Wausau Center

Wausau Center was an enclosed shopping mall developed in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin, as an urban-revitalization project. It opened on August 3, 1983, after a local referendum in 1979 authorized the Jacobs Visconsi & Jacobs Group to pursue construction. The project replaced a substantially blighted section of the downtown district; approximately 67 existing buildings were demolished to create the mall site. Its opening was marked by a five-day public celebration, positioning the center as both a shopping destination and a redevelopment catalyst for central Wausau. The mall originally operated with three department-store anchors: J. C. Penney, Sears, and Prange's. Prange's was later absorbed into the Younkers chain, making the center part of the traditional enclosed-mall department-store model that was common in American regional retail during the 1980s and 1990s. Walgreens was also among the original tenants, although it later left the property in 2003 and relocated to central Bridge Street. The center provided a concentrated mix of department stores, specialty retail, food-service businesses, and community-oriented indoor space in downtown Wausau. Wausau Center underwent a renovation beginning in 2006. The work included new seating areas and an improved mall entrance. In 2008, the food court was expanded into space vacated by McDonald's. These changes were intended to refresh the property and strengthen its customer amenities as the retail environment became more competitive. The center's anchor base weakened over the following decade. J. C. Penney, Sears, and Younkers all closed between 2014 and 2018, leaving the property without its original department-store lineup. Younkers was the last of the three to depart. In June 2019, HOM Furniture opened in the former Younkers space and became the mall's only remaining anchor. The property was managed by Mid-America Real Estate Group during its later operating period. On February 4, 2020, Wausau Center was sold to Wausau Opportunity Zone, Inc. The transaction excluded HOM Furniture and the two parking ramps. The new ownership group planned a multimillion-dollar redevelopment combining residential and retail uses with offices, restaurants, entertainment venues, and green space. Wausau Center closed permanently in April 2021, and demolition began on May 17 of that year. Demolition work included removal of the mall structures and foundations, while HOM Furniture and the parking ramps remained. The former J. C. Penney building also remained temporarily because of its position above the west parking ramp, although later removal was planned. Wausau Center therefore ended as a conventional enclosed mall and became part of a broader downtown redevelopment effort.

Wausau Center emerged from a late-1970s effort to reverse the decline of downtown Wausau. At the time, the central business district contained many vacant buildings and was widely viewed as blighted. A referendum passed in 1979, allowing the Jacobs Visconsi & Jacobs Group to develop a major enclosed shopping mall. The project required the demolition of approximately 67 buildings and represented a significant physical and commercial restructuring of downtown. The completed mall opened on August 3, 1983. A five-day celebration accompanied the opening, emphasizing the center's role as a civic as well as commercial project. Its original anchor tenants were J. C. Penney, Sears, and Prange's. Prange's later became part of Younkers, preserving the department-store anchor model under a different name. Walgreens was also an original tenant but departed in 2003, moving to central Bridge Street. During the 2000s, the property was refreshed to maintain its relevance in a changing retail market. Renovation work started in 2006 and included updated seating areas and an improved entrance. In 2008, the food court was enlarged using space that had been occupied by McDonald's. These improvements addressed the mall's interior environment and dining offer, but they did not prevent the longer-term loss of major department stores. The anchor structure deteriorated between 2014 and 2018. J. C. Penney and Sears closed, followed by Younkers, which was the last of the original three anchors to leave. In June 2019, HOM Furniture occupied the former Younkers location. It became the sole remaining anchor, while the former J. C. Penney and Sears spaces were vacant. Mid-America Real Estate Group managed the property during its later years. A major change occurred on February 4, 2020, when Wausau Opportunity Zone, Inc. purchased Wausau Center. HOM Furniture and the two parking ramps were excluded from the acquisition. The proposed redevelopment was intended to replace the enclosed mall with a mixed-use downtown district containing residential and retail space, offices, restaurants, entertainment, and green areas. This plan reflected a broader shift away from the traditional enclosed-mall format toward a more diversified urban environment. Wausau Center closed permanently in April 2021. Demolition started on May 17 and included removal of the main mall buildings and foundations. HOM Furniture and the parking ramps remained outside the principal demolition scope. The former J. C. Penney building also remained temporarily because it was located above the west parking ramp, although its eventual removal was planned. The history of Wausau Center thus spans three distinct phases: downtown revitalization through enclosed retail, adaptation through renovation and tenant changes, and eventual replacement by a planned mixed-use redevelopment.

