Summit Place Mall

Summit Place Mall was a regional enclosed shopping mall in Waterford Township, Michigan, at the intersection of Telegraph Road and Elizabeth Lake Road near Pontiac. It opened on May 10, 1962, as Pontiac Mall and is generally recognized as Michigan's first enclosed shopping mall. The original development occupied a 74-acre site and contained approximately 500,000 square feet of retail space, with 42 inline tenants at opening. Its early stores included a budget-format Hudson's department store, Montgomery Ward, Cunningham Drug, and Kresge. A Kroger supermarket began operating on the property before the mall opened, while Montgomery Ward opened in February 1962. The mall was developed by A&W Management, a company later associated with Ramco-Gershenson and subsequently RPT Realty. Its architecture was designed by A. Arnold Agree, and the interior concourses were distinguished by more than 120 sculptures. A separate Sears store was constructed north of the property in 1972. The site also became associated with a local curiosity: Little Jenny, an elephant known for appearing in the film Elephant Walk, was buried there in 1972. By the early 1980s, management considered the property outdated and noted that it had lost important tenants, including Cunningham Drug, as retail chains failed or contracted. A renovation announced in 1983 refreshed facades, flooring, ceilings, and department-store interiors and added or attracted tenants such as Musicland, Circus World, The Limited, Casual Corner, Sibley's Shoes, Gap, and B. Dalton. The property was subsequently renamed Summit Place Mall. A larger expansion announced in 1987 added about 470,000 square feet, J. C. Penney, a Service Merchandise catalog showroom, a MainStreet department store that was soon acquired by Kohl's, a connection to Sears, and a food court called Picnic Place. J. C. Penney opened in August 1988. The mall reached its largest scale after these expansions, with more than 1.4 million square feet of retail space, approximately 200 inline tenants, and six principal anchors: Hudson's, Sears, J. C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, Service Merchandise, and Kohl's. Hudson's was remodeled in 2000, renamed Marshall Field's in 2001, and converted to Macy's in 2006. Its decline accelerated after Great Lakes Crossing Outlets opened in nearby Auburn Hills in 1998. Summit Place lost shoppers and tenants to the newer outlet center, while Service Merchandise and Montgomery Ward were affected by their corporate bankruptcies and closures. General Growth Properties sold the mall in 2002 to California-based Namco Financial, which proposed renaming it Festivals of Waterford and adding entertainment uses, a children's play area, and an indoor waterpark. The play area opened, but the waterpark was abandoned after Waterford officials declined to assume the financial risk associated with the planned project. During the late 2000s, vacancies spread through the property. Food-court tenants and the children's play area disappeared, Kohl's closed on March 12, 2009, and the mall reportedly became approximately 96 percent vacant. The concourses closed on September 10, 2009, leaving only the remaining anchor stores operating. J. C. Penney and Macy's closed in March 2010, and Sears, the final operating tenant, closed on December 7, 2014. The vacant complex was subsequently placed on Waterford Township's dangerous-buildings list and became vulnerable to vandalism, trespassing, and salvage activity. ARi-El Enterprises acquired the property in September 2018. Demolition began on May 7, 2019, with redevelopment planned as the Oakland County Business Center. Summit Place Mall therefore survives primarily as a former retail landmark and redevelopment site rather than as an operating shopping center.

