St. Louis Outlet Mall
A former super-regional outlet and entertainment mall in Hazelwood, Missouri, later known as St. Louis Outlet Mall.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
St. Louis Outlet Mall was the later operating name of St. Louis Mills, a large shopping and entertainment complex in Hazelwood, Missouri, a suburb in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Developed primarily by the Mills Corporation in partnership with German investment firm KanAm, the project was conceived as a 1.2-million-square-foot super-regional destination combining outlet retailers, conventional mall tenants, warehouse-style stores, restaurants, entertainment attractions, and an 18-screen cinema. During planning it was known as Missouri Mills before adopting the St. Louis Mills name. The mall opened on November 13, 2003, after an estimated development cost of $250 million. Its original tenant mix included Saks Off 5th, Bed Bath & Beyond, Marshalls Mega Store, Burlington Coat Factory, Books-A-Million, Circuit City, Regal Cinemas, Bass Pro Shops, Neiman Marcus Last Call, and Sears Outlet. Its design used themed and experiential elements associated with Mills properties, including a food court inspired by the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, the SportStreet activity area, and a PBS Kids Backyard educational play zone. The complex performed strongly at launch and was reported to be approximately 95% leased during the 2003 holiday season. Occupancy later reached about 99% in 2006. The mall's fortunes changed amid financial and governance problems at the Mills Corporation. Following a corporate acquisition completed in 2007, the property became part of Simon Property Group's Mills portfolio. Several major tenants and attractions subsequently disappeared. The PBS Kids attraction closed after its licensing arrangement expired, Circuit City shut down during its bankruptcy, and other entertainment facilities lost sponsors or ceased operations. In 2012, LNR Partners acquired the property through foreclosure. Management shifted to the Woodmont Company, and the mall was renamed St. Louis Outlet Mall in late 2012 because Simon controlled the Mills name and because the new name more directly described the property's retail emphasis. A Ross Dress for Less store opened in the former Circuit City space in 2013, but the mall continued to face declining traffic, vacancies, and maintenance concerns. Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management purchased the property in February 2016 for approximately $4.4 million, a steep reduction from its development cost. Occupancy fell to roughly 77% in 2016 and to less than half of leasable space by late 2017. Books-A-Million closed, while Hope Church took over a large former retail space under a long-term lease. The Regal cinema closed in December 2018. Local and national coverage increasingly characterized the site as a struggling or dead mall. In May 2019, Namdar announced that the mall would close and issued notices to remaining tenants. The retail center shut in September 2019, with Cabela's as an exception for a period. A redevelopment effort converted part of the building into POWERplex STL, a sports venue offering volleyball, baseball, pickleball, ice hockey, and related activities. POWERplex helped preserve limited public use of the building after retail operations ended, but it closed in May 2023 after expansion plans encountered leasing difficulties. The property was then substantially renovated and repurposed as Hazelwood Business Park. The redevelopment removed the former mall interior, replaced outdated fire-suppression and HVAC systems, and created industrial warehouse and office space. IDI Distributors became an early tenant, followed by Dive Bomb Industries, which leased a large headquarters and operations facility in 2024. Thus, the St. Louis Outlet Mall identity belongs to a defunct retail and entertainment destination, while the physical complex continues under a commercial-industrial redevelopment identity.
