Tippecanoe Mall

Tippecanoe Mall is an enclosed shopping center in Lafayette, Indiana, serving the city and surrounding communities in northwestern Indiana. The mall opened on August 8, 1973, under Melvin Simon & Associates, the predecessor to Simon Property Group. Its development established a large, climate-controlled retail destination in the Lafayette market and gave the area a concentration of department-store and specialty-retail tenants that evolved over subsequent decades. The property was initially planned with Montgomery Ward and Detroit-based Federal's as anchor tenants, although Federal's was ultimately replaced by JCPenney. William H. Block Co. became another major anchor. The tenant roster changed repeatedly as department-store chains consolidated or exited the market. Montgomery Ward closed its Tippecanoe Mall location in 1983. In the same year, high winds damaged the Block store, requiring the retailer to temporarily relocate merchandise to the former Montgomery Ward space while repairs were completed. By 1985, Kohl's had replaced Montgomery Ward, giving the center a continuing department-store presence. The Block store was converted to Lazarus in 1987. A substantial expansion announced in 1994 added a new wing anchored by Sears and L. S. Ayres. L. S. Ayres relocated from Market Square Mall, while Sears introduced another major national department-store format to the property. The mall also served as an early location for Hat World, whose first store opened there in 1995. Lazarus closed its store and two additional locations in 2002, and the former Lazarus building was later demolished. In 2004, that site was redeveloped for Dick's Sporting Goods and hhgregg. Further changes reflected broader shifts in American retail. L. S. Ayres became part of Macy's in 2006, and the mall gained an H&M store in 2012 after the closure of MC Sports. hhgregg left in 2017 following the retailer's Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Sears announced in 2018 that its Tippecanoe Mall store would close as part of a nationwide reduction of 72 locations; the store shut on September 2, 2018. The mall's current anchor and major-tenant mix includes JCPenney, Macy's, Kohl's, Malibu Jack's, and Dick's Sporting Goods, according to the cited reference material. These tenants combine traditional department-store retail, sporting goods, family entertainment, apparel, and other specialty offerings. As a Simon Property Group asset, Tippecanoe Mall functions as a regional retail and entertainment destination rather than as a standalone product brand. Its history is characterized by anchor replacement, adaptive reuse, expansion, and responses to retail bankruptcies and department-store contraction.

Tippecanoe Mall opened on August 8, 1973, in Lafayette, Indiana. It was developed by Melvin Simon & Associates, the company associated with the early growth of what became Simon Property Group. The original development was planned to include Montgomery Ward and Federal's as anchor stores, but Federal's was replaced by JCPenney. William H. Block Co. was added as another anchor, establishing the mall's initial department-store orientation. The property's early history was shaped by both weather and retail restructuring. Montgomery Ward closed its location in April 1983. That same year, high winds damaged the William H. Block store. Block temporarily moved its merchandise into the vacant Montgomery Ward space while its own building was repaired. By 1985, Kohl's had replaced Montgomery Ward, preserving a major anchor in that part of the mall. The Block store later became a Lazarus location in 1987. In 1994, the mall announced an expansion that created a new wing anchored by Sears and L. S. Ayres. The L. S. Ayres store relocated from Market Square Mall, broadening Tippecanoe Mall's regional draw. In 1995, the property became the site of the first Hat World store. Lazarus closed its mall store and two other locations in 2002. The former Lazarus building was subsequently demolished, and in 2004 the site was redeveloped for Dick's Sporting Goods and hhgregg. The anchor roster continued to change as retail chains merged, rebranded, or withdrew from physical stores. L. S. Ayres became Macy's in 2006. H&M opened in 2012, replacing a former MC Sports location. hhgregg closed in 2017 after the retailer entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Sears announced in May 2018 that it would close the Tippecanoe Mall store as part of a nationwide plan to close 72 locations; the store ceased operations on September 2, 2018. The mall is owned by Simon Property Group and remains an active enclosed shopping and entertainment center. The cited reference material identifies JCPenney, Macy's, Kohl's, Malibu Jack's, and Dick's Sporting Goods among its anchors or major tenants. Its long-term evolution illustrates the typical lifecycle of a regional American mall: a 1970s department-store-centered opening, later expansion, replacement of obsolete or departing anchors, addition of specialty fashion and entertainment uses, and adaptation to the contraction of traditional department-store retail.