Summit Place Mall began as Pontiac Mall, a pioneering enclosed shopping center at Telegraph Road and Elizabeth Lake Road on the boundary of Pontiac and Waterford Township. Developed by A&W Management, the center opened on May 10, 1962, making it Michigan's first enclosed mall. The original complex contained about 500,000 square feet of retail space and 42 inline tenants. A Kroger supermarket had opened on the site in 1961, and Montgomery Ward began operating in February 1962. Opening-day anchors and major tenants included a budget-format Hudson's department store, Montgomery Ward, Cunningham Drug, and Kresge. The mall's design came from architect A. Arnold Agree. Its interior was notable for more than 120 sculptures, giving the shopping center an unusually decorative character. Sears constructed a large store north of the mall in 1972. That year, the property also became the burial site of Little Jenny, an elephant associated with the film Elephant Walk. By 1983, management believed the center had fallen behind contemporary shopping-center standards. The property had lost key tenants, including Cunningham Drug, and required modernization. A renovation costing approximately $1 million updated storefronts, floors, ceilings, and department-store interiors. New and relocated retailers included Foot Locker, Kinney Shoes, Musicland, Circus World, The Limited, Casual Corner, Sibley's Shoes, Gap, and B. Dalton. The completed renovation accompanied the change from Pontiac Mall to Summit Place Mall. A further expansion, announced in 1987 and completed in the following period, added approximately 470,000 square feet. J. C. Penney opened in August 1988, while Service Merchandise and MainStreet joined the center; MainStreet was soon absorbed by Kohl's. The expansion also linked the mall to Sears and added the Picnic Place food court. At its peak, Summit Place had more than 1.4 million square feet, around 200 inline tenants, and six significant anchors: Hudson's, Sears, J. C. Penney, Montgomery Ward, Service Merchandise, and Kohl's. The competitive environment changed sharply in 1998 when Great Lakes Crossing Outlets opened in nearby Auburn Hills. Summit Place lost customers and retailers to the newer destination. Service Merchandise and Montgomery Ward closed amid the failures of their respective chains. Hudson's received a remodel in 2000, became Marshall Field's in 2001, and was converted to Macy's in 2006 after the acquisition of Marshall Field's parent company by Federated Department Stores. General Growth Properties sold the mall to Namco Financial in 2002. Namco proposed renaming the property Festivals of Water and converting portions of it to entertainment uses, including a family entertainment center, a children's play area, and a proposed indoor waterpark. A children's play area opened in December, but the waterpark was canceled after local officials rejected the financial risk associated with the proposed project. Michigan legislation in 2005 created a potential tax-abatement route for redevelopment. Plans contemplated demolishing approximately half the mall and rezoning portions of the land for housing. Meanwhile, vacancies continued. Waterford Township examined a Corridor Improvement Authority in 2007, but the center's retail deterioration accelerated. The food court and children's play area closed, Kohl's departed in March 2009, and the mall was estimated to be 96 percent vacant. The concourses closed in September 2009, leaving J. C. Penney, Macy's, and Sears as the last major occupants. J. C. Penney and Macy's closed in March 2010, and Sears remained until December 7, 2014. After Sears closed, the vacant property attracted vandalism, trespassing, and scrapping. Waterford Township placed it on a dangerous-buildings list and demanded that its owner repair or remove the structures. ARi-El Enterprises acquired the site in September 2018. Demolition began on May 7, 2019, with the property planned for redevelopment as the Oakland County Business Center. The operating mall is therefore defunct, while its site represents a transition from mid-century suburban retail landmark to commercial redevelopment property.

• 2019

  Demolition begins

  [1]Summit Place Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Demolition started ahead of planned redevelopment as the Oakland County Business Center.

• 2014

  Sears closes

  [1]Summit Place Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The final tenant departed, leaving the entire shopping complex vacant.

• 2009

  Mall concourses close

  [1]Summit Place Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Following Kohl's closure and extensive vacancy, the public mall areas closed in September.

• 2002

  Sale to Namco Financial

  [1]Summit Place Mallen.wikipedia.org

  General Growth Properties sold the property to Namco Financial, which proposed a major entertainment-oriented repositioning.

• 1998

  Great Lakes Crossing changes the competitive market

  [1]Summit Place Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The opening of the nearby outlet center began a sustained period of tenant and customer losses.

• 1988

  J. C. Penney opens in expanded center

  [1]Summit Place Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The mall's expansion added J. C. Penney, Service Merchandise, a Sears connection, and the Picnic Place food court.

• 1983

  Modernization and renaming

  [1]Summit Place Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A major renovation updated the center and was followed by its renaming as Summit Place Mall.

• 1972

  Sears store and Little Jenny burial

  [1]Summit Place Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A large Sears store was built north of the property, and the elephant Little Jenny was buried on the mall site.