History
The project began in July 2001, when Mills Corporation and KanAm acquired approximately 200 acres near Missouri Route 370 in Hazelwood. Mills proposed the development in 2002, initially using the name Missouri Mills. The concept followed the company's established format: a very large enclosed complex combining outlet retail, big-box stores, conventional mall tenants, and unusual entertainment attractions. The planned facility was intended to draw shoppers from across the St. Louis region and strengthen commercial activity in the northern suburbs. St. Louis Mills opened on November 13, 2003. The approximately 1.2-million-square-foot complex cost an estimated $250 million and launched with eight major anchors or anchor-style tenants, including Saks Off 5th, Bed Bath & Beyond, Marshalls Mega Store, Burlington Coat Factory, Books-A-Million, Circuit City, and Regal Cinemas. Bass Pro Shops, Neiman Marcus Last Call, and Sears Outlet also formed part of the initial commercial offer. Kiku Obata & Company designed the property, whose public spaces included a 1904 World's Fair-themed food court, SportStreet, and a PBS Kids Backyard play-and-learning attraction. The site was strongly leased during its early years, reaching approximately 95% occupancy during the first holiday season and about 99% occupancy in 2006. The property later became exposed to the financial problems surrounding Mills Corporation. The company faced debt pressure and regulatory scrutiny, including an SEC investigation referenced in accounts of the period. Simon Property Group and Farallon Capital Management acquired Mills assets in a transaction completed in April 2007, and the property became part of The Mills: A Simon Company. The change did not reverse the broader pressures affecting enclosed retail. PBS Kids Backyard closed in 2008 when its license expired. Circuit City closed its location in March 2009 during the retailer's bankruptcy liquidation. The ESPN-branded skate park also underwent several name and management changes before ultimately disappearing. In August 2012, LNR Partners acquired the mall through foreclosure, and Woodmont Company assumed management. Later that year the property was renamed St. Louis Outlet Mall. The change reflected both Simon's control of the Mills trademark and an attempt to emphasize the site's outlet-oriented identity. Ross Dress for Less opened in the former Circuit City space in March 2013, but the property continued to lose tenants and traffic. Other attractions, including NASCAR Speedpark and the skate park, closed or failed to sustain operations. The Regal cinema, once a major draw, closed permanently in December 2018. Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management bought the mall in February 2016 for approximately $4.4 million. Occupancy was reported at around 77% that year and fell to approximately 48.4% by the end of 2017. Books-A-Million left in early 2017, while Hope Church leased a roughly 40,000-square-foot space and invested in improvements. The mall became widely described as a dead mall, with observers citing low foot traffic, vacancies, and deteriorating conditions. Reports also alleged that common-area cleaning, landscaping, plumbing, and pest-control issues were not adequately addressed. In June 2019, Hope Baptist Church and Midwest Clearance Centers sued over alleged breach of contract and maintenance failures. Namdar announced the mall's closure on May 24, 2019. Most remaining tenants were given 30 days to leave, and the retail center closed in September. Redevelopment planning had already begun: the City of Hazelwood approved efforts led by Big Sports Properties to create POWERplex STL. By 2020, the sports complex occupied roughly 130,000 to 150,000 square feet and hosted volleyball, baseball, pickleball, ice hockey, and related events. It represented a partial transition from retail destination to sports facility rather than a revival of the mall brand. In November 2022, Big Sports Properties sold a 50% interest in the building to Industrial Commercial Properties. Proposed expansion plans envisioned a large mixed-use sports and entertainment campus with volleyball courts, beach volleyball, soccer fields, gymnastics, event space, amusement activities, food and beverage uses, and other attractions. Those plans were canceled in April 2023 because of leasing difficulties. POWERplex closed on May 1, 2023. A subsequent approximately $30 million renovation converted the former mall into Hazelwood Business Park. The interior was gutted, the building was repainted, and outdated HVAC and fire-protection systems were replaced. IDI Distributors signed a lease in October 2023 and held its grand opening in January 2024. Dive Bomb Industries later leased approximately 128,000 square feet for headquarters, operations, and retail use. The mall brand is therefore defunct, while the physical structure has entered a new industrial-commercial phase.
- 2024
Industrial tenants occupy the redeveloped property
[1]IDI Distributors opened its facility, and Dive Bomb Industries signed a large lease.
- 2023
Hazelwood Business Park redevelopment begins
[1]After POWERplex closed, the interior was gutted and converted for industrial and office use.
- 2020
POWERplex STL operates
[1]Part of the former mall reopened as a sports complex.
- 2019
Retail mall closes
[1]Namdar announced closure in May, and the mall ceased general retail operations in September.
- 2018
Regal cinema closes
[1]Regal St. Louis Mills Stadium 18 and IMAX closed permanently on December 18.
- 2017
Hope Church becomes a major tenant
[1]Hope Church leased a large former retail unit as mall vacancies approached half of leasable space.
- 2016
Namdar and Mason acquire the property
[1]The mall was purchased by Namdar Realty Group and Mason Asset Management.
- 2013
Ross Dress for Less opens
[1]Ross occupied the former Circuit City space in an effort to replace lost retail traffic.
