Valley View Mall
An enclosed regional shopping mall in La Crosse, Wisconsin, serving communities across western Wisconsin and nearby parts of Minnesota and Iowa.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Valley View Mall is an enclosed shopping center in La Crosse, Wisconsin, located south of Interstate 90 in one of the city's principal commercial districts. The mall opened in July 1980 with four anchor stores and more than 40 additional retailers. Designed by Architectonics, Inc. of Chicago, it was developed as a regional destination for consumers in and around western Wisconsin, with a trade area extending roughly 50 miles, or 80 kilometers, and reaching into neighboring parts of Minnesota and Iowa. The center combines traditional department-store anchoring with specialty retail, restaurants, and a food court. Its tenant mix has changed substantially over time as department-store operators consolidated or entered bankruptcy. The original anchor lineup evolved during the 1980s, and by 1985 the principal anchors were Dayton's, Herberger's, Sears, and J.C. Penney. A renovation was completed in 1991, while a food court was added in 2001. Barnes & Noble expanded the mall's bookstore and lifestyle-retail offering with a 22,400-square-foot store that opened in late 2006. Valley View's more recent history reflects the structural pressures facing many United States shopping malls. Dayton's, later operated as Macy's, closed in March 2017 as part of Macy's nationwide store-reduction program. Herberger's subsequently moved from its existing location into the former Macy's space and opened an expanded store in September 2017, but the new location closed less than a year later when parent company The Bon-Ton Stores liquidated its business. Sears also shut its Valley View location in November 2018 after announcing a nationwide closure program. The mall's current anchor and service mix includes Barnes & Noble, JCPenney, Hy-Vee, and a Veterans Affairs Medical Center, together with a vacant former Herberger's anchor space. The presence of a grocery store, bookstore, department store, restaurants, and a medical facility gives the property a more diversified function than a purely fashion-oriented mall. Valley View Mall temporarily closed on March 17, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and later reopened. In August 2020, PREIT lost ownership through a court-ordered foreclosure process, and the property was placed on the market the following month. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current owner or a later definitive ownership outcome.
History
Valley View Mall opened in July 1980 in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Designed by Architectonics, Inc. of Chicago, the enclosed mall began operations with four anchor stores and more than 40 other retailers. Its location south of Interstate 90 placed it within one of La Crosse's largest business districts and enabled it to serve a regional market extending approximately 50 miles around the property. That market includes communities in western Wisconsin and nearby areas of Minnesota and Iowa. By 1985, the mall's four anchors were Dayton's, Herberger's, Sears, and J.C. Penney. These department stores provided the principal customer-drawing functions typical of regional malls of the period, while smaller tenants supplied apparel, specialty merchandise, services, and dining. The property underwent a renovation in 1991. A food court was added in 2001, strengthening the mall's role as an everyday gathering and dining destination rather than solely a department-store shopping venue. The center added another major attraction in late 2006 when Barnes & Noble opened a 22,400-square-foot store. Over time, the department-store component became less stable as national chains retrenched. Dayton's was later operated under the Macy's name. On January 4, 2017, Macy's announced that the Valley View store would close in a nationwide program affecting 68 locations. The store completed its closure on March 26, 2017. Herberger's responded to the vacancy by announcing a move from its existing unit into the former Macy's space, with an expanded store opening on September 14, 2017. The strategy was short-lived. On April 18, 2018, Herberger's announced that it would close because its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores, was liquidating. The Valley View store closed on August 29, 2018. Sears announced another anchor departure on August 22, 2018, when it included the mall location in a nationwide closure plan. The Sears store closed in November 2018. Following those departures, the mall's traditional department-store base was reduced substantially. Barnes & Noble and JCPenney were identified as the remaining conventional anchors, while the property also included Hy-Vee and a Veterans Affairs Medical Center among its major occupants. This combination reflects the adaptation of the center toward a more varied service and convenience mix, including grocery retail, books, dining, and medical or public-service activity. Valley View Mall closed temporarily on March 17, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and later reopened. Ownership also changed during a difficult period for the United States enclosed-mall sector. In August 2020, PREIT lost ownership through a court-ordered foreclosure, and the property was put up for sale in September. The available reference material does not identify a confirmed subsequent owner, nor does it provide a later redevelopment or closure date. The mall is therefore documented as an active shopping center with an uncertain current ownership structure.
- 2020
Temporary pandemic closure
[1]The mall closes on March 17 during the COVID-19 pandemic and later reopens.
