The Mall of Victor Valley

The Mall of Victor Valley is an enclosed regional shopping mall in Victorville, California, serving communities in the High Desert region. The property is positioned near Interstate 15 and Bear Valley Road, giving it access to local residents as well as motorists traveling through the Victor Valley. Macerich owns and manages the mall. The mall opened in November 1986 with three original anchor tenants: Harris, JCPenney, and Mervyn's. Its tenant mix expanded in October 1989 when Sears joined the center and a 10-screen AMC movie theater was added. Over time, the property experienced several anchor changes that reflected broader shifts in the American department-store and specialty-retail sectors. In 1999, Harris was replaced by Gottschalks, which initially operated under the Harris-Gottschalks name. Barnes & Noble was added in 2003, broadening the center's offering beyond traditional department-store retail. The original AMC theater was later replaced by a Cinemark location in 2006. The mall underwent substantial tenant repositioning after the late-2000s retail downturn. Mervyn's and Gottschalks both closed in 2009. The former Mervyn's space was subsequently occupied by Forever 21, although that store closed at the end of 2011. JCPenney relocated to a larger space in October 2012, strengthening its position within the center and allowing the former JCPenney location to be reused. Macy's opened in the former Gottschalks location in March 2013, while Dick's Sporting Goods opened in the original JCPenney space in October of the same year. These changes shifted the mall toward a combination of department stores, sporting goods, books, entertainment, and dining-oriented shopping-center uses. The mall's listed anchor and major tenants include JCPenney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Barnes & Noble, Macy's, and Cinemark Theatres. The former Sears location became vacant after Sears announced in November 2019 that it would close the store as part of a nationwide round of closures; the location shut in February 2020. The property therefore represents both the continuity of a long-established regional shopping destination and the continuing adaptation of enclosed malls to anchor-store closures and changing retail patterns.

The Mall of Victor Valley opened in November 1986 in Victorville, California, near the junction of Interstate 15 and Bear Valley Road. Its initial anchor lineup consisted of Harris, JCPenney, and Mervyn's, establishing the property as a major enclosed shopping destination for the Victor Valley and surrounding High Desert communities. In October 1989, Sears joined the center and a 10-screen AMC theater was added. The theater component gave the mall an entertainment use alongside its department stores, while Sears broadened the range of general merchandise available at the property. The next major tenant transition occurred in 1999, when Gottschalks replaced Harris and initially used the Harris-Gottschalks name. Barnes & Noble was added in 2003, creating another destination-oriented specialty offering. In 2006, the original AMC theater was replaced by a Cinemark theater. The late 2000s brought several anchor closures. Mervyn's and Gottschalks both left the mall in 2009 as their respective businesses exited or contracted their retail operations. The former Mervyn's space was reused by Forever 21, but that store closed on December 31, 2011. A subsequent reconfiguration of the department-store footprint moved JCPenney into a larger location in October 2012. Macy's opened in the former Gottschalks space in March 2013, and Dick's Sporting Goods opened in the former original JCPenney location in October 2013. The property continued to operate with JCPenney, Macy's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Barnes & Noble, and Cinemark among its principal anchors or major tenants. In November 2019, Sears announced that its Mall of Victor Valley store would be among 96 locations slated for closure. The Sears store closed in February 2020, leaving one vacant anchor space. Macerich owns and manages the mall. Its history illustrates the evolution of a regional American shopping mall through anchor replacement, entertainment changes, retail consolidation, and the loss of a traditional department-store tenant.

• 2020

  Sears closes

  [1]The Mall of Victor Valleyen.wikipedia.org

  The Sears store closed in February after being included in a nationwide closure plan announced in 2019.

• 2013

  Macy's and Dick's Sporting Goods open

  [1]The Mall of Victor Valleyen.wikipedia.org

  Macy's opened in the former Gottschalks space in March, followed by Dick's Sporting Goods in the former original JCPenney space in October.

• 2012

  JCPenney relocates

  [1]The Mall of Victor Valleyen.wikipedia.org

  JCPenney moved to a larger mall location in October.

• 2009

  Mervyn's and Gottschalks close

  [1]The Mall of Victor Valleyen.wikipedia.org

  Both department-store anchors closed, prompting later redevelopment of their former spaces.

• 2006

  Cinemark replaces AMC

  [1]The Mall of Victor Valleyen.wikipedia.org

  The original movie theater operation was replaced by Cinemark.

• 2003

  Barnes & Noble added

  [1]The Mall of Victor Valleyen.wikipedia.org

  Barnes & Noble joined the mall's tenant mix.

• 1999

  Gottschalks replaces Harris

  [1]The Mall of Victor Valleyen.wikipedia.org

  Gottschalks took over the Harris location, initially operating under the Harris-Gottschalks name.

• 1989

  Sears and AMC theater added

  [1]The Mall of Victor Valleyen.wikipedia.org

  Sears opened at the mall in October, accompanied by a 10-screen AMC movie theater.

• 1986

  Mall opens

  [1]The Mall of Victor Valleyen.wikipedia.org

  The Mall of Victor Valley opened in November with Harris, JCPenney, and Mervyn's as its original anchor stores.

A regional enclosed shopping center serving Victorville and the surrounding Victor Valley, combining department stores, specialty retail, sporting goods, books, and cinema entertainment.

• Department stores · 1986

  Department-store retail

  The mall's department-store offering has included Harris, Mervyn's, Gottschalks, Sears, JCPenney, and Macy's across different periods. The current major department-store presence is represented by JCPenney and Macy's, providing apparel, accessories, home merchandise, beauty products, and general retail goods.

• Sporting goods · 2013

  Dick's Sporting Goods

  Dick's Sporting Goods occupies the former original JCPenney location and opened at the mall in October 2013. It adds sporting equipment, athletic apparel, footwear, and related outdoor and recreational merchandise to the center's tenant mix.

• Books and media · 2003

  Barnes & Noble

  Barnes & Noble was added in 2003 as a destination specialty retailer. Its offering centers on books and related media and complements the mall's department-store and entertainment uses.

• Cinema entertainment · 2006

  Cinemark Theatres

  Cinemark replaced the mall's original AMC theater in 2006. The cinema provides an entertainment anchor and supports the property's role as a shopping and leisure destination.

• 2019

  Sears closure decisionOther

  Background

  Sears announced a nationwide round of store closures that included its Mall of Victor Valley location.

  Action taken

  The Sears store closed in February 2020.

  Aftermath

  The mall was left with one vacant anchor store formerly occupied by Sears.

  Source

• 2013

  Reconfiguration of former anchor spacesStrategy

  Background

  The closures of Mervyn's and Gottschalks and the relocation of JCPenney created several large vacant or underused anchor spaces.

  Action taken

  JCPenney moved to a larger location, Macy's took the former Gottschalks site, and Dick's Sporting Goods opened in the former original JCPenney space.

  Aftermath

  The changes refreshed the mall's anchor lineup and replaced departed department-store operators with Macy's and a sporting-goods retailer.

  Source

1. 1The Mall of Victor Valleyen.wikipedia.org