West County Center
A regional shopping mall in Des Peres, Missouri, serving the western suburbs of the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
West County Center is a regional shopping mall in Des Peres, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. The property occupies a prominent location at the southeast corner of Interstate 270 and Manchester Road, also designated Missouri Route 100. Its history spans two substantially different mall developments: the original center opened in 1969, while the current complex opened in 2002 after a major redevelopment. The first mall was developed by CenterMark Properties, the real-estate development division of May Company. It opened on February 20, 1969, with approximately 563,621 square feet of space and Famous-Barr and JCPenney as its principal department-store anchors. The site had previously been occupied by the Manchester Drive-In movie theater, which was also remembered locally for Easter sunrise services. In 1994, the property was sold to Australia's Westfield Group and was subsequently known as Westfield Shoppingtown West County. Westfield later planned a comprehensive reconstruction. Nordstrom announced in 1997 that it would join the redeveloped center as a major anchor. The original mall closed on January 27, 2001. Most of the structure was demolished, although the JCPenney anchor building was retained and remodeled. The replacement center opened on September 20, 2002, as Westfield Shoppingtown West County. The redevelopment created approximately 1.14 million square feet of retail space and included a two-level Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, a food court, three parking garages, and a two-story Galyan's Trading Company store above the café court. Galyan's was acquired by Dick's Sporting Goods in 2004, linking the center to the Dick's Sporting Goods retail brand. In 2007, CBL & Associates Properties acquired four of the five St. Louis-area malls owned by Westfield, including West County Center. In 2009, the former Lord & Taylor space was repurposed as a new wing featuring Barnes & Noble, relocated from an older nearby site, along with additional retailers. The center also became notable for hosting one of the St. Louis region's Apple Stores and the region's only Lego Store at the time described by the reference material. A major visual landmark is the large dove sign outside the mall beside Interstate 270. Created by Tony Amato, the sign became a recognizable local meeting point. Its removal during the 2001 reconstruction generated limited controversy among nearby churches. The dove was refurbished and returned to the property in 2002; it now stands in the parking area near Nordstrom. West County Center's documented role is that of a large suburban, department-store-anchored shopping destination rather than a standalone consumer-products brand. Its offering is composed of retail stores, restaurants, food-court services, entertainment-oriented shopping, parking, and mall-based community activity. Ownership arrangements changed during the property's history. In 2012, CBL announced that TIAA-CREF would receive a 50 percent ownership interest in West County Center and several other CBL malls as part of an effort to reduce CBL's debt. The currently documented operating owner or ownership structure is not established in the supplied reference material.
History
West County Center traces its origins to a 1969 suburban shopping-center project in Des Peres, Missouri. CenterMark Properties, the real-estate development arm of May Company, built the original mall at the southeast corner of Interstate 270 and Manchester Road. The site had formerly been the location of the Manchester Drive-In movie theater, a local venue also associated with Easter sunrise services. The mall opened on February 20, 1969, with 563,621 square feet of space. Famous-Barr and JCPenney served as the original department-store anchors. The property changed hands in 1994, when it was sold to the Australian Westfield Group. Under Westfield, the center adopted the name Westfield Shoppingtown West County. Westfield subsequently pursued a major reconstruction rather than a limited renovation. Nordstrom announced in 1997 that it intended to open a store as part of the rebuilt complex, signaling an effort to reposition the property as a larger and more upscale regional shopping destination. The original mall closed on January 27, 2001. Most of the structure was demolished, but the JCPenney anchor building was preserved and remodeled. The new center opened on September 20, 2002. The redevelopment produced approximately 1,138,813 square feet of space and added a two-story Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, a food court, three parking garages, and a two-story Galyan's Trading Company location above the café court. The project reportedly represented an investment of US$230 million, although that financial figure is not used elsewhere in this dossier because the available reference does not provide an independent financial source beyond the encyclopedia entry. Galyan's later became part of Dick's Sporting Goods after that company acquired Galyan's in 2004. The mall's retail mix evolved further in 2009, when the vacant Lord & Taylor premises were converted into a new wing. Barnes & Noble moved into the wing from an older nearby location, and other retailers were added. During this period, the property was also identified as home to one of the St. Louis region's Apple Stores and the region's only Lego Store. Ownership shifted again in 2007, when CBL & Associates Properties acquired four of the five Westfield-owned malls in the St. Louis area. In September 2012, TIAA-CREF was announced as receiving a 50 percent interest in West County Center and several other CBL malls. The transaction was presented as part of an effort to reduce CBL's debt. The currently documented owner and operating structure are not specified in the supplied materials. The mall's most distinctive public landmark is a large dove sign beside Interstate 270. Tony Amato created the sign, which became a familiar meeting point for local residents over several decades. Its removal during the 2001 reconstruction prompted minor controversy among nearby churches. The sign was refurbished during the redevelopment and returned to the property in 2002. It now stands in the parking lot outside Nordstrom. Today, West County Center is best understood as a regional shopping destination serving Des Peres and the western St. Louis suburbs. Its identity is built around large department-store and specialty-retail anchors, food and dining facilities, highway accessibility, extensive parking, and the continuity provided by the dove landmark. The center's history illustrates the transition from a 1960s enclosed suburban mall to a larger, modernized regional retail complex.