- 2020
Foreclosure and sale process
[1]PREIT loses ownership through a court-ordered foreclosure in August, and the property is put up for sale the next month.
- 2018
Herberger's closes
[1]The Herberger's store closes on August 29 after The Bon-Ton Stores enters liquidation.
- 2018
Sears closes
[1]Sears closes its Valley View location in November as part of a nationwide closure program.
- 2017
Macy's closes
[1]The former Dayton's/Macy's anchor closes on March 26 after Macy's announces a nationwide store-reduction program.
- 2017
Herberger's moves and expands
[1]Herberger's opens an expanded store in the former Macy's space on September 14.
- 2006
Barnes & Noble opens
[1]A 22,400-square-foot Barnes & Noble store opens at the mall in late 2006.
- 2001
Food court added
[1]A food court is added to the shopping center.
- 1991
Renovation completed
[1]The mall undergoes a renovation.
- 1985
Department-store anchor lineup established
[1]The listed anchor stores are Dayton's, Herberger's, Sears, and J.C. Penney.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping center serving a broad rural and small-city trade area, with a tenant mix spanning department-store retail, books, groceries, dining, and healthcare-related services.
Shopping center · 1980
Enclosed shopping mall
Valley View Mall provides an enclosed retail environment with specialty stores, restaurants, a food court, and major tenants. Its offer is designed for regional shopping trips and combines merchandise, dining, convenience, and service uses.
Anchor retail · 1980
Department-store retail
Department stores have historically formed the mall's principal anchor category. The center has hosted Dayton's, Macy's, Herberger's, Sears, and JCPenney, although several of those operators later departed as their parent companies reduced store networks or entered liquidation.
Books and specialty retail · 2006
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble opened a 22,400-square-foot store at Valley View Mall in late 2006. It became one of the center's principal remaining anchors after the departures of Macy's, Herberger's, and Sears.
Grocery retail
Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee is identified among the mall's flagship tenants and contributes grocery and everyday-needs retail to the property's broader service mix.
Healthcare and public services
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
The Veterans Affairs Medical Center is listed as a major tenant. Its presence gives the property a healthcare and public-service function in addition to conventional shopping and dining.
Brand decisions
2020
Temporary COVID-19 closureOtherBackground
The coronavirus pandemic led to widespread temporary closures of public-facing retail properties.
Action taken
Valley View Mall closed on March 17, 2020, and later reopened.
Aftermath
The available reference does not specify the reopening date or detailed operating restrictions.
2020
Foreclosure and marketing for saleOtherBackground
PREIT lost ownership of the mall through a court-ordered foreclosure process.
Action taken
The property was placed on the market for sale in September 2020.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not identify the eventual buyer or a subsequent ownership structure.
2018
Anchor departures accelerateOtherBackground
National department-store operators were reducing their store networks, and The Bon-Ton Stores was entering liquidation.
Action taken
Herberger's closed in August and Sears closed in November.
Aftermath
Barnes & Noble and JCPenney were identified as the mall's remaining conventional anchors, while other major tenants included Hy-Vee and a Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
2017
Herberger's relocates into the former Macy's anchorStrategyBackground
Macy's announced the closure of its Valley View store, leaving a large anchor space available.
Action taken
Herberger's moved from its prior location into the former Macy's space and expanded its store.
Aftermath
The replacement store opened in September 2017 but closed the following year when The Bon-Ton Stores liquidated.
Recent events
- 2020
Valley View Mall temporarily closes during COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Regulation · Other
The mall closed on March 17, 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequently reopened.
- 2020
PREIT loses ownership of Valley View Mall through foreclosure[1]
M&A · Other
PREIT lost ownership of the mall through a court-ordered foreclosure process. The property was placed up for sale the following month.
- 2018
Herberger's closes following Bon-Ton liquidation[1]
Bankruptcy
Herberger's announced its closure after parent company The Bon-Ton Stores entered liquidation. The Valley View location closed on August 29, 2018.
- 2018
Sears announces Valley View Mall closure[1]
Other
Sears announced that its Valley View Mall store would close as part of a nationwide plan involving 46 stores. The store shut in November 2018.
- 2017
Macy's announces closure of its Valley View Mall store[1]
Other
Macy's announced that the former Dayton's anchor at Valley View Mall would close as part of a nationwide program affecting 68 stores. The La Crosse location closed on March 26, 2017.
- 2017
Herberger's relocates into former Macy's space[1]
Other
Herberger's announced plans to leave its existing location, expand, and occupy the former Macy's space. The replacement store opened on September 14, 2017.
Sources2 sources
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