Universal Shopping Center
A redeveloped open-air power center in Warren, Michigan, formerly known as Universal Mall and Universal City.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Universal Shopping Center is a redeveloped open-air power center in Warren, Michigan, in the Detroit metropolitan area. It began as an enclosed shopping mall called Universal City, which opened in 1965 after development of the site had been announced in 1962. The original anchor lineup included Montgomery Ward, Woolworth, and Federal's. Over time, the property followed the broader trajectory of many American suburban malls: it expanded and modernized during the 1980s, experienced anchor turnover and declining occupancy in the 1990s and 2000s, and was ultimately converted from an enclosed mall into an open-air retail center. The property's initial development was associated with Forbes-Cohen, which identified the former farm site as a location for a major suburban retail project. Montgomery Ward was selected as the first anchor during the planning phase. After the 1965 opening, the center included several prominent department-store and variety-store tenants. Federal's left the property in 1980 after its parent business failed, and Crowley's took over the space. That change coincided with a substantial renovation involving new flooring, ceilings, and seating areas. Forbes-Cohen sold the mall to Westfield Group in 1980, and Westfield later sold it to Schostak in 1987. Universal Mall continued to evolve during the late 1980s. A western wing anchored by Mervyns was added in 1988, while the eastern wing was renovated to include a movie theater and food court. These additions reflected the period's emphasis on expanding enclosed malls into broader entertainment and dining destinations. Cinemark operated the mall's cinema from its opening in 1991 until the theater closed in 2016; the site reopened later that year under MJR Theatres. The center entered a prolonged period of decline during the late 1990s. Woolworth closed its final stores in 1997, leaving a substantial vacancy in the northern wing, and Montgomery Ward closed its remaining stores three years later. Value City acquired the former Crowley's location in 1999, initially using the Crowley's Value City name before dropping the Crowley's branding. Other major tenants either relocated or ceased operations, and occupancy fell below 35 percent by the end of the decade. Universal Mall Properties acquired the property in 1999 and began a renovation and repositioning program. Burlington Coat Factory opened in the former Woolworth area, while A.J. Wright occupied space previously associated with Ben Franklin. Plans also called for subdividing the former Montgomery Ward space into smaller retail units. The recovery was incomplete. Occupancy reportedly rose to approximately 75 percent during the renovation period but had fallen to 48 percent by 2007, partly because Mervyns ended its Michigan operations in 2006. The enclosed mall closed in June 2008, and demolition began on June 23. Several elements survived, including Burlington Coat Factory, A.J. Wright, the theater, and the former Value City space. The enclosed mall was replaced by an open-air retail strip planned for approximately 35 tenants, including Target and Petco. The first phase opened in mid-2009 with Target, Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, and Petco. A.J. Wright subsequently adopted the Marshalls brand. The resulting property is now identified as Universal Shopping Center rather than the former enclosed Universal Mall.
History
Universal Shopping Center developed from an enclosed suburban mall in Warren, Michigan. Plans for the project were announced in 1962 for a site that had previously been occupied by a farm. Montgomery Ward was identified as the first anchor tenant during the planning stage. The mall opened in 1965 under the name Universal City, with Montgomery Ward, Woolworth, and Federal's as its principal anchors. The property underwent its first major change in 1980. Federal's left the mall after going out of business, and Crowley's replaced it. The transition was accompanied by a mall-wide renovation that updated floors, ceilings, and seating areas. In the same year, the original owners, Forbes-Cohen, sold the mall to Westfield Group. Westfield later transferred ownership to Schostak in 1987. Expansion continued in the late 1980s. A western wing anchored by Mervyns was added in 1988. Around the same period, the eastern wing was renovated to incorporate a food court and movie theater. The theater opened in 1991 and was operated by Cinemark for roughly 25 years, later becoming an MJR Theatres location. The mall's tenant base weakened during the late 1990s. Woolworth closed its final stores in 1997, leaving a major empty space in the northern wing. Montgomery Ward shut its remaining stores three years later. In 1999, Value City acquired the former Crowley's location and initially operated it as Crowley's Value City before eliminating the Crowley's name. Several other national tenants closed or moved to competing properties. By the end of the 1990s, reported occupancy had fallen below 35 percent, and the property had become a largely vacant or 'dead' mall. Universal Mall Properties acquired the site in 1999 and began a redevelopment effort. Burlington Coat Factory opened in the former Woolworth area, while A.J. Wright occupied space previously associated with Ben Franklin. The owners also considered dividing the large Montgomery Ward premises into smaller retail units. These steps helped occupancy recover to about 75 percent for a period, although it later fell to approximately 48 percent by 2007. Mervyns' closure across Michigan in 2006 contributed to the renewed decline. The enclosed mall closed in June 2008, and demolition started on June 23. Burlington Coat Factory, A.J. Wright, the theater, and the former Value City space were among the elements retained. The mall buildings were replaced by an open-air strip center planned for approximately 35 tenants. The first phase opened in mid-2009 with Target, Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, and Petco. A.J. Wright was subsequently rebranded as Marshalls. The former Cinemark theater closed in 2016 and reopened later that year as MJR Theatres. The current property is known as Universal Shopping Center and functions as an open-air power center rather than the enclosed Universal Mall of the 1960s through the 2000s.
