The Mall at Sierra Vista

The Mall at Sierra Vista is an indoor regional shopping center in Sierra Vista, Arizona, United States. Developed during the late 1990s, it was built to serve a rapidly growing community that had previously lacked a major enclosed mall. The project became the first major mall in southeastern Arizona and was intended to draw customers from a broad area of Cochise County and surrounding communities. The mall functions as a cross-border retail destination as well as a local shopping center. Its trade area extends into northern Sonora, Mexico, and reported shopper surveys have indicated that a substantial share of visitors come from Sonora. Some cross-border customers travel considerable distances to shop at the center, reflecting Sierra Vista's role as a commercial hub for southeastern Arizona and nearby Mexican communities. The center's tenant mix has included major national retailers and department-store, electronics, entertainment, and general-merchandise uses. Listed anchor tenants include Dillard's, Best Buy, and Cinemark 10. Sears was also historically an anchor, but its store closed as part of Sears Holdings' nationwide reduction program. The former Sears property was subsequently separated into Seritage Growth Properties and later offered for sale. Beyond retail, The Mall at Sierra Vista hosts community-oriented events, including the annual Festival of Trees, Festival of Giving, and a car show benefiting the Boys & Girls Club. These activities give the property a civic and charitable role in addition to its commercial function. The mall was also discussed in Ethel Jackson Price's 2003 local-history book, Sierra Vista: a Young City with a Past. The property was listed for sale in 2019 and reportedly remained without a buyer for approximately two years. In July 2021, Kohan Retail Investment Group acquired the mall together with six other shopping centers from Brookfield Asset Management. Kohan owns and manages the property. Public reference material does not establish a precise opening year, development company, current tenant roster beyond the cited anchors, or a current official website.

The Mall at Sierra Vista was developed during the late 1990s in Sierra Vista, Arizona, a community that was then among the fastest-growing in the state. Developers sought to establish a major enclosed shopping destination for a city and surrounding region that did not previously have another mall of comparable scale. The resulting project became the first major mall built in southeastern Arizona and was designed to serve as the principal regional retail center for the area. Its trade area extends beyond Sierra Vista and southeastern Arizona. The mall has attracted customers from across the region and from northern Sonora in Mexico. Reference material describes cross-border visitation as significant, with survey findings indicating that as much as 30 percent of shoppers may come from Sonora. Some visitors reportedly travel from communities as far as Nacozari and Cumpas, roughly 120 miles south of the border, to shop at the center. This cross-border role reflects Sierra Vista's position as a commercial center near the United States–Mexico border. The property has historically combined department stores, specialty retail, electronics, entertainment, and other mall-based services. Its cited anchors include Dillard's, Best Buy, and Cinemark 10. Sears was another important tenant and occupied a property that was separated from Sears Holdings' real-estate operations in 2015. In that year, Sears Holdings spun off 235 properties, including the Sears location at the mall, into Seritage Growth Properties. The Sears store later became part of the retailer's broader retrenchment. On October 15, 2018, Sears Holdings announced that the location would close under a plan to shut 142 stores nationwide. In January 2019, Seritage marketed the former Sears property for sale, with limited redevelopment opportunities identified as a constraint. The mall itself was also listed for sale in May 2019. According to the available reference account, the property remained on the market for about two years without finding a buyer. Ownership changed in July 2021, when Kohan Retail Investment Group acquired The Mall at Sierra Vista together with six other malls from Brookfield Asset Management. Kohan became the mall's owner and manager. The available material does not provide a precise construction or opening date, a complete account of earlier ownership, or a verified current tenant directory. The mall has also maintained a community role. It hosts the annual Festival of Trees, Festival of Giving, and a car show benefiting the Boys & Girls Club. These events complement its retail function and connect the property with local charitable and seasonal activities. The mall is additionally mentioned in Ethel Jackson Price's 2003 book Sierra Vista: a Young City with a Past, documenting its place in the modern history of the city.

