Mershops Town Center at Aurora
A two-level regional shopping center in Aurora, Colorado, with more than one million square feet of leasable space.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Mershops Town Center at Aurora is an enclosed, two-level regional shopping center in central Aurora, Colorado. The property occupies more than one million square feet of leasable area and forms part of a broader commercial district that also includes Aurora City Square, Aurora City Place, and Aurora Park Shopping Center. Its primary trade area is largely suburban and middle-income, and the center combines department stores, entertainment, restaurants, specialty retail, and community-oriented programming. The property was developed by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation and opened in 1975 as Aurora Mall. Its original and subsequent anchor mix included The Denver, May-D&F, Foley's, Dillard's, Macy's, JCPenney, Sears, and a multiplex cinema. Several of these names changed as department-store companies consolidated or reconfigured their operations. The former Sears space later became Fieldhouse USA, while the cinema operated as Century Theatres and was the site of the 2012 mass shooting during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises. A substantial redevelopment began in 2003 and was completed in 2005. The project, reported at approximately $100 million, included a major renovation of the former Foley's space for Dillard's, the relocation of Dillard's from the nearby Buckingham Square Mall, a new food court, repaving, and broader site improvements. Following the work, the property reopened under the Town Center at Aurora name. The redevelopment also generated controversy after a leasing representative was recorded discussing a purported effort to attract a white-only clientele and discourage members of an ethnic minority from shopping at the center. Local officials condemned the remarks and sought an apology from management. Sears announced in 2019 that its Town Center at Aurora store would close as part of a nationwide store-reduction plan. The location closed in December of that year, and the former anchor was converted into a Fieldhouse USA facility in 2021. The center has also maintained a community role through activities involving Aurora Public Schools and the city's parent-teacher organization. Its Cash for Class program distributed awards to local schools based on activities including report-card and attendance submissions and qualifying mall purchases. In 2009, the mall and Aurora Public Schools introduced educational kiosks that allowed parents to access grades, assignments, and school resources while visiting the property. Washington Prime Group owned the center from 2014 until its later portfolio-disposition process. In 2025, the company announced plans to sell the remaining properties in its portfolio, including Town Center at Aurora. The center was subsequently reported as having been acquired by Mershops in January 2026 and rebranded as Mershops Town Center at Aurora. Spinoso Real Estate Group is identified as the property's management company. The center's current identity is therefore based on its function as a regional shopping, dining, entertainment, and community destination rather than on a standalone product line.
History
Town Center at Aurora was developed by the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation and opened in 1975 as Aurora Mall. The enclosed center was designed as a regional shopping destination for Aurora and surrounding suburban communities in central Colorado. It became part of a concentrated commercial district near Aurora City Square, Aurora City Place, and Aurora Park Shopping Center. The center's large footprint and department-store orientation reflected the dominant suburban mall model of the period. Over time, the anchor lineup changed through department-store acquisitions, rebrandings, relocations, and closures. The Denver became May-D&F in 1987 and Foley's in 1993 before the space was replaced by Dillard's. Another department-store space followed a related sequence involving May-D&F Men's, Foley's Men's, and eventually a full-line Foley's operation. JCPenney and Sears also served as major anchors, while Century Theatres provided cinema entertainment. In 2003, the mall announced a comprehensive redevelopment reported at approximately $100 million. The first portion focused on renovating a department-store space for Dillard's after Dillard's closed its nearby Buckingham Square Mall location. The second portion upgraded common areas and site infrastructure, including a new food court and repaving. The work was completed in 2005, when the property reopened with the Town Center at Aurora name. The redevelopment period was accompanied by a serious controversy. A leading leasing representative was recorded in a conversation with a tenant discussing what appeared to be a policy of seeking a white-only clientele and discouraging members of an ethnic minority from shopping at the center. Aurora officials publicly condemned the comments and called for an apology from management. The incident became a prominent part of the property's public history and raised concerns about discrimination in retail access and tenant strategy. The center was also the location of the July 20, 2012 mass shooting at its Century 16 cinema. During a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises, an attacker wearing tactical clothing used tear-gas grenades and multiple firearms against people in the auditorium. Twelve people were killed and 70 were injured. The attacker was arrested outside the cinema shortly afterward and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 2015. Community engagement has been another part of the center's operation. Aurora Public Schools and Aurora's parent-teacher organization have participated in mall activities. The Cash for Class program awarded funds to schools in the district using a points system that included report cards, attendance records, and qualifying mall purchases. In 2011, the program awarded $13,000 to nine schools. In 2009, the mall and Aurora Public Schools introduced kiosks that enabled parents to review grades, assignments, and other educational resources while also accessing information about mall events. Sears announced in August 2019 that its store would close as part of a nationwide closure plan, and the location closed on December 15 of that year. In August 2021, Fieldhouse USA opened in the former Sears space, adding sports and recreation to the center's tenant mix. Washington Prime Group had owned the property since 2014. In April 2025, it announced plans to sell the remainder of its portfolio, including Town Center at Aurora. The property was subsequently reported as purchased by Mershops in January 2026 for an undisclosed price. It was then rebranded Mershops Town Center at Aurora. Spinoso Real Estate Group is identified as the management company. Because ownership and branding information after the reported 2026 transaction may depend on subsequent confirmation, the current corporate structure should be checked against official property records.
