The Village at Medford Center

The Village at Medford Center is a regional shopping and entertainment complex in east Medford, Oregon, United States. Formerly called The Medford Center, it occupies approximately 36 acres beside Interstate 5 and contains about 420,000 square feet of retail space. The property is one of the oldest large-scale shopping destinations in Jackson County and is commonly discussed alongside Rogue Valley Mall as one of the area's principal commercial centers. The center originated in 1959 on land that had previously been used largely for agricultural purposes, including livestock grazing. It began as an open-air strip shopping center with approximately 333,000 square feet of retail space. Sears served as an anchor from the property's early years, helping establish the center as a significant shopping destination for Medford and the surrounding Rogue Valley. During the 1980s, the complex was expanded and substantially reorganized. An enclosed shopping format was introduced in 1984, and additions including Payless Drug Stores and Safeway increased the center's footprint by approximately 85,000 square feet. Before the opening of Rogue Valley Mall in 1986, The Medford Center was the largest shopping hub in Medford. Entertainment became an important part of the property's identity in 1997, when Cinemark opened Tinseltown USA at the center. The multiplex was described as the largest movie theater in southern Oregon at the time and replaced two other Cinemark-operated locations, Cine' 4 in north Medford and Movies 5 at Rogue Valley Mall. The cinema helped broaden the center's role beyond conventional retail and supported its later positioning as an entertainment-oriented destination. LBG Real Estate Companies acquired the shopping center in 2014 and undertook a major redevelopment. The project involved more than $25 million in improvements across the approximately 420,000-square-foot property. Renovations included new building facades, pavers, glass barrel-vault canopies, seating, ambient music, and other public-area amenities. The redevelopment sought to create a more contemporary lifestyle and entertainment environment capable of accommodating retail, restaurants, recreation, health and wellness businesses, and community-oriented uses. The center experienced another important tenant transition when Sears announced in December 2018 that its location would close as part of a nationwide store-closing program. The store ceased operations in March 2019. Its former space was subsequently used for Burlington, T.J. Maxx, and Daiso, while Ross Dress for Less operated in an adjacent space. Other post-redevelopment additions included Tap & Vine, the Butterfly Club speakeasy, Collaborative Theatre Project, and Get Air Trampoline Park. Village Fitness also received a substantial modernization, reported as involving approximately $1.5 million in investment. Through these changes, The Village at Medford Center evolved from a traditional anchored shopping center into a mixed retail, dining, entertainment, fitness, and services destination serving Medford and the broader southern Oregon market.

The property now known as The Village at Medford Center was developed on land in east Medford that had previously been used for agriculture and livestock grazing. Its commercial history began in 1959, when The Medford Center was established as an open-air strip shopping center. The original complex contained approximately 333,000 square feet of retail space and was anchored by Sears. Its location beside Interstate 5 gave it strong regional visibility and helped it serve shoppers from Medford and surrounding communities. The center expanded and changed format during the 1980s. In 1984, it was converted into an enclosed shopping destination. New tenants, including Payless Drug Stores and Safeway, contributed to an approximately 85,000-square-foot expansion. The property was Medford's largest shopping center until the opening of Rogue Valley Mall in 1986. Although competition increased, The Medford Center remained an established regional retail property. In 1997, Cinemark opened Tinseltown USA at the center. The theater became a major entertainment anchor and was described as the largest cinema in southern Oregon when it opened. It replaced Cine' 4 in north Medford and Movies 5 at Rogue Valley Mall, both of which had also been operated by Cinemark. The cinema reinforced the property's role as a destination combining shopping and entertainment. LBG Real Estate Companies assumed ownership in 2014 and began a comprehensive redevelopment. The project covered the entire approximately 420,000-square-foot shopping center and involved more than $25 million in improvements. The work included refreshed façades, new paving, glass barrel-vault canopies, seating, ambient music, and other enhancements intended to make the property more attractive as a lifestyle and entertainment destination. The redevelopment also sought to diversify the tenant mix with restaurants, retailers, recreation operators, health and wellness businesses, and local organizations. A major structural change occurred after Sears announced in December 2018 that its store would close as part of a nationwide closure program. The Medford location shut in March 2019. The former Sears space was subsequently assigned to Burlington, T.J. Maxx, and Daiso, while Ross Dress for Less occupied nearby space. Additional tenants and attractions introduced during the center's redevelopment era included Tap & Vine, the Butterfly Club speakeasy, Collaborative Theatre Project, and Get Air Trampoline Park. Village Fitness was also modernized through an investment reported at approximately $1.5 million. These successive changes transformed the property from a conventional open-air and later enclosed shopping center anchored by a department store into a mixed-use retail and leisure destination. Its current identity emphasizes shopping, food and beverage, cinema, recreation, fitness, wellness, and community-oriented activities. The center remains one of the longstanding large shopping properties in Jackson County and operates within the competitive southern Oregon retail market.

