, filling the former Richman Gordman space. The mall's ownership history also changed: General Growth sold it to Equitable Life Assurance Society in 1984 as part of a real-estate investment trust liquidation, while General Growth continued to manage the center. In March 1998, a Simon Property Group and Macerich partnership acquired Southridge in a twelve-mall transaction, with Macerich assuming management. During the 2000s, Southridge experienced declining occupancy as shoppers gained alternatives at Jordan Creek Town Center, Merle Hay Mall, and other retail areas. Improvements completed during 2006 and 2007 added a children's play area to the food court, Wi-Fi, new seating, and remodeled restrooms. A Steve & Barry's store opened near JCPenney in October 2007 but closed at the end of 2008 when the chain liquidated its remaining stores. By December 2009, 40 of 91 inline spaces were reported vacant. The property began accommodating nontraditional tenants, including churches, offices, and an animal shelter. In 2009, U.S. News & World Report included Southridge in a list of endangered malls. Anchor departures continued. Montgomery Ward closed in 1999, and its approximately 109,000-square-foot building remained vacant until demolition in April 2006. JCPenney announced a 2011 closure. Beginning in 2012, Southridge underwent a more fundamental physical transformation: approximately 296,000 square feet was demolished or converted to create outdoor-facing retail. Foot Locker, Shoe Carnival, T-Mobile, Rue21, and Marshalls were among the retailers associated with the redesigned portion. Des Moines Area Community College expressed interest in the former JCPenney building and ultimately established a Southridge Center there. Value Villa occupied the former Steve & Barry's space. Sears announced its closure in May 2016, and the store shut later that year. Younkers announced its closure in April 2018 after Bon-Ton Stores entered liquidation; the Southridge store closed on August 29, 2018. These departures ended the property's long period of dependence on traditional department-store anchors. Southridge's later redevelopment emphasized adaptive reuse and mixed-use activity. In 2020, Genesis Health Clubs proposed a roughly $13.5 million conversion of the former Sears site into a fitness and multisports facility. The renovated facility opened on September 17, 2024, as a roughly 105,000-square-foot club, with additional space later associated with soccer, athletic training, and swimming. In the 2020s, NativeBid Auction Services occupied the former Younkers building after the enclosed mall properties were acquired by Travis Mansfield and associated with NativeBid. The auction business sells liquidated goods, customer returns, and retail overstock. A further mixed-use element was added on the west side of the grounds. Planning for a 90-unit affordable-housing project began in late 2022, construction broke ground in 2023, and the three-story apartment development was completed by 2025. The project used land associated with the former Montgomery Ward site. Southridge now operates less as a conventional enclosed regional mall and more as a diversified commercial property combining open-air retail, big-box and off-price stores, education, fitness, auctions, outparcel businesses, and housing.
- 2025
Affordable apartment project completed
[1]The 90-unit affordable-housing development on former Montgomery Ward-associated land was completed.
- 2024
Genesis Health Clubs opens
[1]Genesis Health Clubs opened an approximately 105,000-square-foot athletic facility in the former Sears space on September 17.
- 2023
Affordable housing construction begins
[1]Construction began on a 90-unit affordable apartment project on the west side of the mall grounds.
- 2018
Younkers closes
[1]The Younkers store closed on August 29 after Bon-Ton Stores entered liquidation.
- 2016
Sears announces closure
[1]Sears announced that its Southridge store would close in August.
- 2013
Marshalls opens in the outdoor section
[1]Marshalls opened in the reconfigured outdoor-facing retail area.
- 2012
Open-air redevelopment begins
[1]Southridge began converting much of the property to outdoor-facing retail, removing or restructuring approximately 296,000 square feet.
- 2011
JCPenney announces closure
[1]JCPenney announced that its Southridge location would close in June.
- 2009
Vacancy becomes a defining challenge
[1]Forty of 91 inline spaces were reported vacant by December, and the mall was included in a U.S. News & World Report list of endangered malls.
- 2007
Amenities renovation completed
[1]Renovation work added a children's play area, Wi-Fi access, new seating, and remodeled restrooms. Steve & Barry's also opened a store that year.
Products and positioning
A south Des Moines shopping and mixed-use destination serving everyday retail, discount shopping, fitness, education, auctions, and community-oriented uses. Its current positioning reflects a transition away from a traditional enclosed department-store mall toward an open-air and diversified property.
Shopping center · 1975
Open-air retail center
Southridge's principal offering is a retail and services environment serving the south side of Des Moines. Its post-2012 redevelopment shifted a substantial portion of the property from inward-facing enclosed-mall circulation to outdoor-facing storefronts, allowing the center to accommodate discount retailers, footwear, telecommunications, apparel, grocery-related services, and other everyday uses.
Fitness and athletic facility · 2024
Genesis Health Clubs Southridge
Genesis Health Clubs converted the former Sears anchor into an approximately 105,000-square-foot athletic facility. The club includes fitness equipment and basketball-oriented multisport space, with later expansion associated with soccer, athletic training, and a swimming pool.
Auction and liquidation retail
NativeBid Auctions
NativeBid Auctions occupies the former Younkers building and operates an auction business focused on liquidated merchandise, customer returns, and overstock sourced from major retailers. Its presence is part of Southridge's transition toward adaptive reuse and nontraditional mall tenants.
Community college facility
DMACC Southridge Center
Des Moines Area Community College uses former retail space for its Southridge Center. The educational facility illustrates the property's diversification beyond conventional shopping and department-store operations.
Affordable housing · 2025
Southridge affordable apartments
A 90-unit, three-story affordable-housing development was built on approximately 4.4 acres on the west side of the mall grounds, using land associated with the former Montgomery Ward site.
Brand decisions
2022
Add affordable housing to the mall groundsStrategyBackground
Southridge's redevelopment strategy broadened beyond retail and commercial services to include residential use.
Action taken
A plan was developed for 90 affordable apartments in a three-story building on approximately 4.4 acres west of the mall.
Aftermath
Construction began in 2023 and the apartments were completed by 2025.
Project cost. $13.7 million estimated (2022 affordable-housing project)
2021
Enclosed mall properties acquired and former Younkers space repurposedM&ABackground
The former department-store spaces required new uses after the departure of Younkers and other traditional anchors.
Action taken
Travis Mansfield and associated NativeBid Auction Services acquired the enclosed mall properties and used the former Younkers building for NativeBid Auctions.
Aftermath
The former department-store anchor became an auction and liquidation venue rather than a conventional department store.
2020
Redevelop former Sears space as a health clubStrategyBackground
The closure of Sears left a large anchor building available for adaptive reuse.
Action taken
Genesis Health Clubs proposed a roughly $13.5 million conversion into a fitness and multisports facility with weights, cardio equipment, and basketball courts.
Aftermath
The facility was renovated and opened in September 2024, later expanding its athletic-use plans.
Estimated redevelopment cost. $13.5 million estimated (2020 proposal)
2012
Shift from enclosed mall to outdoor-facing retailStrategyBackground
Declining occupancy and competition from Jordan Creek Town Center, Merle Hay Mall, and other retail areas weakened the traditional enclosed-mall model.
Action taken
Southridge removed or converted approximately 296,000 square feet and created an outdoor-facing retail segment for new and replacement tenants.
Aftermath
The property added retailers including Marshalls, Foot Locker, Shoe Carnival, T-Mobile, and Rue21, while continuing to diversify its tenant mix.
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