- 2012
Foreclosure acquisition and renaming
[1]LNR Partners acquired the property through foreclosure, Woodmont took over management, and the mall was renamed St. Louis Outlet Mall.
- 2009
Circuit City closes
[1]The Circuit City store closed during the retailer's bankruptcy liquidation.
Products and positioning
A large, experience-oriented outlet and value-shopping destination intended to serve the St. Louis metropolitan area through a combination of discount retail, big-box stores, conventional mall tenants, and entertainment attractions.
Retail · 2003
Outlet and value retail
The mall's central offer was a broad selection of discounted apparel, footwear, accessories, home goods, books, sporting equipment, and department-store merchandise. Rather than operating as a single-product brand, St. Louis Mills assembled independent outlet and value retailers into a regional shopping destination. Major early tenants included Saks Off 5th, Marshalls Mega Store, Burlington Coat Factory, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Sears Outlet, Bed Bath & Beyond, Books-A-Million, and Bass Pro Shops.
Entertainment · 2003
Entertainment attractions
The property supplemented shopping with attractions intended to increase dwell time and regional visitation. These included an 18-screen Regal cinema, the Ice Zone indoor ice arena, SportStreet, a PBS Kids play-and-learning area, NASCAR Speedpark, and a skate park that changed names and operators several times. Most attractions closed before the retail mall itself ceased operations.
Sports and recreation facility · 2020
POWERplex STL
POWERplex STL was a post-mall reuse of approximately 130,000 to 150,000 square feet. It hosted volleyball, baseball, pickleball, ice hockey, and related sporting activities, allowing the building to remain publicly accessible after retail operations ended. Planned expansion into a larger mixed-use sports and entertainment campus did not proceed, and the venue closed in May 2023.
Industrial and office property · 2023
Hazelwood Business Park
Hazelwood Business Park is the industrial-commercial successor to the former mall. The conversion removed the mall's interior retail environment and upgraded core building systems, including HVAC and fire suppression. The redeveloped property accommodates warehouse, office, headquarters, operations, and selected retail uses.
Controversies
2019
Tenant allegations over maintenance and property conditions
Hope Baptist Church and Midwest Clearance Centers sued Namdar, alleging breach of contract and failure to provide routine cleaning, landscaping, and common-area maintenance. Additional tenant accounts described rodent problems and persistent plumbing failures. These allegations occurred shortly before the mall's closure.
Brand decisions
2023
Conversion to Hazelwood Business ParkGeneration changeBackground
Leasing challenges prevented the proposed expansion of POWERplex and the former mall required a more durable commercial use.
Action taken
The sports venue closed, the mall interior was gutted, building systems were replaced, and the structure reopened as Hazelwood Business Park.
Aftermath
The property moved from retail and entertainment into warehouse, office, headquarters, and operations space.
2020
Conversion to POWERplex STLStrategyBackground
Redevelopers sought to reuse vacant mall space for sports and community activities rather than preserve a conventional shopping center.
Action taken
POWERplex STL began operating in part of the former mall.
Aftermath
The building retained a public-facing use for several years, but the planned larger expansion was later abandoned.
2019
Closure of the retail centerStrategyBackground
Occupancy had deteriorated, major attractions had closed, and the property faced reported maintenance disputes and weak shopper traffic.
Action taken
Namdar announced the mall's closure and required most remaining tenants to vacate.
Aftermath
The retail identity ended, while redevelopment efforts shifted the property toward sports and later industrial use.
2012
Rebranding as St. Louis Outlet MallStrategyBackground
Following foreclosure acquisition and a management change, the property needed a name that avoided the Simon-controlled Mills trademark and emphasized its discount-retail identity.
Action taken
The mall changed its public name from St. Louis Mills to St. Louis Outlet Mall.
Aftermath
The rebrand clarified the outlet positioning but did not prevent continued vacancies and declining visitation.
2003
Launch of St. Louis MillsProduct launchBackground
Mills Corporation sought to create a large regional destination combining outlet retail, conventional shopping, big-box stores, and entertainment.
Action taken
The company opened a 1.2-million-square-foot complex in Hazelwood with multiple anchor tenants and themed attractions.
Aftermath
The mall initially achieved strong leasing and holiday traffic, but later faced tenant losses and structural retail decline.
Sources1 sources
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