• 2019

  Sears closes and replacement tenants are introduced

  [1]The Village at Medford Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The Sears store closes in March, followed by the use of its former space by Burlington, T.J. Maxx, and Daiso.

• 2018

  Sears closure is announced

  [1]The Village at Medford Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Sears announces that its location will close as part of a nationwide store-closing plan.

• 2014

  LBG Real Estate Companies takes ownership

  [1]The Village at Medford Centeren.wikipedia.org

  LBG Real Estate Companies acquires the property and launches a major revitalization and repositioning program.

• 1997

  Cinemark Tinseltown USA opens

  [1]The Village at Medford Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A large Cinemark multiplex opens at the center, strengthening its entertainment offering.

• 1986

  Rogue Valley Mall opens

  [1]The Village at Medford Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The opening of Rogue Valley Mall ends The Medford Center's position as Medford's largest shopping hub.

• 1984

  The center is converted into an enclosed shopping complex

  [1]The Village at Medford Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A major format change converts the open-air center into an enclosed shopping destination and expands the property with additional retail tenants.

• 1959

  The Medford Center is established

  [1]The Village at Medford Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The original open-air shopping center opens in east Medford on a site previously used mainly for agriculture and grazing, with Sears as an anchor.

A regional shopping, dining, fitness, and entertainment center positioned as a lifestyle-oriented destination for Medford and southern Oregon.

• Shopping · 1959

  Retail stores

  The center provides a broad retail mix rather than a proprietary product line. Its documented tenants and tenant replacements have included Sears, Safeway, Payless Drug Stores, Burlington, T.J. Maxx, Daiso, and Ross Dress for Less, covering grocery, pharmacy, apparel, discount, home, and general merchandise categories.

• Entertainment · 1997

  Cinemark Tinseltown USA

  Opened in 1997, Cinemark Tinseltown USA is the center's major cinema attraction. It expanded the property's role beyond shopping and was described at opening as the largest movie theater in southern Oregon. The theater replaced two other Cinemark-operated locations in the Medford area.

• Food and beverage · 2014

  Dining and nightlife venues

  The revitalized center added food and beverage concepts including Tap & Vine and the Butterfly Club speakeasy. These venues support the property's lifestyle positioning by adding restaurant and nightlife uses alongside conventional retail and entertainment.

• Health, wellness, and recreation · 2014

  Fitness and recreation

  Health, fitness, and recreational offerings form an important part of the center's post-redevelopment tenant mix. Village Fitness underwent a major modernization, while Get Air Trampoline Park added family-oriented recreation. The center also accommodates other wellness and service uses.

• Culture and entertainment · 2014

  Community and performing arts uses

  Collaborative Theatre Project is among the local community-oriented ventures associated with the property. Its presence illustrates the center's effort to combine retail and commercial activity with local arts and entertainment uses.

• 2014The Village at Medford Center revitalization

  Medford · Southern Oregon

  Following its acquisition by LBG Real Estate Companies, the property underwent a broad redevelopment and was repositioned under the name The Village at Medford Center. The program addressed the full shopping center and added architectural, public-space, retail, dining, entertainment, fitness, and community features.

  Outcome. The property was repositioned as a lifestyle and entertainment center with a more diversified tenant mix and updated physical environment.

  Source

• 2018

  Response to Sears store closureOther

  Background

  Sears announced a nationwide program to close 80 stores, including its location at the center.

  Action taken

  The Sears store closed in March 2019, after which the former anchor space was allocated to Burlington, T.J. Maxx, and Daiso.

  Aftermath

  The tenant change replaced the traditional department-store anchor with multiple discount and value-oriented retailers, while Ross Dress for Less occupied an adjacent space.

  Source

• 2014

  Rebranding and comprehensive redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  LBG Real Estate Companies assumed ownership of the established shopping center and sought to modernize its physical environment and broaden its commercial purpose.

  Action taken

  The property was renamed The Village at Medford Center and received new façades, paving, canopies, seating, ambient music, and a more varied mix of retail, dining, entertainment, health, and wellness tenants.

  Aftermath

  The center was repositioned as a lifestyle and entertainment destination serving southern Oregon.

  Reported redevelopment investment. $25 million or more (2014 onward)

  Source

• 1997

  Launch of Cinemark Tinseltown USAProduct launch

  Background

  The center sought to maintain its regional importance through a major entertainment anchor.

  Action taken

  Cinemark opened Tinseltown USA at the property, replacing two other Cinemark theaters in the area.

  Aftermath

  The multiplex strengthened the center's shopping-and-entertainment role and was described as southern Oregon's largest movie theater at the time.

  Source

• 1984

  Conversion to an enclosed shopping formatStrategy

  Background

  The original property operated as an open-air strip center with a large Sears anchor.

  Action taken

  The center was converted into an enclosed shopping destination and expanded with additional retail space and tenants.

  Aftermath

  The change established the property as a larger, more conventional shopping center before the opening of Rogue Valley Mall.

  Source

1. 1The Village at Medford Centeren.wikipedia.org