Westfield Southlake
Enclosed super-regional shopping mall in Hobart, Indiana, marketed primarily to shoppers as being in Merrillville.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Westfield Southlake, now generally known as Southlake Mall, is an enclosed shopping center in Hobart, Indiana, serving Merrillville, Northwest Indiana, and the wider Chicago metropolitan area. Although the property is physically located in Hobart, it is commonly marketed as being in Merrillville because the mall uses the 46410 postal ZIP code and is closely associated with the Merrillville retail district. The site was annexed by Hobart from unincorporated Ross Township in 1993. The mall opened in 1974 after being developed by Jacobs Visconsi Jacobs. It initially operated with two anchor stores, JCPenney and Sears. Over time, additional anchor wings, specialty retail space, restaurants, and outlot developments transformed it into a large regional destination. It is described as the only enclosed super-regional mall in Northwest Indiana and as one of the larger malls in Indiana, alongside Castleton Square in Indianapolis and Glenbrook Square in Fort Wayne. The property’s tenant mix has changed repeatedly as department stores, specialty retailers, entertainment operators, and food-service businesses entered or departed. Former anchors and major tenants have included Carson Pirie Scott, L. S. Ayres, Sears, Forever 21, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Borders. The former L. S. Ayres location became Macy’s in 2006. Borders entered liquidation in 2011, after which the space was occupied by Books-A-Million before later becoming associated with other retail uses. Forever 21 subsequently occupied a former Books-A-Million location, while H&M opened in the same general wing in 2015. The mall expanded substantially in 2006. The project added Dick’s Sporting Goods and a Borders bookstore and supported new outlot development that included a 12-screen AMC theater, a Fifth Third Bank branch, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Red Robin, and Buffalo Wild Wings. These additions broadened the property beyond traditional department-store shopping and strengthened its role as a combined retail, dining, and entertainment destination. Ownership and branding have changed since the mall opened. Jacobs Visconsi Jacobs placed the property on the market in 1999, and The Westfield Group acquired it in 2002. Westfield renamed it Westfield Shoppingtown Southlake and later shortened the branding to Westfield Southlake. In September 2013, Westfield sold the mall and several other properties to Starwood Capital, after which the property reverted to the Southlake Mall name. The current owner is not identified in the supplied reference material. In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the mall experienced anchor vacancies associated with department-store and specialty-retail closures. Carson’s closed in 2018 following the bankruptcy of its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores, and Sears closed in 2019. Dick’s Sporting Goods announced in 2021 that it would leave the mall for an off-mall location across the street at the Crossings at Hobart. In response to changing retail conditions, vacant space was repurposed. CubeWork announced a 2022 concept combining pop-up retail, coworking offices, and sports-event space in the former Carson’s location. Kids Empire later converted the former Dick’s Sporting Goods space into an indoor playground and party venue, opening in November 2023. The mall’s listed anchors include Kohl’s, JCPenney, Macy’s, Kids Empire, and H&M, alongside vacant spaces formerly occupied by Carson’s, Sears, and Forever 21. Forever 21 announced another Chapter 11 filing in March 2025 and plans to close its Southlake Mall location.
History
Southlake Mall opened in 1974 in Northwest Indiana after development by Jacobs Visconsi Jacobs. The initial center had two anchor stores, JCPenney and Sears, and was designed as a regional enclosed shopping destination. Although the property is in Hobart, it has long been marketed as being in Merrillville because of its postal address and its position within the Merrillville-area retail corridor. The site was annexed by Hobart from unincorporated Ross Township in 1993. The property expanded its surrounding retail ecosystem during the 1990s. A two-level Kohl's opened near the mall in March 1993, Target Greatland opened east of Sears in October of that year, Gander Mountain opened on the southwest side in 1994, and Home Depot opened in an eastern parking-lot area in 1995. These projects reinforced Southlake's role as a broader retail district rather than a stand-alone enclosed mall. In 1999, the original ownership group put the mall up for sale. The property was acquired in 2002 by The Westfield Group, which renamed it Westfield Shoppingtown Southlake and subsequently used the shorter Westfield Southlake name. Westfield oversaw a major 2006 expansion that added Dick's Sporting Goods and Borders and created or supported several outlot facilities, including a 12-screen AMC theater, a Fifth Third Bank branch, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Red Robin, and Buffalo Wild Wings. The expansion diversified the center with dining, entertainment, and service uses. Tenant turnover became more visible during the 2010s. Borders entered Chapter 7 liquidation in 2011, and its former store was replaced by Books-A-Million. Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants opened in 2012. In March 2013, rue21 opened in the JCPenney wing. Westfield sold the mall to Starwood Capital in September 2013, and the center reverted to the Southlake Mall name. Books-A-Million relocated in 2014, with the former location becoming a Forever 21 store. H&M opened in the same wing in 2015. The late 2010s brought the loss of several traditional anchor tenants. Carson's closed in August 2018 after the collapse of its parent company, The Bon-Ton Stores. Sears, one of the mall's original anchors, closed in November 2019 after announcing a nationwide reduction in its store base. Dick's Sporting Goods later announced in September 2021 that it would move to a new location across the street at the Crossings at Hobart. Vacant anchor space was subsequently targeted for alternative uses. In November 2022, CubeWork announced a plan for the former Carson Pirie Scott space involving pop-up retail, coworking offices, and sports-event uses; the concept opened on November 15. Kids Empire announced plans to occupy the former Dick's Sporting Goods space in November 2022, and its indoor playground and party venue opened in November 2023. The mall's retail mix continued to evolve when Forever 21 filed for Chapter 11 protection in March 2025 and announced plans to close its stores, including the Southlake location. Southlake Mall remains an enclosed super-regional shopping center serving Northwest Indiana and the Chicago metropolitan area. Its listed anchor mix includes Kohl's, JCPenney, Macy's, Kids Empire, and H&M, while former anchor spaces associated with Carson's, Sears, and Forever 21 are vacant or have been subject to adaptive reuse. Macy's occupies a location that previously operated as L. S. Ayres until September 2006. The property is recognized as the only enclosed super-regional mall in Northwest Indiana and as one of the larger shopping malls in Indiana.