• 2021

  Acquisition by Kohan Retail Investment Group

  [1]The Mall at Sierra Vistaen.wikipedia.org

  Kohan Retail Investment Group purchased the mall with six other malls from Brookfield Asset Management and took on ownership and management.

• 2019

  Mall and former Sears property marketed for sale

  [1]The Mall at Sierra Vistaen.wikipedia.org

  The mall was listed for sale in May, while Seritage had separately listed the former Sears property earlier in the year.

• 2018

  Sears closure announced

  [1]The Mall at Sierra Vistaen.wikipedia.org

  Sears Holdings announced that the mall's Sears store would close as part of a nationwide program involving 142 store closures.

• 2015

  Sears property transferred to Seritage

  [1]The Mall at Sierra Vistaen.wikipedia.org

  Sears Holdings spun off 235 properties, including the Sears property at the mall, into Seritage Growth Properties.

• 2003

  Mention in Sierra Vista local history

  [1]The Mall at Sierra Vistaen.wikipedia.org

  The mall was mentioned in Ethel Jackson Price's book Sierra Vista: a Young City with a Past.

• Development during the late 1990s

  [1]The Mall at Sierra Vistaen.wikipedia.org

  The enclosed mall was constructed during the late 1990s to serve Sierra Vista's growing population and the wider southeastern Arizona region.

A regional enclosed shopping center and community gathering place serving southeastern Arizona and attracting cross-border shoppers from northern Sonora.

• Department store

  Dillard's

  Dillard's is one of the mall's cited anchor tenants and provides department-store merchandise across categories such as apparel, accessories, cosmetics, home goods, and related retail products. The reference material identifies the store as occupying approximately 101,123 square feet.

• Consumer electronics

  Best Buy

  Best Buy is a cited anchor tenant offering consumer electronics, appliances, computing products, entertainment technology, and associated services. The reference material identifies the location as occupying approximately 20,512 square feet.

• Cinema and entertainment

  Cinemark 10

  Cinemark 10 is the mall's cited cinema offering, providing movie exhibition and entertainment within the shopping-center complex. The reference material lists the cinema at approximately 34,778 square feet.

• Department store

  Sears

  Sears was a historical anchor at The Mall at Sierra Vista. Its store was included in Sears Holdings' 2015 real-estate spinoff to Seritage Growth Properties and was announced for closure in 2018.

• Festival of Trees

  Sierra Vista, Arizona

  An annual seasonal community event hosted by the mall, centered on decorated trees and holiday-related activities.

  Outcome. The event contributes to the mall's role as a local community and seasonal gathering place.

  Source
• Festival of Giving

  Sierra Vista, Arizona

  An annual charitable or community-oriented event held at the mall.

  Outcome. It reinforces the center's connection with local charitable and civic activities.

  Source
• Boys & Girls Club annual car show

  Sierra Vista, Arizona

  An annual car show hosted at the mall for the benefit of the Boys & Girls Club.

  Outcome. The event supports a local youth-serving organization while bringing community traffic to the mall.

  Source

• 2021

  Acquisition by Kohan Retail Investment GroupM&A

  Background

  The mall had been marketed for sale and reportedly remained without a buyer for approximately two years.

  Action taken

  Kohan Retail Investment Group acquired the mall together with six other malls from Brookfield Asset Management in July 2021.

  Aftermath

  Kohan became the property's owner and manager.

  Source

• 2018

  Closure of the Sears anchorOther

  Background

  The Sears store was included in Sears Holdings' nationwide store-reduction program.

  Action taken

  Sears announced the closure of the location on October 15, 2018.

  Aftermath

  The closure left the associated anchor property available for potential redevelopment or sale.

  Source

• 2015

  Separation of the Sears property into SeritageStrategy

  Background

  Sears Holdings reorganized its real-estate holdings by spinning off 235 properties, including the Sears property at The Mall at Sierra Vista.

  Action taken

  The property was transferred into Seritage Growth Properties.

  Aftermath

  Seritage later marketed the property for sale, citing limited redevelopment opportunities.

  Source

1. 1The Mall at Sierra Vistaen.wikipedia.org