Towne West Square
Towne West Square was an enclosed shopping mall in Wichita, Kansas, that opened in 1981 and closed most of its retail operations in 2025 before planned redevelopment as a business park.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Towne West Square was an enclosed shopping mall on the west side of Wichita, Kansas, United States. It opened on March 6, 1981, with more than 50 stores and approximately 951,447 square feet of gross leasable area. The center was developed as a conventional regional mall and originally combined several department-store anchors with smaller specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment uses, and services. The mall's original anchors included Dillard's, Henry's, JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, Service Merchandise, and Wilson's Catalog Showroom. Its tenant mix changed substantially over the following decades as department-store formats contracted and several anchor companies exited the market. Henry's closed in 1988; its former space was subsequently used for an arcade, a country dance hall, and later other purposes. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 after the retailer filed for bankruptcy. Sears moved into the mall in 1993 from Twin Lakes Shopping Center but closed in December 2014. The former Sears building was later converted into office space for Convergys, which subsequently became Concentrix and was later occupied by MCI. That office use was not directly accessible from the mall interior. Dillard's also consolidated its presence. In 2017, the retailer closed its women's anchor on the north side of the complex and converted its men's-store location, formerly occupied by Montgomery Ward, into a Dillard's Clearance Center. Sears Hometown used the former Henry's space for a period before closing in 2019. JCPenney remained one of the mall's principal operating anchors after the retailer included the location among stores offered for sale during its 2020 bankruptcy process; the location was reaffirmed in 2021. Dick's Sporting Goods was another long-running anchor or major tenant until it closed on March 1, 2025. Entertainment was an important part of the property's history. The former Movie Machine cinema, operated by Warren Theatres, reopened in May 2022 under Boulevard Theatres, a Wichita-based operator. The theater was among the uses that continued after the mall's conventional retail operations began to deteriorate. The property experienced significant operational and financial stress under Kohan Retail Investment Group. Beginning in 2023, delayed utility payments resulted in threatened and temporary power interruptions involving Evergy. Reported incidents included a threatened disconnection in June 2023 and temporary power shutoffs in September and November of that year. Water service was temporarily shut off in April 2024. Certain anchor tenants, including JCPenney, Dillard's Clearance Center, and Dick's Sporting Goods, maintained separate utility accounts and were not affected by those particular service interruptions. On March 13, 2025, the property was sold by Kohan Retail Investment Group to Wichita Maple Company, LLC, with the Baughman Company acting as representative. A zoning proposal contemplated adding light-industrial uses to the property's existing commercial zoning, supporting a broader redevelopment plan. In June 2025, remaining mall tenants were instructed to vacate by June 30 at 5 p.m.; they received a short additional period to remove their property. A final public tour took place on June 29. JCPenney, Dillard's, and Boulevard Theatres were reported to remain open separately from the closing mall space. The former mall site is intended to become a business park, with renovation work beginning in July 2025 and new businesses projected for the first quarter of 2026. As a result, Towne West Square no longer functions as a conventional enclosed shopping mall, although portions of the property continue to serve individual tenants during redevelopment.
History
Towne West Square opened in Wichita, Kansas, on March 6, 1981, as an enclosed regional shopping mall with more than 50 stores and about 951,447 square feet of gross leasable area. Its initial anchor lineup included Dillard's, Henry's, JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, Service Merchandise, and Wilson's Catalog Showroom. The property was designed around the department-store-led mall model that was common in the United States during the period. The tenant base changed as retailers closed, consolidated, or entered bankruptcy. Henry's left in 1988, and its former space later hosted an arcade, a country dance hall, and other uses. Service Merchandise had previously operated under the Wilson's Catalog Showroom identity. Sears relocated from Twin Lakes Shopping Center to Towne West Square in 1993, adding another major anchor to the complex. Montgomery Ward closed its mall store on March 5, 2001, in connection with the retailer's bankruptcy and closure of another Wichita location. Sears closed in December 2014. Its anchor building was subsequently converted for office use by Convergys. The office occupant was later renamed Concentrix, and the space was purchased by MCI in 2021. Because the conversion was not connected to the mall's interior circulation system, it represented a shift away from the property's original retail configuration. Dillard's also restructured its footprint in 2017 by closing its women's anchor and converting its men's location, which occupied the former Montgomery Ward building, into a Dillard's Clearance Center. Sears Hometown operated in the former Henry's space until closing in 2019. JCPenney faced a corporate bankruptcy process in 2020 and included the Towne West Square store among 21 locations offered for sale. The store was reaffirmed in 2021 and remained in operation. Entertainment continued to be part of the site's offering: the former Movie Machine cinema, once operated by Warren Theatres, reopened in May 2022 under Boulevard Theatres. The mall's later years were marked by declining occupancy, utility disputes, and ownership changes. During 2023 and 2024, delayed utility payments attributed to Kohan Retail Investment Group led to threatened or temporary power interruptions by Evergy and a temporary water-service shutdown. Major anchors with separate utility accounts were not affected by the listed service interruptions. Dick's Sporting Goods, one of the property's long-running tenants, closed on March 1, 2025. The property changed ownership on March 13, 2025, when Wichita Maple Company, LLC acquired it from Kohan Retail Investment Group, represented by the Baughman Company. Proposed zoning changes would permit light-industrial uses in addition to existing commercial uses, reflecting a plan to redevelop rather than preserve the property as a conventional enclosed mall. On June 12, 2025, remaining mall tenants were instructed to vacate by June 30. A final tour was held on June 29, and tenants were allowed a brief additional period to remove their belongings. JCPenney, Dillard's, and Boulevard Theatres were reported to remain open independently. Renovation work began in July 2025, with the former mall site planned for conversion into a business park and new businesses expected from the first quarter of 2026.