• 1962

  Pontiac Mall opens

  [1]Summit Place Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Michigan's first enclosed shopping mall opened with approximately 500,000 square feet and 42 inline tenants.

• 1961

  Kroger opens on the future mall site

  [1]Summit Place Mallen.wikipedia.org

  A Kroger supermarket began operating before the enclosed shopping center itself opened.

A large suburban regional shopping center serving Waterford Township, Pontiac, and the northern Detroit metropolitan area. At its peak, Summit Place combined traditional department-store anchors with a broad selection of specialty retailers, a food court, and family-oriented amenities.

• Department store · 1962

  Hudson's / Marshall Field's / Macy's

  The mall's original Hudson's anchor began as a budget-format store and was later upgraded to a full-line department store. It was remodeled in 2000, renamed Marshall Field's in 2001, and converted to Macy's in September 2006.

• Department store · 1972

  Sears

  Sears opened in a large building north of the original mall property in 1972 and later functioned as one of Summit Place's principal anchors. It became the final operating tenant and closed in December 2014.

• Department store · 1988

  J. C. Penney

  J. C. Penney opened in August 1988 as part of the mall's major expansion. It served as one of the last three anchors after the concourses closed and departed in March 2010.

• Food court · 1988

  Picnic Place

  Picnic Place was the food-court component added during the late-1980s expansion. It provided quick-service dining for mall shoppers but was eventually closed as the center lost tenants.

• Specialty retail · 1962

  Specialty retail tenant mix

  At different points, Summit Place housed apparel, footwear, music, books, pharmacy, toys, sporting, and general-merchandise retailers, including Gap, The Limited, Foot Locker, Kinney Shoes, Musicland, B. Dalton, Circus World, Casual Corner, Sibley's Shoes, Cunningham Drug, and Kresge.

• 2019

  Demolish the vacant mall for a business-center redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The property had been vacant since Sears closed in 2014 and had been designated a dangerous building by Waterford Township.

  Action taken

  Following ARi-El Enterprises' 2018 acquisition, demolition began and the site was planned for the Oakland County Business Center.

  Aftermath

  The former enclosed mall ceased to exist as an operating or intact retail property.

  Source

• 2005

  Pursue redevelopment and possible rezoningStrategy

  Background

  State legislation created a possible tax-abatement mechanism for redevelopment of the deteriorating property.

  Action taken

  Plans contemplated demolishing roughly half of the mall and rezoning portions of the site for housing.

  Aftermath

  The proposal did not prevent continued retail decline, and the mall ultimately moved toward demolition and commercial redevelopment.

  Source

• 2002

  Propose an entertainment-led redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  Namco Financial acquired a mall already facing tenant losses and competition from Great Lakes Crossing Outlets.

  Action taken

  Namco proposed the Festivals of Water identity, a family entertainment center, a children's play area, and an indoor waterpark in the former Montgomery Ward space.

  Aftermath

  The children's play area opened, but the waterpark was canceled after local officials rejected the associated financial risk.

  Proposed children's play area cost. $700,000 (2002)

  Source

• 1987

  Expand the mall and broaden its anchor baseStrategy

  Background

  The property pursued a larger regional format to increase its retail capacity and attract department-store and catalog-showroom traffic.

  Action taken

  The expansion added approximately 470,000 square feet, J. C. Penney, Service Merchandise, a Sears connection, MainStreet, and Picnic Place.

  Aftermath

  The center reached more than 1.4 million square feet and approximately 200 inline tenants at its peak.

  Source

• 1983

  Modernize and reposition the shopping centerStrategy

  Background

  Management believed the center's design and tenant base had fallen behind competing shopping centers and that chain failures had weakened the property.

  Action taken

  The owner funded a renovation covering storefronts, floors, ceilings, and department-store interiors, while recruiting and relocating retailers.

  Aftermath

  The property was renamed Summit Place Mall and temporarily strengthened its regional-shopping positioning.

  Renovation cost. $1,000,000 (1983)

  Source

1. 1Summit Place Mallen.wikipedia.org