- 2012
TIAA-CREF receives a 50 percent ownership interest
[1]TIAA-CREF was announced as receiving half ownership of West County Center and several other CBL malls in a debt-reduction transaction.
- 2009
Former Lord & Taylor space is redeveloped
[1]The vacant Lord & Taylor location was converted into a retail wing that included Barnes & Noble and additional stores.
- 2007
CBL acquires the property from Westfield's St. Louis portfolio
[1]CBL & Associates Properties acquired four of the five Westfield malls in the St. Louis area.
- 2004
Galyan's becomes part of Dick's Sporting Goods
[1]Dick's Sporting Goods acquired Galyan's, changing the identity of the large sporting-goods anchor at West County Center.
- 2002
Redeveloped West County Center opens
[1]The replacement mall opened on September 20 with expanded space, new anchors, a food court, and three parking garages.
- 2001
Original mall closes and is demolished
[1]The original center closed on January 27. Most of the mall was demolished, while the JCPenney structure was retained for remodeling.
- 1997
Nordstrom announces a new anchor store
[1]Nordstrom announced plans to open at the center as part of Westfield's planned comprehensive reconstruction.
- 1994
Westfield acquires the mall
[1]The property was sold to Australia's Westfield Group and renamed Westfield Shoppingtown West County.
- 1969
Original West County Center opens
[1]The original mall opened on February 20 at the intersection of Interstate 270 and Manchester Road, anchored by Famous-Barr and JCPenney.
Products and positioning
A large suburban regional mall positioned around department-store anchors, specialty retail, dining, convenient highway access, and recognizable local architecture.
Anchor retail · 2002
Department-store retail
West County Center's principal offer is a collection of large department-store anchors serving apparel, accessories, home goods, beauty, and general merchandise needs. The documented anchor lineup includes Macy's, Nordstrom, Dick's Sporting Goods, and JCPenney. These stores provide the traffic base around which the mall's specialty retailers and dining facilities are organized.
Retail stores · 2002
Specialty retail
The center includes specialty retailers covering books, toys, electronics, fashion, accessories, and other consumer categories. The redeveloped complex was specifically designed to combine major anchors with smaller stores and recognizable destination tenants, including Barnes & Noble and, at one point, Apple and Lego locations.
Food and beverage · 2002
Dining and food-court services
Dining is part of the mall's broader destination proposition. The 2002 redevelopment added a food court and café-court facilities, complementing restaurants and refreshment options distributed through the shopping center.
Consumer services · 1969
Shopping-mall services
As a regional mall, West County Center provides the supporting infrastructure associated with enclosed retail destinations, including common areas, customer circulation, parking, access to anchor stores, and mall-based events or community activity.
Brand decisions
2012
Bring TIAA-CREF into the ownership structureM&ABackground
CBL sought to reduce debt while retaining the broader mall portfolio.
Action taken
TIAA-CREF was announced as receiving a 50 percent ownership interest in West County Center and several other CBL malls.
Aftermath
The transaction altered the property's ownership structure, although the supplied material does not establish its later ownership status.
2009
Convert the vacant Lord & Taylor space into a new retail wingStrategyBackground
The former Lord & Taylor space became available after the anchor's departure, creating an opportunity to refresh the tenant mix.
Action taken
The space was adapted into a new wing featuring Barnes & Noble, which relocated from an older nearby store, as well as other retailers.
Aftermath
The conversion preserved productive retail use within the redeveloped mall and expanded the center's specialty-shopping offer.
2001
Replace the original mall with a reconstructed centerGeneration changeBackground
Westfield planned a comprehensive reconstruction of the 1969 shopping center, including a new Nordstrom anchor and a substantially larger retail complex.
Action taken
The original mall closed in January 2001 and was largely demolished. The JCPenney structure was retained and remodeled for the replacement development.
Aftermath
The new Westfield Shoppingtown West County opened in September 2002 with expanded floor area, new anchors, a food court, and additional parking infrastructure.
Sources2 sources
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