- 2025
Forever 21 closure announced
[1]Forever 21 announces store closures following a Chapter 11 filing, including its Southlake Mall location.
- 2023
Kids Empire opens
[1]Kids Empire opens an indoor playground and party venue in the former Dick's Sporting Goods space.
- 2022
CubeWork redevelopment announced
[1]CubeWork announces a flexible-use concept for the former Carson's anchor space.
- 2019
Sears closes
[1]The original Sears anchor closes as part of a nationwide store-closing plan.
- 2018
Carson's closes
[1]Carson's shuts down after The Bon-Ton Stores enters a company-wide wind-down.
- 2015
H&M opens
[1]H&M opens in the same general wing as the former Books-A-Million and Forever 21 spaces.
- 2014
Forever 21 replaces a former Books-A-Million space
[1]Books-A-Million relocates and the former location becomes a Forever 21 store.
- 2013
Ownership changes to Starwood Capital
[1]Westfield sells the mall to Starwood Capital, and the Southlake Mall name is restored.
- 2011
Borders closes
[1]The Borders store closes during the chain's Chapter 7 liquidation; the location later becomes Books-A-Million.
- 2006
Major expansion completed
[1]The mall adds Dick's Sporting Goods, Borders, and a range of restaurant, entertainment, banking, and service outlots.
Products and positioning
A large enclosed regional shopping and entertainment destination serving Northwest Indiana, with a tenant mix centered on department stores, apparel, dining, family entertainment, and destination outlots.
Retail real estate · 1974
Enclosed super-regional shopping center
The core offering is an enclosed regional shopping environment serving Northwest Indiana and the Chicago metropolitan area. It combines department stores, apparel retailers, specialty shops, food operators, services, and family-oriented experiences under one mall property.
Department stores · 1974
Department-store anchors
Department-store tenants have historically formed the mall's anchor structure. JCPenney and Sears were present at opening, while Kohl's and Macy's later became major anchors. The Macy's location previously operated as L. S. Ayres until 2006.
Food and entertainment · 2006
Dining and entertainment outlots
The 2006 expansion added a 12-screen AMC theater and several restaurant and service uses, including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Red Robin, Buffalo Wild Wings, and a Fifth Third Bank branch. These uses extend the mall's appeal beyond conventional shopping.
Flexible workspace and events · 2022
CubeWork flexible-use space
CubeWork's concept repurposed the former Carson Pirie Scott space for pop-up retail, coworking offices, and sports-event programming. It represents an adaptive-reuse response to the loss of a traditional department-store anchor.
Indoor family entertainment · 2023
Kids Empire
Kids Empire is an indoor playground and party venue occupying the former Dick's Sporting Goods space. The facility opened in November 2023 and adds a family entertainment use to the mall's anchor mix.
Brand decisions
2022
Repurpose the former Carson's anchor spaceStrategyBackground
The closure of Carson's left a large former department-store space available for a new use.
Action taken
CubeWork announced a combination of pop-up retail, coworking offices, and sports-event space, which opened on November 15, 2022.
Aftermath
The project introduced a flexible-use model for an otherwise vacant anchor space.
2022
Convert the former Dick's space to Kids EmpireProduct launchBackground
Dick's Sporting Goods had announced plans to leave the enclosed mall for an off-mall location.
Action taken
Kids Empire announced plans to occupy the former Dick's Sporting Goods space with an indoor playground and party facility.
Aftermath
Kids Empire completed the conversion and opened in November 2023, adding family entertainment to the mall's active anchor roster.
2013
Sell the mall to Starwood CapitalM&ABackground
The Westfield Group sold the mall as part of a broader transaction involving several properties.
Action taken
Starwood Capital acquired Southlake Mall, and the property reverted from the Westfield Southlake branding to Southlake Mall.
Aftermath
The transaction ended Westfield's ownership and branding period, while the mall continued operating under its restored name.
2006
Expand the mall with retail, dining, and entertainment usesStrategyBackground
Westfield pursued a significant expansion to broaden the center beyond its existing enclosed retail offer.
Action taken
The project added Dick's Sporting Goods and Borders and supported new outlot facilities, including an AMC theater, restaurants, and banking services.
Aftermath
The expansion diversified the property and strengthened its role as a regional shopping, dining, and entertainment destination.
Sources1 sources
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