- 2026
Reported Mershops acquisition and rebrand
[1]Mershops was reported to have acquired the property and renamed it Mershops Town Center at Aurora.
- 2025
Washington Prime Group announces portfolio disposition
[1]The owner announced plans to sell the remaining properties in its portfolio, including the Aurora center.
- 2021
Fieldhouse USA opens
[1]Fieldhouse USA took over the former Sears space as a sports and recreation facility.
- 2019
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor closed on December 15 after the retailer announced a nationwide closure plan.
- 2012
Century 16 shooting
[1]A mass shooting occurred during a film screening at the center's cinema, killing 12 people and injuring 70.
- 2011
Cash for Class awards local schools
[1]The center's school-support program awarded $13,000 to nine schools in the Aurora district.
- 2009
Educational kiosks introduced
[1]Aurora Public Schools and the mall introduced kiosks providing parents with access to educational information and mall activities.
- 2005
Property reopens as Town Center at Aurora
[1]The renovation was completed and the center adopted the Town Center at Aurora name.
- 2003
Major redevelopment announced
[1]A large renovation program was announced, including anchor-store remodeling and improvements to the mall and site.
- 1975
Aurora Mall opens
[1]The two-level shopping center opened in Aurora, Colorado.
Products and positioning
A large suburban regional shopping center serving central Aurora and nearby communities through department stores, specialty retail, dining, entertainment, recreation, and school-oriented community programs.
Anchor retail · 1975
Department-store retail
The center's anchor strategy has historically relied on large department stores, including Dillard's, Macy's, JCPenney, Sears, The Denver, May-D&F, and Foley's. These stores provided broad apparel, home, beauty, and general-merchandise coverage and helped define the property's regional draw.
Entertainment
Century Theatres
Century Theatres operated a multiplex at the center and served as a major entertainment anchor. The cinema was the site of the 2012 mass shooting during a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises, an event that permanently shaped the property's public history.
Sports and recreation · 2021
Fieldhouse USA
Fieldhouse USA occupies the former Sears anchor space and provides sports and recreation programming. Its arrival in 2021 diversified the center beyond conventional department-store and specialty-retail uses.
Shopping and dining · 2005
Food court and specialty retail
The center offers specialty retail, food-service tenants, and common-area shopping and dining functions. A new food court was among the principal elements of the 2003–2005 redevelopment.
Controversies
2005
Controversy over alleged racial exclusion in leasing strategy
During the redevelopment period, a senior leasing representative was recorded discussing what appeared to be an effort to attract a white-only clientele and discourage an ethnic minority from shopping at the center. City officials condemned the remarks and sought an apology from management.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Cash for Class
Aurora, Colorado
The program awarded points to local schools for activities such as submitting report cards, attendance records, and qualifying mall purchases. Rewards were provided directly to participating schools.
Outcome. Nine schools received a combined $13,000 in awards in 2011.
- 2009Aurora Public Schools educational kiosk partnership
Aurora, Colorado
The mall partnered with Aurora Public Schools to install kiosks that allowed parents to view grades, assignments, and other school resources while visiting the shopping center.
Outcome. The initiative connected the shopping center with local families and school services.
Brand decisions
2026
Reported acquisition by MershopsM&ABackground
Washington Prime Group announced a planned sale of its remaining portfolio, including Town Center at Aurora.
Action taken
Mershops was reported to have purchased the property and rebranded it Mershops Town Center at Aurora.
Aftermath
The center adopted the Mershops name; the purchase price was not disclosed.
2021
Conversion of former Sears anchor to Fieldhouse USAGeneration changeBackground
The Sears store closed in 2019 as part of the retailer's nationwide store-reduction program, leaving a large anchor space available for reuse.
Action taken
The former Sears space was converted into a Fieldhouse USA sports and recreation facility.
Aftermath
The center expanded its tenant mix into sports and recreational activities.
2003
Launch of major redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The aging regional mall required an updated anchor mix, refreshed common areas, and improved site infrastructure.
Action taken
Management announced a redevelopment reported at approximately $100 million, including department-store renovation, a new food court, repaving, and other upgrades.
Aftermath
The work was completed in 2005 and the property reopened under the Town Center at Aurora name.
Reported redevelopment cost. $100 million (2003–2005)
Sources2 sources
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