- 2025
Ownership changes and mall operations wind down
[1]Dick's Sporting Goods closes in March, the property is sold to Wichita Maple Company, LLC, and most mall tenants are instructed to vacate by June 30 before redevelopment.
- 2023
Utility interruptions begin
[1]Delayed utility payments lead to threatened and temporary power interruptions at the property.
- 2022
Boulevard Theatres reopens the cinema
[1]The former Movie Machine theater reopens under Boulevard Theatres in May.
- 2021
Former Concentrix space is purchased by MCI
[1]The former Convergys and Concentrix office space is purchased and occupied by MCI.
- 2019
Sears Hometown closes
[1]Sears Hometown, which occupied the former Henry's space, closes.
- 2017
Dillard's consolidates its mall presence
[1]Dillard's closes its women's anchor and converts its men's-store location into a Dillard's Clearance Center.
- 2014
Sears closes
[1]The Sears anchor closes in December, after which its building is converted to office use.
- 2001
Montgomery Ward closes
[1]Montgomery Ward closes its Towne West Square store on March 5 in connection with the retailer's bankruptcy.
- 1993
Sears relocates to the mall
[1]Sears opens at Towne West Square after relocating from Twin Lakes Shopping Center.
- 1988
Henry's closes
[1]Original anchor Henry's closes, beginning a series of major tenant changes in the mall's anchor spaces.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping center serving Wichita and surrounding communities through department-store anchors, specialty retailers, services, and entertainment. Its retail positioning weakened as anchor stores closed and the property shifted toward office, entertainment, and planned business-park uses.
Retail · 1981
Department-store retail
The mall historically housed large department stores including Dillard's, JCPenney, Montgomery Ward, Henry's, Sears, and Service Merchandise. These anchors supplied apparel, home goods, general merchandise, and catalog-based or discount retail, forming the core of the center's original regional-mall proposition.
Department-store outlet · 2017
Dillard's Clearance Center
Dillard's consolidated its Towne West Square operations in 2017 by closing the women's anchor and converting its men's-store location into a clearance center. The remaining format focused on discounted department-store merchandise rather than the full traditional department-store assortment.
Department store · 1981
JCPenney
JCPenney was one of Towne West Square's principal anchors and remained open after being included in the retailer's 2020 bankruptcy-related store sale process. The location was reaffirmed in 2021 and was reported to remain open as the mall's common retail space closed.
Cinema · 2022
Boulevard Theatres
Boulevard Theatres reopened the former Movie Machine cinema in May 2022. The Wichita-based operator provided a continuing entertainment use at the property after the site's traditional retail role had weakened and was reported to remain open during redevelopment.
Brand decisions
2025
Property is sold for redevelopmentM&ABackground
The enclosed mall faced declining retail activity, tenant departures, and reported utility-service problems under its previous owner.
Action taken
Wichita Maple Company, LLC purchased the property from Kohan Retail Investment Group, with the Baughman Company serving as representative.
Aftermath
The new ownership pursued zoning changes and a plan to convert the site into a business park rather than continue it as a conventional enclosed mall.
2025
Mall retail operations are closed for redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The property was transitioning away from enclosed-mall retail toward a mixed commercial and light-industrial redevelopment concept.
Action taken
Most remaining tenants were instructed to vacate by June 30, with a short additional period to remove merchandise and property. Renovation work began in July.
Aftermath
The former mall was planned for conversion into a business park, while JCPenney, Dillard's, and Boulevard Theatres were reported to remain open separately.
2020
JCPenney store included in bankruptcy-related sale processOtherBackground
JCPenney's bankruptcy proceedings included a plan to offer 21 stores for sale, including its Towne West Square location.
Action taken
The Towne West Square store was placed among the locations offered for sale and was later reaffirmed in 2021.
Aftermath
The store continued operating and remained a major tenant as other anchors departed.
2017
Dillard's reduces and repositions its anchor footprintStrategyBackground
Dillard's maintained a presence at the mall while reducing the number of dedicated anchor stores.
Action taken
The retailer closed its women's anchor and converted the men's-store building into a Dillard's Clearance Center.
Aftermath
The mall retained Dillard's in a discount-oriented format, while one major anchor space was removed from conventional department-store use.
Sources1 sources
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