Tel-Twelve Mall
A retail complex in Southfield, Michigan, that evolved from an enclosed shopping mall into a power center anchored by major big-box retailers.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Tel-Twelve Mall is a retail complex on Telegraph Road in Southfield, Michigan, north of Interstate 696 in the Detroit metropolitan area. The property opened in 1968 as an enclosed shopping mall at a time when Southfield already had the substantially larger Northland Center. Its initial anchor lineup consisted of Kmart at the north end and Montgomery Ward at the south end, with a Chatham supermarket serving as a junior anchor. The mall was designed by A&W Properties, the predecessor of Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust, with Charles N. Agree serving as architect. Early design features included a central fountain and Astroturf flooring. Although its long-term prospects were questioned because of competition from Northland Center, Tel-Twelve developed a durable local retail role and was expanded four times. During the early 1980s, Silver's Office Supplies replaced Chatham. Crowley's joined the property as a third department-store anchor in 1985, and the mall also gained a food court. A substantial 1994 renovation added or highlighted tenants including Ruby Tuesday, Old Country Buffet, DSW Shoe Warehouse, and Media Play. Montgomery Ward was reduced in size to accommodate MC Sports and Office Depot; MC Sports was replaced by Circuit City by 1996. Because of the mall's physical configuration, part of the Circuit City operation was positioned across an interior corridor from the rest of the store, making it an unusual example of a Circuit City location inside an enclosed mall. The enclosed format became increasingly difficult to sustain as department stores closed and consumers shifted toward free-standing discount, home-improvement, specialty, and warehouse-style retailers. Crowley's closed in 2000, and Montgomery Ward closed in 2001. Despite an occupancy rate reported at approximately 85 percent when redevelopment was planned, the property had a tenant mix weighted toward local businesses and faced space limitations. Ramco-Gershenson therefore chose to demolish most of the enclosed mall and rebuild the site as an open-air power center. The redevelopment retained some existing structures temporarily, including Kmart, Montgomery Ward, Office Depot, and Circuit City, but Kmart later closed and its former location was replaced by Meijer. The rebuilt complex assembled large-format tenants in place of the former enclosed mall. The former Montgomery Ward space was redeveloped for Michaels and Pier 1 Imports, while Lowe's and other big-box retailers replaced portions of the former mall footprint. DSW moved into a new building on the site, and the former Media Play location became a Best Buy. The former Circuit City space ultimately became a PetSmart. Office Depot closed in 2019, and an Ulta Beauty store occupied the space by 2020. The current power-center tenant mix includes Best Buy, DSW, Lowe's, Meijer, Michaels, Ulta Beauty, and PetSmart. The property is owned and managed by RPT Realty, whose corporate lineage traces back to the original developer; RPT Realty became a subsidiary of Kimco Realty in 2024.
History
Tel-Twelve Mall opened in 1968 on Telegraph Road in Southfield, Michigan. The enclosed mall was developed by A&W Properties, the predecessor of Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust, and designed by architect Charles N. Agree. Its original configuration placed Kmart at the northern end and Montgomery Ward at the southern end, with Chatham supermarket positioned between them as a junior anchor. The interior included period-specific features such as a fountain and Astroturf flooring. The project entered a competitive market because Southfield was already home to Northland Center, a larger regional mall. Nevertheless, Tel-Twelve remained viable and underwent four expansions. Silver's Office Supplies replaced Chatham in the early 1980s. Crowley's became a third department-store anchor in 1985, and a food court was added as the property expanded. A 1994 renovation brought in tenants such as Ruby Tuesday, Old Country Buffet, DSW Shoe Warehouse, and Media Play. Montgomery Ward was downsized to create room for MC Sports and Office Depot. MC Sports later became Circuit City in 1996, with the unusual arrangement of part of the retailer's footprint lying across the mall corridor from the remainder of the store. The enclosed mall's traditional anchor model weakened in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Crowley's closed in 2000, followed by Montgomery Ward in 2001. Although the mall was reported to be about 85 percent occupied when redevelopment was considered, its tenant base was heavily local and the enclosed structure constrained the introduction of larger contemporary retailers. Ramco-Gershenson elected to demolish most of the mall and replace it with an open-air power center. Kmart was retained initially but subsequently closed, and Meijer took over the former Kmart site. The Montgomery Ward building was repurposed for Michaels and Pier 1 Imports, while Lowe's and other large-format stores occupied portions of the former enclosed complex. DSW relocated to a purpose-built store, Media Play was replaced by Best Buy, and the former Circuit City space eventually became a PetSmart. The redevelopment changed Tel-Twelve from a conventional enclosed mall into a collection of large-format stores designed around automobile access and destination shopping. This format aligned the property with the wider shift in American retail toward power centers, free-standing discount stores, home-improvement warehouses, specialty chains, and grocery-led destinations. Office Depot closed in 2019, and Ulta Beauty opened in its place by 2020. The current complex includes Best Buy, DSW, Lowe's, Meijer, Michaels, Ulta Beauty, and PetSmart. RPT Realty owns and manages the property. In 2024, RPT Realty became a subsidiary of Kimco Realty, linking the present ownership structure to the developer that originated the site.