• 2018

  Sears closes

  [1]Tippecanoe Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Sears closed its Tippecanoe Mall location on September 2 after announcing it as part of a nationwide store-reduction plan.

• 2012

  H&M joins the tenant mix

  [1]Tippecanoe Mallen.wikipedia.org

  H&M opened in space previously occupied by MC Sports.

• 2006

  L. S. Ayres becomes Macy's

  [1]Tippecanoe Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The L. S. Ayres anchor was converted to Macy's.

• 2004

  Former Lazarus site is redeveloped

  [1]Tippecanoe Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The former Lazarus building was demolished and replaced by Dick's Sporting Goods and hhgregg.

• 1995

  First Hat World store opens

  [1]Tippecanoe Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Hat World opened its first store at Tippecanoe Mall.

• 1994

  New wing is announced

  [1]Tippecanoe Mallen.wikipedia.org

  An expansion added a wing anchored by Sears and L. S. Ayres.

• 1987

  Block becomes Lazarus

  [1]Tippecanoe Mallen.wikipedia.org

  The William H. Block store was converted to Lazarus.

• 1985

  Kohl's replaces Montgomery Ward

  [1]Tippecanoe Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Kohl's occupied the former Montgomery Ward location.

• 1983

  Montgomery Ward departs

  [1]Tippecanoe Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Montgomery Ward closed its store in April; later that year, wind damage affected the William H. Block anchor.

• 1973

  Tippecanoe Mall opens

  [1]Tippecanoe Mallen.wikipedia.org

  Melvin Simon & Associates opened the enclosed mall in Lafayette on August 8, 1973.

A regional enclosed shopping center combining department stores, specialty retail, sporting goods, dining, and family entertainment for Lafayette and nearby communities.

• Anchor retail · 1973

  Department-store retail

  Tippecanoe Mall has historically relied on large department-store anchors to attract regional shoppers. The roster has included JCPenney, Kohl's, Macy's, Montgomery Ward, William H. Block, Lazarus, L. S. Ayres, and Sears. Department stores have provided broad assortments spanning apparel, accessories, home goods, beauty products, and seasonal merchandise, although several historic chains have closed or changed identity.

• Mall specialty stores · 1995

  Specialty retail

  The mall's specialty-retail component includes fashion, apparel, footwear, beauty, sporting goods, and other category-focused stores. H&M joined the center in 2012, while Hat World's first store opened there in 1995. The specialty mix complements the larger department stores and changes over time as individual brands enter, relocate, or leave.

• Sports retail · 2004

  Sporting goods

  Dick's Sporting Goods occupies a major retail role at the property. The store was developed in 2004 on the site of the former Lazarus building, adding a category-focused anchor with equipment, apparel, footwear, and recreational products.

• Entertainment venue

  Family entertainment

  Malibu Jack's is identified among the mall's current anchor or major tenants. Its presence broadens the property beyond conventional shopping by providing an entertainment-oriented destination for families and groups, supporting the mall's role as a combined retail and leisure venue.

• 2018

  Sears store closureOther

  Background

  Sears announced a nationwide plan to close 72 stores amid the retailer's broader contraction.

  Action taken

  The Tippecanoe Mall Sears store was selected for closure and ceased operations on September 2, 2018.

  Aftermath

  The mall lost one of its department-store anchors, reflecting the wider decline of traditional department-store chains.

  Source

• 2012

  Addition of H&MProduct launch

  Background

  The mall continued refreshing its specialty-fashion offer as older tenants departed.

  Action taken

  H&M opened in space formerly occupied by MC Sports.

  Aftermath

  The opening added an international fashion retailer to the tenant mix.

  Source

• 2004

  Redevelopment of the former Lazarus anchorGeneration change

  Background

  Lazarus had closed its mall store and two other locations in 2002, leaving a large former department-store building available for reuse.

  Action taken

  The Lazarus building was demolished and its site was redeveloped for Dick's Sporting Goods and hhgregg.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment replaced a traditional department-store format with category-focused sporting-goods and home-electronics retail.

  Source

• 1994

  Expansion with new anchor wingStrategy

  Background

  The mall sought to extend its regional retail offer and add major department-store tenants.

  Action taken

  An expansion was announced with a new wing anchored by Sears and L. S. Ayres.

  Aftermath

  The expansion added new anchor capacity and brought L. S. Ayres to the property from Market Square Mall.

  Source

1. 1Tippecanoe Mallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tippecanoe Mall official sitesimon.com