- 2016
Cinema changes operators
[1]Cinemark ended its operation at the site, which reopened later in the year as an MJR Theatres location.
- 2009
Open-air center begins operation
[1]The first phase of the replacement open-air center opened with major retail tenants including Target, Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, and Petco.
- 2008
Enclosed mall closes
[1]The enclosed mall shut in June, followed by demolition later that month.
- 1999
Universal Mall Properties acquires the mall
[1]The property changed hands and entered a renovation and tenant-repositioning program.
- 1997
Woolworth closes
[1]Woolworth's final stores closed, creating a large vacancy in the mall's northern wing.
- 1991
Movie theater opens
[1]The mall's cinema began operating under Cinemark.
- 1988
Western wing added
[1]A western wing anchored by Mervyns was added, while the eastern wing was upgraded with a theater and food court.
- 1987
Ownership transfers to Schostak
[1]Westfield Group sold the property to Schostak.
- 1980
Crowley's replaces Federal's
[1]Crowley's took over the Federal's location, coinciding with an interior renovation and a sale of the mall to Westfield Group.
- 1965
Universal City opens
[1]The enclosed shopping mall opened with Montgomery Ward, Woolworth, and Federal's as anchor stores.
Products and positioning
A suburban Detroit-area retail destination repositioned from an enclosed regional mall into an open-air power center anchored by discount, general-merchandise, apparel, pet-supply, and entertainment tenants.
Shopping center · 2009
Open-air retail center
The current form of Universal Shopping Center is an open-air power center created through the demolition and replacement of the former enclosed mall. It combines separate retail buildings and a broad tenant mix rather than enclosed concourses, with general merchandise, off-price apparel, pet supplies, and other suburban shopping-center uses.
Shopping mall · 1965
Enclosed Universal Mall
The original enclosed mall operated from 1965 until its closure in 2008. Its tenant history included Montgomery Ward, Woolworth, Federal's, Crowley's, Mervyns, Value City, a food court, and a cinema. The enclosed structure was demolished during the property's conversion to an open-air format.
Entertainment · 1991
Cinema
A movie theater was added as part of the late-1980s eastern-wing renovation and opened in 1991. Cinemark operated the venue until mid-2016, after which the theater reopened later that year as MJR Theatres.
Brand decisions
2016
Change cinema operator from Cinemark to MJR TheatresOtherBackground
Cinemark operated the property's movie theater from its opening in 1991 until the theater closed in the middle of 2016.
Action taken
The theater reopened later in 2016 as a location of MJR Theatres.
Aftermath
Cinema operations continued at the redeveloped shopping center under a new operator.
2008
Replace the enclosed mall with an open-air centerStrategyBackground
The enclosed mall had suffered major anchor closures and declining occupancy, including a reported fall to about 48 percent by 2007.
Action taken
The mall closed in June 2008, most of the enclosed structure was demolished, and the site was redesigned as an open-air strip center while selected tenants and the theater were retained.
Aftermath
The first phase of the redeveloped Universal Shopping Center opened in 2009 with Target, Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, and Petco among its initial tenants.
Recent events
- 2016
Former Cinemark theater reopens as MJR Theatres[1]
Product launch
After Cinemark's operation ended in the middle of 2016, the cinema reopened later that year under the MJR Theatres brand.
- 2009
First phase of the open-air Universal Shopping Center opens[1]
Product launch
The redeveloped open-air center began opening in phases, with Target, Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls, and Petco among the initial tenants.
- 2008
The enclosed mall closes and demolition begins[1]
Other
The enclosed mall closed in June, and demolition began on June 23, leaving selected tenants and entertainment facilities in place during the transition.
- 1999
Universal Mall enters redevelopment after declining occupancy[1]
Other
Universal Mall Properties acquired the struggling mall and initiated renovations. Burlington Coat Factory and other replacement tenants were introduced as the property was repositioned.
- 1988
Mervyns wing and entertainment additions expand the property[1]
Product generation
A western wing anchored by Mervyns was added, while the eastern wing was upgraded with a cinema and food court.
- 1980
Crowley's replaces Federal's and the mall undergoes renovation[1]
Other
Following Federal's exit, Crowley's took over the location. The change accompanied renovations to the mall's interior, and Forbes-Cohen sold the property to Westfield Group.
- 1965
Universal City opens as an enclosed shopping mall[1]
Other
The Warren, Michigan, property opened as Universal City with Montgomery Ward, Woolworth, and Federal's serving as anchor tenants.
Sources1 sources
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