Westland Center
An enclosed regional shopping mall in Westland, Michigan, anchored by JCPenney and Kohl's.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Westland Center, also known as Westland Shopping Center, is an enclosed regional shopping mall in Westland, Michigan. It opened on July 28, 1965, as a major retail development serving western Metro Detroit. The center was developed by the J.L. Hudson Corporation and designed by Victor Gruen Associates and Louis G. Redstone Associates, firms associated with the planning and design of large American shopping centers during the postwar suburban retail boom. The mall’s development was closely connected with the formation of the City of Westland. In the early 1960s, the City of Livonia sought to annex the portion of Nankin Township where the proposed shopping center was being built. After the mall opened, residents of the remaining township voted on May 16, 1966, to incorporate as a new city. The resulting municipality was named Westland, after the shopping center, giving the retail complex an unusually direct role in the identity and history of its host community. At opening, Westland Center included a four-story Hudson’s department store, a Kroger grocery store, and an S.S. Kresge five-and-dime store in the west court. The tenant and anchor mix changed repeatedly as the American department-store sector consolidated and brands were acquired or rebranded. JCPenney joined the center as an additional anchor in 1976. MainStreet entered in 1987 and was converted to Kohl’s the following year. Sears was proposed as another anchor in 1991 and opened in 1997; its arrival was notable because it was reported to be the first Sears store to open in Metro Detroit in more than two decades. Hudson’s was converted to Marshall Field’s in 2001, and that location subsequently became Macy’s in 2006. The mall underwent a substantial renovation in 2014, including remodeling at Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret and the addition of retailers such as ULTA Beauty, Charming Charlie, and Shoe Carnival. These changes reflected an effort to refresh the tenant mix and maintain the center’s relevance as shopping habits and retail formats evolved. The mall later experienced the loss of two traditional department-store anchors. Macy’s announced in January 2017 that its Westland Center location would close as part of a nationwide store-reduction program; the store shut on March 19, 2017. Sears announced in June 2021 that its Westland store would also close. The store ceased operations on August 15, 2021, and was described as the last remaining Sears location in Michigan. Following that closure, JCPenney and Kohl’s remained the mall’s principal anchors, while more than 60 inline stores continued to serve local and regional shoppers. Westland Center is currently owned by Namdar Realty Group and remains an active shopping destination.
History
Westland Center was developed by the J.L. Hudson Corporation during the expansion of enclosed suburban shopping centers in postwar Metro Detroit. Victor Gruen Associates and Louis G. Redstone Associates designed the complex. The mall opened on July 28, 1965, joining the Northland and Eastland shopping centers as a significant regional retail project in the Detroit metropolitan area. The project became intertwined with local political and civic history. During the early 1960s, Livonia planned to annex the section of Nankin Township where the shopping center was being developed. The mall opened before that issue was resolved. On May 16, 1966, residents of the portion of Nankin Township that remained outside Livonia voted to incorporate as a city. The new city was named Westland, taking its name from the shopping center. The original tenant roster included a four-story Hudson’s department store, Kroger, and an S.S. Kresge five-and-dime store located in the west court. JCPenney became a second major anchor in 1976. MainStreet joined the center in 1987 and was converted into Kohl’s a year later. Sears was proposed as an additional anchor in 1991 and opened in 1997. Its opening was notable locally because it was reported to be the first Sears store established in Metro Detroit in more than 20 years. The mall’s department-store history continued to track broader changes in American retail. Hudson’s was converted to Marshall Field’s in 2001, and the Marshall Field’s location became Macy’s in 2006. In 2014, Westland Center received a major renovation. Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret were remodeled, and ULTA Beauty, Charming Charlie, and Shoe Carnival were added to the tenant mix. Macy’s later announced that its Westland Center store would close as part of a national reduction program. The announcement came in January 2017, and the store closed on March 19 of that year. Sears followed with a closure announcement in June 2021. Its store closed permanently on August 15, 2021, leaving JCPenney and Kohl’s as the remaining principal anchors. The center has more than 60 inline stores and is owned by Namdar Realty Group.
- 2021
Sears closes
[1]The Sears store closed on August 15, leaving JCPenney and Kohl’s as the remaining principal anchors.
- 2017
Macy’s closes
[1]Macy’s closed its Westland Center store on March 19, following a nationwide closure announcement.
- 2014
Major renovation and tenant additions
[1]The mall underwent a major renovation, including remodeled stores and the arrival of ULTA Beauty, Charming Charlie, and Shoe Carnival.
- 2006
Marshall Field’s becomes Macy’s
[1]The Marshall Field’s location was rebranded as Macy’s.
- 2001
Hudson’s becomes Marshall Field’s
[1]The original Hudson’s department-store anchor was converted to Marshall Field’s.
- 1997
Sears opens
[1]Sears opened a new anchor location after being proposed for the center in 1991.
- 1987
MainStreet opens
[1]MainStreet joined the mall and was converted to Kohl’s the following year.
- 1976
JCPenney becomes an anchor
[1]JCPenney joined the mall as a second anchor.
- 1966
City of Westland is incorporated
[1]Residents of the remaining portion of Nankin Township voted to incorporate the City of Westland, naming the new municipality after the shopping center.
- 1965
Westland Center opens
[1]The enclosed regional shopping mall opened on July 28, 1965, with Hudson’s, Kroger, and S.S. Kresge among its initial tenants.
Products and positioning
A suburban enclosed regional shopping center serving Westland and the western Metro Detroit area, combining department-store anchors with specialty retail tenants.
Department stores · 1965
Department-store retail
Westland Center’s principal offering is its department-store anchor format. JCPenney and Kohl’s provide broad assortments spanning clothing, footwear, accessories, beauty, home goods, and general merchandise. The mall’s anchor history has also included Hudson’s, Marshall Field’s, Macy’s, MainStreet, and Sears, reflecting the changing structure of American department-store retail.
Inline stores · 1965
Specialty retail
The center contains more than 60 inline stores offering categories such as apparel, accessories, beauty, footwear, jewelry, and specialty merchandise. Named tenants associated with the mall include Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret, ULTA Beauty, Charming Charlie, and Shoe Carnival, although individual tenant occupancy can change over time.
Brand decisions
2021
Sears anchor closureOtherBackground
Sears announced a further round of store closures, including its Westland Center location.
Action taken
The store permanently closed on August 15, 2021.
Aftermath
The closure left JCPenney and Kohl’s as the mall’s only remaining principal anchors and ended Sears’ presence at the last remaining Sears store in Michigan.
2017
Macy’s anchor closureOtherBackground
Macy’s included the Westland Center store in a nationwide program to close 68 locations.
Action taken
The Macy’s store closed on March 19, 2017.
Aftermath
The mall lost one of its long-established department-store anchors.
2014
Major mall renovationStrategyBackground
The shopping center refreshed its physical environment and tenant mix amid changing suburban retail conditions.
Action taken
Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret were remodeled, while ULTA Beauty, Charming Charlie, and Shoe Carnival opened.
Aftermath
The renovation broadened the center’s specialty-retail offer and updated several prominent stores.
Sources1 sources
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