- 2024
RPT Realty becomes a Kimco Realty subsidiary
[1]The property's owner and manager, RPT Realty, became a subsidiary of Kimco Realty.
- 2020
Ulta Beauty occupies former Office Depot space
[1]Ulta Beauty opened in the former Office Depot location by 2020.
- 2019
Office Depot closes
[1]The Office Depot location at the complex closed.
- 2001
Enclosed mall is demolished and redeveloped
[1]After Montgomery Ward closed, most of the enclosed mall was demolished and the site was rebuilt as an open-air power center.
- 2000
Crowley's closes
[1]Crowley's ceased operations at Tel-Twelve Mall.
- 1996
MC Sports location becomes Circuit City
[1]The MC Sports space was converted to Circuit City, creating an unusual mall-based store whose footprint crossed an interior corridor.
- 1994
Major renovation
[1]A renovation added or highlighted tenants including Ruby Tuesday, Old Country Buffet, DSW Shoe Warehouse, and Media Play, while Montgomery Ward was downsized.
- 1985
Crowley's becomes a third anchor
[1]Crowley's department store joined the anchor lineup, and the complex also added a food court during its expansion history.
- 1980
Silver's Office Supplies replaces Chatham
[1]During the early 1980s, Silver's Office Supplies took over the former Chatham supermarket space.
- 1968
Enclosed mall opens
[1]Tel-Twelve Mall opened on Telegraph Road in Southfield with Kmart and Montgomery Ward as its principal anchors and Chatham as a junior anchor.
Products and positioning
A suburban, open-air power center serving Southfield and the wider Detroit metropolitan market with large-format essential, specialty, home-improvement, grocery, electronics, beauty, and pet retailers.
Consumer electronics
Best Buy
The Best Buy location represents the consumer-electronics component of the power center, offering products and services associated with computers, televisions, mobile devices, home entertainment, appliances, and related technology support.
Home improvement
Lowe's
Lowe's serves as the home-improvement anchor, providing building materials, tools, hardware, appliances, garden merchandise, and supplies for repair, renovation, maintenance, and do-it-yourself projects.
Supermarket and general merchandise
Meijer
Meijer occupies the former Kmart site and combines grocery shopping with general merchandise. Its presence gives the redeveloped property a recurring, convenience-oriented destination in addition to specialty and warehouse-style retail.
Arts and crafts
Michaels
Michaels provides arts-and-crafts merchandise, including materials for home décor, seasonal projects, framing, party activities, and other creative hobbies. It occupies space associated with the former Montgomery Ward portion of the property.
Footwear
DSW
DSW supplies branded and designer footwear for women, men, and children, along with related accessories. The retailer relocated from an earlier mall-format store to a newer building on the redeveloped site.
Beauty retail
Ulta Beauty
Ulta Beauty provides cosmetics, skincare, haircare, fragrance, and beauty accessories across mass and prestige price points. It replaced Office Depot in the complex by 2020.
Pet retail
PetSmart
PetSmart adds a dedicated pet-retail offering, including food, supplies, accessories, and related services for household animals. The store ultimately occupied space associated with the former Circuit City location.
Brand decisions
2020
Replacement of Office Depot with Ulta BeautyOtherBackground
Office Depot closed its location at the complex in 2019.
Action taken
Ulta Beauty opened in the former Office Depot space by 2020.
Aftermath
The tenant change preserved the site's specialty-retail function while shifting the unit toward beauty and personal-care products.
2001
Conversion from enclosed mall to power centerStrategyBackground
The enclosed mall faced anchor closures, limited space, and a tenant mix considered less competitive despite reported occupancy of about 85 percent.
Action taken
Ramco-Gershenson demolished most of the enclosed complex and rebuilt the property as an open-air center for large-format retailers.
Aftermath
The site gained Meijer, Lowe's, Best Buy, DSW, Michaels, PetSmart, and other big-box or specialty tenants, changing Tel-Twelve's operating model from enclosed-mall retail to automobile-oriented power-center shopping.
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