• 2021

  Mall closes and demolition begins

  [1]Wausau Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The mall closed permanently in April, and demolition began on May 17.

• 2020

  Property acquired by Wausau Opportunity Zone

  [1]Wausau Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Wausau Opportunity Zone, Inc. acquired the mall while HOM Furniture and the parking ramps remained outside the transaction.

• 2019

  HOM Furniture becomes sole anchor

  [1]Wausau Centeren.wikipedia.org

  HOM Furniture opened in the former Younkers location in June.

• 2008

  Food court expanded

  [1]Wausau Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The food court was expanded into space vacated by McDonald's.

• 2006

  Renovation begins

  [1]Wausau Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The property began a renovation involving new seating areas and an improved entrance.

• 2003

  Walgreens relocates

  [1]Wausau Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Walgreens left the mall and moved to central Bridge Street.

• 1983

  Wausau Center opens

  [1]Wausau Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The mall opened on August 3 with J. C. Penney, Sears, and Prange's as its original anchor stores.

• 1979

  Development referendum approved

  [1]Wausau Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A referendum authorized the Jacobs Visconsi & Jacobs Group to develop an enclosed shopping mall in downtown Wausau.

A downtown enclosed shopping center created to support urban revitalization and provide a centralized regional retail destination for Wausau.

Product categories. Department-store merchandise · Specialty retail goods · Food-court meals and snacks · Pharmacy and convenience products · Home furnishings

• 1983Opening celebration

  Wausau, Wisconsin

  A five-day public celebration accompanied the opening of Wausau Center and presented the new mall as a major downtown civic and retail project.

  Outcome. The celebration marked the center's launch and introduction to the local market.

  Source

• 2021

  Replace the enclosed mall with mixed-use redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The property was no longer operating with its original department-store anchor structure.

  Action taken

  The mall was permanently closed and demolition began on May 17 to make way for planned residential, retail, office, restaurant, entertainment, and green-space uses.

  Aftermath

  The main mall buildings and foundations were removed, while HOM Furniture and the parking ramps remained outside the principal demolition scope.

  Source

• 2020

  Sell the mall to Wausau Opportunity ZoneM&A

  Background

  The enclosed mall had lost its original anchor stores and faced a transition away from its traditional retail format.

  Action taken

  Wausau Opportunity Zone, Inc. acquired the mall on February 4, excluding HOM Furniture and the two parking ramps.

  Aftermath

  The new ownership proposed a mixed-use redevelopment and subsequently closed the mall permanently in April 2021.

  Source

• 2019

  Replace the former Younkers anchor with HOM FurnitureProduct launch

  Background

  Younkers had closed, leaving the mall without one of its principal department-store anchors.

  Action taken

  HOM Furniture opened in the former Younkers location in June.

  Aftermath

  HOM Furniture became the center's only remaining anchor.

  Source

• 2008

  Expand the food courtStrategy

  Background

  Space became available after McDonald's left the mall.

  Action taken

  The food court was enlarged using the vacated space.

  Aftermath

  The expansion increased the center's dining capacity during its later operating period.

  Source

• 2006

  Refresh the mall interior and entranceStrategy

  Background

  The property undertook renovation work during a period when established enclosed malls were competing to retain shoppers and tenants.

  Action taken

  New seating areas were installed and the mall entrance was improved.

  Aftermath

  The renovation was followed by a food-court expansion in 2008, although the property later lost its department-store anchors.

  Source

1. 1Wausau Centeren.wikipedia.org